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

东南亚的蜥蜴是世界上最大的爬行动物之一，包括现存最大的蜥蜴（Varanuskomodoensis）和更大的灭绝亲戚（V. prisca）。东南亚现存的类人猿种群代表了曾经广泛分布的物种，它们作为大型捕食者在生态系统中发挥了重要作用。为了确保东南亚变种动物的持续生存和相关生态系统的健康，需要努力评估其损失对生态系统的影响，确定受人类活动影响特别高的物种/地区，并确定在其历史范围内重新引入、迁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（ENMs）评估东南亚变种动物的当前和历史范围和生态位（特别关注印度尼西亚）。我将使用保护古生物学的方法来构建古enms。我将使用现有数据和实地工作评估构建当前的能源管理体系。然后，我将把这些数据与对环境变化的预测结合起来，以：A)确定东南亚变异物种目前分布范围内可能变得不适合物种生存的区域；B)在东南亚变种动物的历史分布范围内确定/将成为该物种重新引入/迁移的合适地点。

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.