Summer and Autumn Habitat Selection of Gazella subgutrrosa on the Basis of Plant Communities (Case study: Kalmand Plain in Yazd Province)

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

Authors

1 Yazd University

2 Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Habitat is one of the important factors in species protection. Determining the pattern of wildlife species distribution and their habitat selection is so important to manage wildlife and its habitat. So the purpose of this study is to investigate the habitat selection of Gazella subgutrrosa in Kalmand conserved area. Sampling was done using random steady transects with 200 meters long and 2 meters wide and with 2 replications during five field investigation. When dung groups were observed, a 10*10 plot was putted with the center of dung masses and environmental variables were measured. Then, dungs were removed for another monitoring. Transects were investigated every 45 days. The results showed that there is a significant difference among three plant communities in terms of dung groups' density. The most and the least deer utilization were related to Artemisia-lactuca and Artemisia communities, respectively, but there is no significant difference between Artemisia and Artemisia-Salsola communities in terms of habitat use. Artemisia-lactuca community had the least distance to the nearest post and Artemisia-Salsola community had the least distance to the nearest water resources and road. Artemisia community had also the least distance to the nearest farm. There is no significant difference between the two seasons in terms of dung groups' density in plant communities. It seems that Artemisia-lactuca community prepared refuge (because of Astragalus species as a participant in this community), safety (because of being near to the post), and more food and water resources (because of Artemisia and Astragalus species presence) for Gazella subgutrrosa compared to the other communities.

Keywords

References

  1. Akbari H, Behroozi Rad B, Hassanzadeh Kiabi B. Investigating deer habitat suitability in conserved area of Kalmand-Bahadoran in Yazd province. Environment Recognition Journal; 2008; 34: 113-118. [In Persian]
  2. Akbari H. Introduction of Kalmand-Bahadoran conserved area. Environment publishing; 2009. P. 30. [In Persian]
  3. Ataee F, Karami M, Kaboli M. Moelling Summer Habitat Suitability of Ursus arctos syriocus in conserved area of south Alborz. Journal of Natural Environment (Iran Natural Resources); 2012; 65 (2): 235- 245. [In Persian]
  4. Attum O, Mahmoud T. Dorcas gazelle and livestock use of trees according to size in a hyper-arid landscape. Journal of Arid Environments; 2012; 76: 49-53.
  5. Consulting engineers of Iran, Management project of Kalmand-Bahadoran Conserved area; 2004. 14 Volume. [In Persian]
  6. Dehghani M, Parvaneh Avval A. Determination the amount of plant species protein preferred by Gazella subguttrosa in Kalmand conserved area of Mehriz; 2009; 4: 594- 598. [In Persian]
  7. Ghandali M, Alizadeh A, Karami M, Kaboli M. Assessing Ovis orientalis habitat in Kavir National Park using Ecological niche factor analysis method. Journal of Natural Environment; 2014; 67 (2): 185- 194. [In Persian]
  8. Hazeri F, Homami M R, Khajeodin S J. Deer Utilization of Plant Communities in Mouteh Wildlife Shelter. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources Science; 2009; 48: 427- 435. [In Persian]
  9. Henley S R, Ward D, Schmidt I. Habitat selection by two desert-adapted ungulates. Journal of Arid Environments; 2007; 70: 39-48.
  10. Jahanbakhsh Gangeh M, Morshedi J, Mahdizadeh F, Golzar A, Joumardiani B. Investigating habitat Suitability of Tang Pootk in Dena Conserved area as Dama dama mesopotamica habitat using SWOT model. Journal of Animal Environment; 2012; 4 (3): 49- 58. [In Persian]
  11. Karami M, Riazi B, Kalami N. Assessing Iranian stripe hyena in Khajir National Park and Suitability model using HEP method. Journal of Environmental Sciences; 2006; 11: 77- 86. [In Persian]
  12. Karimi S, Varasteh Moradi H, Rezaei H R. Habitat Suitability of Dryocopus martius in two winter and spring seasons Gorgan Shast Kelateh Forest. Journal of Applied Ecology; 2012; 1 (1): 15- 29.
  13. Pahlavani A. Investigating Ovis orientalis Habitat in Golestan National Park. MSc: Environmental science, Faculty of Noor natural resources, Tehran Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran; 1997; p. 65. [In Persian]
  14. Mohammadi A R, Rastgar Pouyani N, Karami M, Rahbar A. Modelling Habitat Suitability of Eremias montanus in west profile of Zagros. Journal of Animal Biology; 2012; 3 (4): 68- 76. [In Persian]
  15. Nowzari H, Behrouzi Rad B, Hemami M R. Habitat use by Persian Gazelle ( Gazella subgutrrosa) in Bamo national park during Autumn and winter. Journal of Acta zoologica Mexicana; 2007; 23(1): 109-121.
  16. Russo D, Almenar D, Aihartza J, Goiti U, Salsamendiand E, Garin I. Habitat selection in sumpatric Rhinolophus mehelyi and R. Euryale (Mammalia: Chiroptera). J. Zool., Lond.; 2005; 266: 327-332.
  17. Sarhangzadeh J, Yavari A R, Homami M R, Jafari H R, Shams Esfandabad B. Modelling Wildlife Species Habitat Suitability in Arid regions (Case study: Capra aegagrus in Bafgh Mountain preserved area). Journal of Arid Biom; 2011; 1 (3): 38- 50. [In Persian]
  18. Schulz E. Food preferences and tooth wear in the sand gazelle (Gazella marica) . Journal of Mammalian Biology; 2012; In Press, Corrected Proof.
  19. Yihune M, Bekele F. Population Status, Feeding Ecology and Activity Patterns of Grant's Gazelle (Gazella granti) in Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park, Ethiopia. Journal of Biological Sciences; 2012; 5: 20-29.
  20. Ziaee H. Field Legend of Iran Mamals. Wildlife Office press; 2009. P. 298.
Environmental Sciences
Volume 13, Issue 3
October 2015
Pages 125-132

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics