Evaluating Quality Changes of Cervus elaphus maral Habitat in Golestan province using InVEST
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Environmental Science,, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University Of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
2 Department of Environmental Science , Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University Of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
3 Department of Environmental Sciences , Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University Of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Recouces, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Land use changes have accelerated due to urban development and population growth. The inappropriate pattern of land cover, can cause the destruction of wildlife habitats and overshadow biodiversity. On the other hand, Cervus elaphus maral, as the largest native deer in Iran and its important role in biodiversity, has been given a lot of attention by forest guards. In the present study, the habitat of the Cervus elaphus maral in Golestan province and the imapact of land use on the habitat quality of this species were evaluated using the Habitat Quality model in the InVEST software. The results showed that 78.99% of the Golestan province has very low quality, 0.03% has medium quality, 2.15% has good quality and 18.81% has very good quality for Cervus elaphus maral living. Also, the results showed that with the expansion of agricultural land, the size of suitable habitats for the species decreases, and animal husbandry itself plays a large role in reducing the size of the suitable habitats for the Cervus elaphus maral. It is better to consider management strategies regarding animal husbandry facilities, urban and rural development, conversion of forest lands, agricultural development with predetermined measures to preserve the habitat of Cervus elaphus maral
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