Tolerance of wolves shapes desert canid communities in the Middle East DOI Creative Commons

Gavin T. Bonsen,

Arian D. Wallach,

Dror Ben‐Ami

et al.

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 36, P. e02139 - e02139

Published: April 27, 2022

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is recovering globally due to increasing human acceptance, which can drive trophic cascades. An endangered subspecies, the Arabian lupus arabs), inhabits arid regions of southern Levant and Peninsula where it remains widely persecuted, little known about its ecology. Most wolf's range dominated by pastoralism, tolerance wolves low. We assessed how acceptance wolves, relative land-use density, has cascading effects on other canids comparing spatial temporal interactions, abundance across a hyper-arid desert crossing Israel-Jordan border. Canids responded adjusting their activity patterns in relation activity. Wolves were recorded significantly less pastoralist landscapes, leading effects. found that jackals aureus) foxes (Vulpes spp.) are both suppressed larger canids. foxes, but also facilitated reducing pressure from jackals. Representing first documentation role an apex predator Middle East, our findings highlight strong ecological have ecosystems. Conservation efforts should focus working towards coexistence landscapes.

Language: Английский

Identifying priority core habitats and corridors for effective conservation of brown bears in Iran DOI Creative Commons
Alireza Mohammadi, Kamran Almasieh, Danial Nayeri

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Jan. 13, 2021

Abstract Iran lies at the southernmost range limit of brown bears globally. Therefore, understanding habitat associations and patterns population connectivity for in is relevant species’ conservation. We applied species distribution modeling to predict suitability identify core areas corridors. Our results showed that forest density, topographical roughness, NDVI human footprint were most influential variables predicting bear distribution. The crucial corridor networks are concentrated Alborz Zagros Mountains. These two predicted be fragmented into a total fifteen isolated patches if dispersal across landscape limited 50,000 cost units, aggregates capable dispersing 400,000 units. found low overlap between corridors, habitats with protected areas, suggesting existing area network may not adequate conservation Iran. suggest effective requires protection both corridors them, especially outside Iran’s areas.

Language: Английский

Citations

63
Comparison of habitat suitability and connectivity modelling for three carnivores of conservation concern in an Iranian montane landscape DOI
Alireza Mohammadi, Kamran Almasieh, Danial Nayeri

et al.

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(2), P. 411 - 430

Published: Jan. 28, 2022

Language: Английский

Citations

50
Multi-scale niche modeling of three sympatric felids of conservation importance in central Iran DOI
Rasoul Khosravi, Mahmoud‐Reza Hemami, Samuel A. Cushman

et al.

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 34(10), P. 2451 - 2467

Published: Sept. 13, 2019

Language: Английский

Citations

45
Habitat suitability and connectivity implications for the conservation of the Persian leopard along the Iran–Iraq border DOI Creative Commons
Shahram Kaboodvandpour, Kamran Almasieh, Navid Zamani

et al.

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(19), P. 13464 - 13474

Published: Aug. 30, 2021

Abstract Habitat fragmentation has major negative impacts on wildlife populations, and the connectivity could reduce these impacts. This study was conducted to assess habitat suitability structural of Persian leopard along Iran–Iraq border (i.e., Zagros Mountains) compare situation identified core habitats with existing conservation areas (CAs). An ensemble modeling approach resulting from five models used predict suitability. To identify corridors border, factorial least‐cost path analyses were applied. The results revealed that topographic roughness, distance CAs, annual precipitation, vegetation/cropland density, rivers most influential variables for predicting occurrence in area. By an estimated dispersal 82 km (suggested by previous studies), three (two cores Iran one Iraq). largest located south center area, which had highest priorities. maintained within Iraqi side. Only about one‐fifth detected relative protected CAs Detected this be appropriate road map accomplish network regarding conservation. Establishing transboundary particularly is strongly recommended conserve large carnivores, including leopard.

Language: Английский

Citations

40
Prey availability modulates predicted range contraction of two large felids in response to changing climate DOI Creative Commons
Rasoul Khosravi, Mahmoud‐Reza Hemami, Shima Malakoutikhah

et al.

