Identifying core habitats and connectivity paths for the conservation of mouflon (Ovis gmelini) in Western Iran

Almasieh, Kamran; Rouhi, Haydar; Hasti, Farzam

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02377

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 58 publications

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“…Even by considering this limitation, the results of the model evaluation for both gazelle species were excellent. In addition, we consider a conservative threshold (i.e., 10%) to categorize continuous habitat suitability maps (Almasieh et al, 2023; Puddu & Maiorano, 2016), which core habitat patches represent highly suitable areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing landscape suitability and connectivity for effective conservation of two semi‐desert ungulates in Iran

Almasieh,

Mohammadi

2023

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Conservation outside conservation areas (CAs) is more challenging due to increased exposure to human‐induced disturbances. Therefore, it is important to identify and designate new CAs that can protect core wildlife habitat patches, as well as key linkages to promote connectivity. We performed this study to identify and prioritize core habitat patches and corridors for two semi‐desert sympatric gazelles in Iran (i.e., goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa and jebeer gazelle G. bennettii) in order to propose the expansion of existing CAs. We used an ensemble distribution modeling approach based on three algorithms (random forest, maximum entropy, and generalized boosting models) for habitat suitability assessment and a combination of resistant kernel and factorial least‐cost path analysis for connectivity modeling. Our results revealed that distance to CAs, elevation, and annual mean temperature were the most influential variables for predicting the distribution of the two gazelle species. We identified 12 and six core habitat patches for goitered gazelle and jebeer gazelle, respectively with a minimum area of 210 km2. Core habitat patches were mainly occurred in the north of the central basin of Iran with a high priority for the conservation of both species. CAs protected up to half of core habitat patches for goitered gazelle and one‐third of core habitat patches for jebeer gazelle. Due to human‐induced disturbances (e.g., vehicle collisions and poaching) outside CAs, it is necessary to increase regular monitoring and establish new CAs based on the identified core habitat patches for the two gazelles. Our findings highlight opportunities of designating new CAs for wildlife habitat and corridors conservation and for promoting connectivity by limiting road impacts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing landscape suitability and connectivity for effective conservation of two semi‐desert ungulates in Iran

Almasieh,

Mohammadi

2023

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Landscape‐level habitat connectivity of large mammals in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal

Adhikari,

Bhattarai,

Baral

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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The populations of many species of large mammals occur in small isolated and fragmented habitat patches in the human‐dominated landscape. Maintenance of habitat connectivity in the fragmented landscapes is important for maintaining a healthy population of large mammal. This study evaluated the landscape patches and their linkages on two carnivores (leopard and Himalayan black bear) and seven prey species (northern red muntjac, chital, sambar, wild pig, Himalayan goral, rhesus macaque, and langur) between Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) by using the least‐cost path (LCP) approach and the Linkage Mapper tool in ArcGIS. A total of 15 habitat patches (average area 26.67 ± 12.70 km2) were identified that had more than 50% of the total studied mammals. A weak relation among the habitat patches was found for chital and sambar (Cost‐weighted distance [CWD]: Euclidean distance EucD >100), showed poor connectivity between the habitat patches, while ratio of CWD and EucD was low (i.e., low LCP) between majority of the patches for muntjac, wild pig and leopard hence had potential functional connectivity along the landscape. Similarly, low LCP between the habitat patches located in the mid‐hills was observed for Himalayan goral and Himalayan black bear. Furthermore, the multi‐species connectivity analysis identified the potential structural connectivity between the isolated populations and habitat patches. Therefore, these sites need to be considered connectivity hotspots and be prioritized for the conservation of large mammals in the landscape.

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An ensemble modeling approach to predict spatial risk patches of the Persian leopard-livestock conflicts in Lorestan Province, Iran

Almasieh,

Zamani,

Piri

2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Identifying core habitats and connectivity paths for the conservation of mouflon (Ovis gmelini) in Western Iran

Cited by 4 publications

References 58 publications

Assessing landscape suitability and connectivity for effective conservation of two semi‐desert ungulates in Iran

Assessing landscape suitability and connectivity for effective conservation of two semi‐desert ungulates in Iran

Landscape‐level habitat connectivity of large mammals in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal

An ensemble modeling approach to predict spatial risk patches of the Persian leopard-livestock conflicts in Lorestan Province, Iran

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