Spatiotemporal distribution of the Cuban Gnatcatcher ( Polioptila lembeyei ) in the Siboney-Juticí Ecological Reserve, Cuba

The Cuban Gnatcatcher (Polioptila lembeyei) is an endemic bird with a discontinuous distribution in Cuban coastal scrublands and its effective conservation requires a fine-scale understanding of its distribution. Although lacking an IUCN threat category, it faces critical pressures from habitat fragmentation and climate change. This study characterizes its spatiotemporal distribution and habitat associations in the eastern sector of the Siboney-Juticí Ecological Reserve using data from 2012–2014 and 2016. Through variable-radius point counts and playback surveys, geostatistical analyses revealed a significantly clustered distribution pattern. Core areas of secure presence and high detection density were concentrated in the south of the study area, while absence zones predominated in the north. The species showed strong restriction to coastal and precoastal xeromorphic scrub but exhibited heterogeneous distribution within this habitat. Temporal analysis demonstrated interannual stability in core distribution areas and no significant detection rate differences between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Verification surveys confirmed persistent absence zones not attributable to detectability issues. Vegetation analysis showed that presence areas had significantly lower canopy cover and tree density, confirmed by a negative binomial GLM identifying tree abundance as a significant negative predictor. Complementary analysis revealed significantly lower normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values in presence areas, reinforcing the species’ preference for open, low-stature vegetation. These findings demonstrate high microhabitat specificity within the scrub matrix. This provides crucial insights for refining national distribution models through appropriate variable selection, particularly vegetation structure and NDVI. Furthermore, these insights guide targeted conservation strategies for this endemic species by identifying and protecting essential habitat patches that support its core populations.