Spatial distribution of environmental suitability for the maned wolf in central Argentina

Climate and environmental features play a crucial role in shaping species' spatial distribution patterns, making them essential for defining conservation strategies, particularly those involving the rescue and relocation of individuals. The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest canid in South America, and currently categorized as “vulnerable” in Argentina. Our aim was to determine the spatial distribution of environmental suitability for the maned wolf in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina utilizing occurrences during 1996–2019. We employed maximum entropy modelling (Maxent) to identify association patterns between the spatial distribution of maned wolf occurrences and climate variables (temperature and precipitation), landscape features, and anthropic variables. The results revealed positive relationships between environmental suitability and temperature, and with precipitation during the wettest month. Areas with low or medium proportions of grassland, forest, temporarily flooded soils and proximity to permanent water displayed higher environmental suitability scores. In contrast, areas with crops exhibited lower environmental suitability scores than did those with other environmental features. Anthropic variables were also associated with the environmental suitability of the species. This study highlights the importance of climate and habitat heterogeneity for characterizing environmental suitability for maned wolves in the Santa Fe Province and implications for conservation.