Potential Distribution of Persian Gazelle (Gazella Subgutturosa Subgutturosa) in Bamoo National Park, Shiraz, Iran: A Presence-Only Model Approach

Abstract

Abstract. Using 30 Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa presence-only data related to maximum entropy (Maxent) and ecological niche factor analysis (ENFA) models, but gained from field surveys, the present study was an attempt to assess how the Persian gazelle (subgutturosa) was distributed in Bamoo National Park located in Shiraz, Iran. While Maxent is thought to be predictive of satisfaction of environmental requirements, ENFA is considered as a tool for investigating the niche and habitat preferences of the species. All of the analyses by the models demonstrated the species distribution and the subgutturosa habitat. According to Maxent, vegetation, trough, and predator were witnessed to be most influential in the distribution, whereas ENFA revealed that elevation and vegetation were of highest value in terms of Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa distribution. Interestingly enough, the predator variable was found to be highly contributing by Maxent but avoidable by ENFA. Also, the prediction level of the models turned out to be higher than chance occurrence under curve (AUC) = 0.5.