Data for: Beyond Protected Areas: The importance of mixed-use landscapes for the conservation of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus)

Elephants were once widely distributed across the Indonesian island of Sumatra but now exist in small, isolated populations. Using the best data currently available on elephant occurrence, we mapped suitable habitat for elephants on Sumatra (Elephas maximus sumatranus). We used direct sightings and indirect observations of elephant signs, as well as six remotely-sensed proxies of surface ruggedness, vegetation productivity and structure, and human land use and disturbance, to model habitat suitability in a Google Earth Engine (GEE) environment. We validated the habitat suitability prediction using an independent geolocation dataset collected from global positioning system (GPS) collars fitted on elephants, and also assessed the functional connectivity between known elephant population ranges by deriving a resistance surface for Circuitscape from this prediction. Thirty-two percent (135,646 km2) of Sumatra’s land area was predicted to be suitable habitat, with 43 patches of suitable habitat located across Sumatra. Areas with high connectivity were concentrated in the Riau and North Sumatra provinces. Though our analysis highlights the need to improve the quality of data collected on Sumatran elephants, it suggests that more suitable habitat remains on Sumatra than is used by known populations. Targeted habitat conservation, especially of the suitable habitat in and by the Lamno, Balai Raja, Tesso Tenggara, Tesso Utara, Bukit Tigapuluh, Seblat, Padang Sugihan, and Bukit Barisan Selatan ranges, may improve the long-term viability of the critically endangered species.

象类曾广泛分布于印度尼西亚苏门答腊岛，但如今仅存零星孤立的种群。本研究利用当前可得的最优象类出现数据，为苏门答腊象（Elephas maximus sumatranus）绘制了苏门答腊岛的适宜栖息地分布图。我们结合象类的直接目击记录与间接活动痕迹观测数据，以及六项反映地表粗糙度、植被生产力与结构、人类土地利用及干扰程度的遥感替代变量，在谷歌地球引擎（Google Earth Engine, GEE）环境中构建了栖息地适宜性模型。我们通过佩戴于象类身上的全球定位系统（GPS）项圈收集的独立地理位置数据集，对栖息地适宜性预测结果进行了验证；同时基于该预测结果生成电阻表面，利用电路景观（Circuitscape）工具评估了已知象种群分布区之间的功能连通性。研究预测，苏门答腊岛32%的陆地面积（合135646平方千米）为适宜栖息地，全岛共分布有43处适宜生境斑块。高连通性区域主要集中在廖内省与北苏门答腊省境内。尽管本研究指出需进一步提升苏门答腊象相关数据的采集质量，但研究结果表明，苏门答腊岛现存适宜栖息地的面积大于已知象种群实际占用的范围。针对指定区域开展针对性栖息地保护——尤其是拉姆诺（Lamno）、巴拉拉贾（Balai Raja）、特索滕加拉（Tesso Tenggara）、特索乌塔拉（Tesso Utara）、武吉蒂加普鲁（Bukit Tigapuluh）、塞布拉特（Seblat）、巴东苏吉汉（Padang Sugihan）以及南巴里桑山（Bukit Barisan Selatan）各分布区的适宜栖息地——或可提升这一极危物种的长期存续能力。