The potential distribution and definition of Important Areas for Conservation of 14 threatened Caatinga birds

Predictive modeling of potential distribution has been considered an important tool in conservation strategy planning. Knowing the potential distribution of threatened species may contribute to the assessment of conservation status, searching for new occurrence records, and protecting species. The objective of this work is to determine the potential distribution of 14 threatened taxa of birds from Caatinga, and to determine important areas for conservation. Geographic coordinates were obtained from the GBIF, CEMAVE / ICMBio, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar databases. The potential distribution models were developed using Maxent environmental variables obtained from Worldclim. The results were plotted using QGIS, and the areas without vegetation were excluded from the models using the Global Forest Change mapping. Penelope jacucaca, Crypturellus noctivagus zabele and Xiphocolaptes falcirostris presented areas with environmental suitability and remnant forest in the Northeast states. Formicivora grantsaui, Rhopornis ardesiacus, Phylloscartes beckeri, Scytalopus diamantinensis and Augastes lumachella had more than 90% of their potential distribution in the Bahia state. Whereas Phylloscartes roquettei and Formicivora iheringi was restricted to Minas Gerais and Bahia. Sclerurus scansor cearenses and Hemitriccus mirandae had small distribution areas in the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará. The models were congruent with the species distribution presented in the literature, but there was a reduction of over 60% in the distribution when areas without remnant forests were removed. From these data the important areas have been selected.