Modeling and Habitat Variables Affecting the Distribution of Iranian Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis

Document Type : Animal environment

Authors

1 Department of Environment, Khatam-ol-Anbia University of Technology

2 Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, Malayer University

Abstract

Detecting parameters influencing habitat suitability is crucial for conserving and managing rare and valuable species. Suitable habitats play prominent role in survival and reproduction of species, therefore they are considered in wildlife conservation. In this study presence data of Iranian Cheetah (Acinonyxjubatusvenaticus) as a critically endangered species, which had been collected in Naybandan wildlife refuges ince autumn 2009 until autumn 2011; were scrutinized via Ecological Niche Factor Analysis approach in Biomapper software in order to mapping habitat sustainability and recognizing habitat requirements. After generating maps by means of Biomapper and Idrisi software, layers of habitat parameters including elevation, slope and aspect, vegetation cover, distance from water sources and distance from ranger stations were imported in Biomapper. The output scores obtained from the analysis shows that Iranian Cheetah prefers mountainous areas with more topographical features for camouflage in order to hunting preys; likewise northern aspects with more humidity, denser vegetation cover and more preys is most preferred. According to our results Iranian cheetah has medium niche width in Naybandan wildlife refuge and favours marginal habitats.

Keywords

Journal of Animal Environment
Volume 9, Issue 3
September 2017
Pages 9-16

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