The Role of Historical and Fossil Records in Predicting Changes in the Spatial Distribution of Hylobatids

Abstract

The role of historical biogeography in conserving biodiversity is gaining increasing interest, particularly in regions such as Southeast Asia which continue to experience extensive environmental and anthropogenic changes. Southeast Asia has experienced dynamic environmental changes which have affected the spatial distribution of the region’s biodiversity, compounded by extensive human impacts such as large-scale land-use change, habitat destruction and poaching. Integrating historical and fossil data into species distribution analyses for hylobatids has provided an increased understanding of species’ tolerance to changing environmental conditions. These data combined with environmental records also reveal how hylobatid ranges shift over time and afford an opportunity to predict how hylobatids will respond to future pressures such as land-use and climate change. Given the endangered and critically endangered status of many hylobatids, and the ongoing anthropogenic pressures, understanding species responses to these changes is critical for effective conservation planning.