Geographic Distribution and Habitat Suitability Modeling of Great Gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) by Maximum Entropy Model in Golestan Province

Subject Areas : Ecosystems

Mohsen Ahmadpour ¹ , Hossein Varasteh Moradi ² , Hamid Reza Rezaei ³ , Mohamad Ali Oshaghi ⁴ , Abasalt Hosseinzadeh Colagar ⁵

1 - Assistant Prof., Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. *(Corresponding Author)
2 - Associate Prof., Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
3 - Associate Prof., Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
4 - Prof., Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5 - Prof, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

Received: 2021-04-18 Accepted : 2023-07-05 Published : 2023-12-22

Keywords: Habitat suitability model, MaxEnt, Rhombomys opimus, Environmental variable.,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Today, the geographical distribution of a species based on maximum entropy using spatial data from geographical information system, remote sensing data and statistical techniques have a great contribution on conservation management of species. The aim of this study is evaluate the effects of environmental variable on distribution and habitat suitability of great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) and predicting its habitat in Golestan province, Iran. Material and Methodology: For this purpose, 272 presence-only data and 13 environment variables as independent variables were selected for this species. Then, geographic distribution and habitat suitability modeling were performed by maximum entropy approach in MaxEnt software, using to these presence data and variables. Findings: Our results showed that, some of the habitat variables including: altitude, NDVI, soil type and climate had the greatest plays for habitat suitability and geographical distribution of R. opimus in this area. While that, aspect had less effects than other variables. Discussion and conclusion: Based on our findings, habitats of R. opimus was continues and about 10.1% of Golestan province pereidicted as a suitable habitat for the great gerbil.

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