Work

Annual Global Habitat Maps of Avian Influenza Host Birds From 2000 to 2022

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Introduction and Aim Long‐term changes in wildlife habitats are fundamental for understanding biodiversity change and the ecological contexts that may shape opportunities for host contact or exposure. Avian influenza virus (AIV), one of the most pressing zoonotic threats, is maintained primarily in wild birds whose habitats are undergoing rapid transformation. Yet no globally consistent, temporally explicit habitat dataset tailored to AIV host species exists, leaving their long‐term habitat dynamics poorly documented. To address this gap, we developed the first global annual habitat maps of AIV host birds from 2000 to 2022. Main Variables Included We developed a habitat classification framework specific to AIV host birds and produced the global annual terrestrial habitat maps by integrating satellite‐derived land cover, climate zones, biome information and topography. The dataset includes 8 Level‐1 and 34 Level‐2 habitat types, achieving overall accuracies of 0.84 (± 0.08) and 0.83 (± 0.12), respectively. Time Coverage The maps span the years 2000–2022, with annual temporal resolution. Spatial Coverage The dataset covers global terrestrial surfaces (excluding Antarctica) at a resolution of 300 m. Taxa Wild bird species with confirmed AIV detections, with habitat preferences derived from IUCN species‐level associations. Applications This dataset provides a foundational environmental layer for improving host species distribution models and for examining how environmental change influences habitats used by AIV host birds. It can support downstream ecological and epidemiological analyses within a One Health framework and inform conservation planning and land‐use management.

Source: Diversity and Distributions

DOI: 10.1111/ddi.70153