The past, present, and future of South East Asian varanid lizards: Using palaeobiology to inform conservation planning.

东南亚的变种蜥蜴是世界上最大的爬行动物之一，包括现存最大的蜥蜴(Varanuskomodens)和更大的已灭绝的近亲(V.Prisca)。目前的东南亚变形虫种群代表了曾经广泛分布的物种的遗迹，这些物种作为大型捕食者在生态系统中扮演着重要的角色。为了确保东南亚变种的持续生存和相关生态系统的健康，需要努力评估它们的丧失对生态系统的影响，确定人类活动特别高风险的物种/地区，并确定物种在其历史范围内重新引入、转移和重新野生的地点。在这个项目中，我的目标是使用生态位模型(ENM)评估东南亚变种的当前和历史范围和生态位(特别是印度尼西亚)。我将使用一种保护古生物学的方法来构建古新纪元。我将使用现有的数据和实地评估来构建当前的ENM。然后，我将把这些数据与环境变化预测相结合，以：A)确定东南亚变种动物当前范围内可能不适合物种生存的区域；以及B)确定东南亚变种动物历史范围内正在/将成为该物种重新引入/转移的适宜地点的区域。

The varanid lizards of South East Asia are some of the world's largest reptiles, including the largest living lizard (Varanuskomodoensis) and even larger extinct relatives (V. prisca). Current populations of South East Asian varanids representrelics of once widespread species that played important roles in ecosystems as large predators. To ensure the continuedsurvival of South East Asian varanids and the health of associated ecosystems, efforts need to be made to assess theimpact of their loss on ecosystems, identify species/ areas at particular high risk from human activities, and identify sitesfor reintroductions, translocation, and rewilding of species across their historic ranges. In this project I aim to assess thecurrent and historic ranges and niches of South East Asian varanids (with a particular focus on Indonesia) usingEcological Niche Models (ENMs). I will construct paleoENMs using a conservation palaeobiology approach. I willconstruct current ENMs using existing data and fieldwork assessments. I will then combine this data with projections ofenvironmental change to: A) identify areas within the current ranges of South East Asia varanids that may becomeunsuitable for species; and B) identify areas within the historic range of South East Asian varanids that are/ will becomesuitable sites for the reintroduction/ translocation of the species.