Web Ecol., 16, 17–31, 2016 www.web-ecol.net/16/17/2016/ doi:10.5194/we-16-17-2016 © Author(s) 2016. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Incorporating natural and human factors in habitat modelling and spatial prioritisation for the Lynx lynx martinoi K. Laze1,a and A. Gordon2 1Leibniz Institute of Agriculture Development in Transition Economies, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany 2School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, P.O. Box 2476, Melbourne 3001, Australia anow at: Polytechnic University of Albania, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Rr. “M. Gjollesha”, No. 54, 1023 Tirana, Albania Correspondence to: K. Laze (
[email protected]) Received: 11 June 2015 – Revised: 30 December 2015 – Accepted: 11 January 2016 – Published: 2 February 2016 Abstract. Countries in south-eastern Europe are cooperating to conserve a sub-endemic lynx species, Lynx lynx martinoi. Yet, the planning of species conservation should go hand-in-hand with the planning and management of (new) protected areas. Lynx lynx martinoi has a small, fragmented distribution with a small total population size and an endangered population. This study combines species distribution modelling with spatial prioritisa- tion techniques to identify conservation areas for Lynx lynx martinoi. The aim was to determine locations of high probability of occurrence for the lynx, to potentially increase current protected areas by 20 % in Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. The species distribution modelling used generalised linear models with lynx occurrence and pseudo-absence data. Two models were developed and fit- ted using the lynx data: one based on natural factors, and the second based on factors associated with human disturbance.