MODELING THE SPATIAL ECOLOGY OF YELLOW-THROATED MARTENS: OCCUPANCY AND SPECIES DISTRIBUTION ANALYSES IN NORTHERN MYANMAR

The yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula) is a widely distributed meso-carnivore in Southeast Asia, but they are poorly studied, particularly within the ecologically understudied landscapes of Northern Myanmar. Despite its role as a facultative top predator and indicator species of forest ecosystem health, limited empirical data exists on its habitat preferences and distribution in the region. This study addresses these knowledge gaps by integrating camera trap surveys with statistical modeling to investigate ecological, anthropogenic, and topographic drivers of yellow-throated marten distribution in Hkakabo Razi National Park (HKNP). Camera trap data collected between 2014 and 2017 (4,647 trap nights) were analyzed using single-season occupancy models and species distribution models (SDMs). Predictor variables included ecological (NDVI, canopy height, distance to water), topographic (elevation, slope, aspect), and anthropogenic (distance to roads, villages, and guard posts) factors. Occupancy models identified NDVI and canopy height as the most influential predictors, with higher vegetation density positively associated with occupancy, though coefficients were not statistically significant. For the SDMs, I used an ensemble approach incorporating Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), and Random Forest (RF) algorithms. MaxEnt yielded the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.897, TSS = 0.622), with distance from roads and canopy height as the most important variables. Ensemble model outputs revealed core habitat zones in remote, vegetated areas with minimal human disturbance. These findings offer insights into the habitat ecology of yellow-throated Martens and provide a scientific foundation for conservation planning in HKNP. By identifying key habitat features and spatial distribution patterns, this study contributes to broader conservation efforts aimed at conserving mid-sized carnivores and maintaining ecological integrity in Southeast Asia’s montane forest ecosystems.