Habitat Evaluation and Nutritional Carrying Capacity of Species (Wild Goats, Wild Sheep and Iranian Gazella) in the Watershed of Arak University

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Arak University, Arak, Iran

Abstract

The world's mammals condition are concerned because habitat degradation and high hunting. Wildlife captive breeding centers are examples of the last resort for conservation of species in outside of the main habitats and protected areas. The Watershed of Arak University with a total area of 625.65 hectares is located on the southwestern aspect of Mount Modar, northwest of Arak city and north of Karahrod city. Habitat evaluation variables of species (wild goats, wild sheep and iranian gazella) including: height, slope, aspect, climate (rainfall and temperature), distance from human uses, land use, distance from roads, distance from water sources (springs and rivers), vegetation index (NDVI). And the HBM modeler and the sub-MCE model and FAHP weighting method used in the IDRISI TerrSet18.31 software. The nutritional carrying capacity is determined using the Harlow formula for critical period of the 90-day. The results of habitat evaluation showed that, the suitable habitat for wild sheep, Iranian gazelle and wild goat are 41.78 % (261 hectares), 11.11% (231.8 hectares) and 23.63% (147.62 hectares), respectively. The nutritional carrying capacity for Iranian gazelle, wild goat and wild sheep are 14 unit, 6.74 unit and 5.9 unit, respectively. Generally, nutritional carrying capacity of area for all three species are 26.64 unit. Protective approach recommended for wild sheep, iranian gazella and wild goat are reintroduction and introduction programs, respectively in the Watershed of Arak University.

Keywords

References

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Environmental Researches
Volume 11, Issue 22
Recerches
March 2021
Pages 111-122

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