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 255, P. 109018 - 109018

Published: Feb. 24, 2021

Language: Английский

Citations

36
Identifying core habitats and corridors of a near threatened carnivore, striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) in southwestern Iran DOI Creative Commons
Kamran Almasieh, Alireza Mohammadi,

Rahim Alvandi

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: March 2, 2022

Abstract Conservation of large carnivores requires preservation extensive core habitats and linkages among them. The goal this study was to identify corridors by predicting habitat suitability (an ensemble approach), calculating resistant kernel factorial least-cost path modeling for a relatively unknown carnivore, the striped hyaena in Khuzestan area southwestern Iran. We used procedure spatial randomization test evaluate coincidence road crossing with predicted corridors. results revealed that elevation, distance conservation areas, categorical climate grasslands density were most influential variables occurrence area. In estimated dispersal 70 km, four identified. largest located northeast highest connectivity contribution. Only about 12% 1.5% protected respectively. Predicted corridors, crossed roads represented high risk hyaenas. Adaptive management plan throughout landscape (conservation reducing species mortality on roads) must be considered wildlife managers

Language: Английский

Citations

27
Missing Interactions: The Current State of Multispecies Connectivity Analysis DOI Creative Commons
Sylvia Wood, Kyle T. Martins,

Véronique Dumais-Lalonde

et al.

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: May 12, 2022

Designing effective habitat and protected area networks, which sustain species-rich communities is a critical conservation challenge. Recent decades have witnessed the emergence of new computational methods for analyzing prioritizing connectivity needs multiple species. We argue that goal multispecies should be focused on long-term persistence set species in landscape or seascape. Here we present review literature based 77 papers published between 2010 2020, assess current state recent advances analysis terrestrial ecosystems. summarize four most employed analytical methods, compare their data requirements, provide an overview studies comparing results from methods. explicitly look at approaches integrating considerations into reserve design identify novel being developed to overcome theoretical challenges posed by analyses. There lack common metrics connectivity. suggest index metapopulation capacity as one metric effectiveness proposed network designs. conclude that, while been made over past decade, field remains nascent its ability integrate interactions Furthermore, hampered robust assessments clear definition conservation.

Language: Английский

Citations

27
Combining multiscale niche modeling, landscape connectivity, and gap analysis to prioritize habitats for conservation of striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) DOI Creative Commons
Sahar Rezaei, Alireza Mohammadi, Shima Malakoutikhah

et al.

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. e0260807 - e0260807

Published: Feb. 10, 2022

Identifying spatial gaps in conservation networks requires information on species-environment relationships, and prioritization of habitats corridors. We combined multi-extent niche modeling, landscape connectivity, gap analysis to investigate scale-dependent environmental identify core corridors for a little-known carnivore Iran, the striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena). This species is threatened Iran by road vehicle collisions direct killing. Therefore, understanding factors that affect its habitat suitability, pattern distribution, connectivity among them are prerequisite steps delineate strategies aiming at human-striped co-existence. The results showed highest predictive power extent was obtained sizes 4 2 km, respectively. Also, revealed number changed with increasing dispersal distance, approximately 21% found support 15-17% overlapped areas. Given body size species, mobility, lack significant specialization we conclude this would be more strongly influenced changes amount rather than configuration. Our approach scale variables ability must accounted efforts prioritize corridors, designing could facilitate through identification habitats, establishment areas, mitigating conflicts

Language: Английский

Citations

23
Spatially heterogeneous habitat use across distinct biogeographic regions in a wide-ranging predator, the Persian leopard DOI

Raziyeh Shahsavarzadeh,

Mahmoud‐Reza Hemami, Mohammad S. Farhadinia

et al.

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(6), P. 2037 - 2053

Published: March 27, 2023

Language: Английский

Citations

12
Identifying core habitats and connectivity paths for the conservation of mouflon (Ovis gmelini) in Western Iran DOI Creative Commons
Kamran Almasieh,

Haydar Rouhi,

Farzam Hasti

et al.

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 41, P. e02377 - e02377

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Connectivity among conservation areas helps to alleviate the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation. Mouflon (Ovis gmelini) as a near threatened species has an unclear connectivity status in west Iran. This study was carried out on mouflon with aim modeling suitability and core habitats An ensemble three machine-learning models factorial least-cost path were used for identifying corridors between them, respectively. Our results revealed that grassland density, elevation, slope distance roads most influential variables predicting occurrence area. Five identified area, about 90% which covered by areas. The north area is highest priority conservation. Conservation northern western parts had best mouflon. To prevent poaching, protection should be considered. In addition, predicted crossed roads, could investigated wildlife managers.

Language: Английский

Citations

11