Expanding habitat suitability under changing climate and land use may drive rapid expansion of Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) in Bangladesh
expand article infoNajmul Hasan, Joya Dutta, Mohammed Noman, Md. Mizanur Rahman, Sajib Rudra, Abdul Auawal, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Md. Asir Uddin, Harij Uddin, Md. Towfiq Hasan, Md. Farid Ahsan, Ulrich Kuch, Aniruddha Ghose, Ibrahim Khalil Al Haidar, Mohammad Abdul Wahed Chowdhury
Herpetozoa Journal
Eco-climatic and other environmental gradients significantly influence the geographic distribution of reptiles. In Bangladesh, the known range of Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) has expanded extensively in recent decades. Using species distribution modelling, we analysed habitat suitability, dispersal pathways, interspecific competition, and population dynamics to explore the drivers behind this phenomenon. Our findings indicate a five-fold increase in climatically suitable area (76,716 km²) s