Work

Habitat suitability and lekking habitat use of the Greater Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea apoda) in human-modified landscapes of Papua

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Context The Greater Bird-of-Paradise (GBOP, Paradisaea apoda) is an iconic endemic species of Papua, Indonesia, increasingly threatened by logging and oil palm expansion. Its habitat requirements remain poorly understood, with no spatially-explicit assessment available. Aims In this study we mapped GBOP habitat suitability across natural forest and oil palm landscapes in Boven Digoel District, South Papua Province, Indonesia; identified environmental and human drivers of distribution; compared general and lekking habitat use, and assessed conservation implications. Methods Systematic field surveys conducted during 2022–2023 yielded 59 georeferenced records that were used to compare general and lekking habitat use. After spatial thinning to reduce sampling bias, 33 records were retained for species distribution modelling (SDM). Twelve climatic, biophysical, and anthropogenic variables were used to assess drivers of GBOP occurence and habitat suitability. Key results GBOP occurrence data showed clear differences between general habitat use and lekking habitat. Lekking sites were associated with taller, structurally complex, and less-disturbed forest, whereas GBOP was also recorded in moderately-disturbed areas, indicating stricter habitat requirements for breeding. MaxEnt (MXD) produced the best SDM performance, identifying 79,901 ha (~12%) of the study area as suitable habitat, with 60% located within active logging concessions. The most influential predictors were distance to built-up areas, average canopy height, and relative humidity. Conclusions GBOP tolerates moderately disturbed habitats but relies on tall, structurally complex, and less-disturbed forests for breeding. Production landscapes have conservation value but cannot replace natural forest. Implications Conservation should prioritise protection of lekking sites, retaining high canopy cover, and maintaining connectivity. Spatial habitat models can guide protection, restoration, and biodiversity-friendly management of logging and oil palm landscapes.

Source: Pacific Conservation Biology

DOI: 10.1071/pc25097

Authors: Lilik Budi Prasetyo, Aryo Adhi Condro, Azwar Azmillah Sujaswara, Ani Mardiastuti, Yeni Aryati Mulyani, Arif Kurnia Wijayanto

Institutions: IPB University, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature

Language: English

Topic: Species Distribution and Climate Change

Subfield: Ecological Modeling

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional