Biodiversity hotspot assessment in the Altai Mountains transboundary region based on Mammals and Aves

Conclusion This study presents a comprehensive analysis of BHs within AMTR, employing a multidimen- sional dataset that encompasses climate, topography, landscape, and human activities. Our findings highlight the Altai Mountains as a critical region for biodiversity, underscoring the unique ecological significance and conservation value of this area. Through the application of the MaxEnt modeling approach, we were able to predict the potential distribution areas of spe- cies, identifying both threatened and non-threatened species across the region. The results clearly demonstrate that BHs in AMTR exhibit distinct spatial patterns, with sig- nificant variability in richness and distribution of species across the four nations. The study identifies that the distribution of mammals and aves is largely influenced by a combination of climatic variables and human activities, with climate change posing a significant threat to these species. The analysis of land use and land cover changes further emphasizes the profound impact of climate-driven alterations on habitat availability and quality. Moreover, our evaluation of protected areas within the region indicates that, although sub- stantial progress has been made towards biodiversity conservation, further efforts are required to achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework’s target of expanding protected area coverage. The identification of KBAs and transboundary corridors offers a strategic pathway for Fig 11. The ecological source and the corridor in AMTR. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314075.g011 PLOS ONE

Biodiversity hotspot assessment in the Altai Mountains transboundary region PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314075 December 4, 2024 16 / 20