Modeling the Habitat suitability of Cheetah( Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) Under the influence of climate change in Iran using software MAXENT

Document Type : Ecology

Authors

1 Department of Environment, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Ardakan, Yazd

2 Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran

3 Environmental Research Institute, Academic Center for Aducation,Culture and Research (ACECR),Siadati St, Mellat Ave, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

The climate change is a major concern for the management and conservation of biodiversity which alters the distribution of many species of fauna. In recent years numerous evidence of the biological effects of climate change provided on various aspects of plant and animal species but a little knowledge is in predicting future impacts of climate change on the species of animal in Iran. This study aimed to reconstruct the climate change in the scope and utility habitat Asiatic cheetah in Iran from the present to the future(2070 year)  by Maxent software .In this modeling were used  the known locations of the species (cheetah) and 19 climatic variables in the country. The extent of favorable habitat for the specie was recorded in the region of present and future climate in ArcGIS 9.3 separately. The results emphasize the fact that according to the process of global warming in recent years and a growing trend in the future, also review climate change models, habitat area ideal for Asiatic cheetahs in Iran from now Until 2070 has showed Downtrend Which can serve as a serious warning for the implementation of protection preceding for endangered species to be used by the concerned authorities.

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