Aim Eleutherodactylus coqui (commonly known as the coqui) is a frog species native to Puerto Rico and non‐native in Hawaii. Despite its ecological and economic impacts, its potential range in Hawaii is unknown, making control and management efforts difficult. Here, we predicted the distribution potential of the coqui on the island of Hawaii. Location Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Methods We predicted its potential distribution in Hawaii using five biophysical variables derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) as predictors, presence/absence data collected from Puerto Rico and Hawaii and three classification methods – Classification Trees (CT), Random Forests (RF) and Support Vector Machines (SVM). Results Models developed separately using data from the native range and the invaded range predicted potential coqui habitats in Hawaii with high performance. Across the three classification methods, mean area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.75 for models trained using the native range data and 0.88 for models trained using the invaded range data. We achieved the highest AUC value of 0.90 using RF for models trained with invaded range data. Main conclusions Our results showed that the potential distribution of coquis on the island of Hawaii is much larger than its current distribution, with RF predicting up to 49% of the island as suitable coqui habitat. Predictions also show that most areas with an elevation between 0 and 2000 m are suitable coqui habitats, whereas the cool and dry high elevation areas beyond 2000 m elevation are unsuitable. Results show that MODIS‐derived biophysical variables are capable of characterizing coqui habitats in Hawaii.
Abstract. Cattle grazing is a potential post-mining land-use option for open-cut coal mines in the dry sub-tropical region of central Queensland, Australia, but no research has been conducted to determine the grazing capacity of these lands. A study was conducted to develop a model for estimating pasture productivity of rehabilitated mined lands, from which long-term sustainable stocking rates could be predicted. Rainfall-use efficiency (RUE), a reliable indicator of pasture productivity in this moisture-limited environment, was calculated for 17 plots across three minesites over a single growing season, and related by linear regression and stepwise multiple linear regression to several site and mine-soil properties. Plots were dominated by Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass), and ranged in age from 3 to 25 years since establishment. Slope (r 2 =0.45) and surface cover (r 2 =0.44) were most strongly correlated with RUE. These factors were interpreted as affecting surface retention of rainfall. The factors most correlated with RUE from multiple linear regression were slope (r 2 = 0.45), surface soil exchangeable Mg (cumulative r 2 = 0.71) and surface exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) (cumulative r 2 = 0.77). ESP is a measure of soil dispersion and surface crusting, which when combined with slope (negative correlation), influenced the ability of incident rainfall to enter the soil profile. Mg was interpreted as a surrogate soil fertility factor, as Mg was strongly correlated with soil total N (r 2 =0.53) and cation exchange capacity (r 2 =0.74). Dry matter yield and RUE results are generally consistent with those observed on unmined pastoral lands in the region, but data from additional sites and over more seasons are required to fully develop and validate the model for minesite conditions.
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