Comparing the Habitat Suitability of Acinonyx jubatus venaticus with that of Predator Competitors in Kavir National Park

Subject Areas : Biodiversity

Behnaz  Jourablou ¹ (MSc in Environmental Education, Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)
Mehdi  Ramezani ² (Assistant professor of Environmental science, Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. * (Corresponding Author))
Nematollah  Khorasani ³ (Professor of Environmental science, Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)

Received: 2015-08-03 Accepted : 2016-01-16 Published : 2017-08-23

Keywords: Habitat suitability, Cheetah, Max. Ent. Modeling, Kavir National Park,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: The purpose of this article is to compare the habitat of Asiatic cheetah with that of the predators competing this species in the National Park. Method: At the present study, the habitat suitability of Asiatic cheetah at the Kavir National Park was studied and modeled by MaxEnt in 10 years. Findings: The results show that the factors such as distance from water resources, land use and competitor predators with the scores of 27/8, 22/1, 19/50% had the highest share in suitablity of cheetah’s habitat. Maximum possibility of the existence of the species at the north is at the elevation range of 1200-1300 m, at the slope range of 15-60%, and at a distance less than 10 km from water resources. Maximum possibility of the existence of cheetah is at moderate pastures, undeveloped lands, and very poor coverage. Conclusion: The habitat of caracal has the highest overlap with the habitat of cheetah than other predators. Accordingly, change of pastures and establishing the lands containing the preys for cheetah at the zones weher are found to be a suitable habitat, can be introduced as leading contributors to the sustainable development of habitat for this species

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