Meeting Abstract
Resources available for in situ species conservation are limited. In order to make the most of what is available, habitats must be prioritized for protection. Biodiversity hotspots are one form of prioritization, identifying areas with many endemic species that are threatened by habitat loss. Within these larger areas, the habitats that make up the range of endemic species can also be prioritized in order to use limited conservation resources most effectively. With data gathered from use/availability surveys, resource selection functions (RSFs) can identify habitats and environmental variables associated with the presence of a species. Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura oedirhina) are a narrow range endemic native to the island of Roatán, Honduras. Two years of data produced RSFs that indicated this species is more likely to be found in anthropogenic areas than in undisturbed locations. Though certain environmental variables did influence the distribution of this species, our results indicate that protection from harvesting is the most important factor determining their distribution across the island. While it is illegal to hunt this species, the law is not enforced and hunting for consumption is very common. Areas where they still exist in high densities are protected only at the grassroots level. In order to protect this species and insure its persistence in the wild, regulation and enforcement of harvesting must be applied.
