How will climate change affect the potential distribution of Eurasian tree sparrows Passer montanus in North America?

Abstract

Habitat suitability models have been used to predict the present and future potential distribution of a variety of species. Eurasian tree sparrows Passer montanus, native to Eurasia, have established populations in other parts of the world. In North America, their current distribution is limited to a relatively small region around its original introduction to St. Louis, Missouri. We combined data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility with current and future climate data to create habitat suitability models using Maxent for this species. Under projected climate change scenarios, our models show that the distribution and range of the Eurasian tree sparrow could increase as far as the Pacific Northwest and Newfoundland. This is potentially important information for prioritizing the management and control of this non-native species [Current Zoology 57 (5): 648–654, 2011].

Keywords

• Eurasian tree sparrows
• Passer montanus
• Maxent
• Climate change
• Distribution model