Habitat suitability modeling for Juniper (Juniperus foetidissima) in Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve

Document Type : Scientific article

Author

Assistant Professor, Departement of Environment, Yazd University, Yazd, I. R. Iran

Abstract

Juniper (JuniperusfoetidissimaWilld.) is classified as a Least Concern (LC) species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but its distribution has decreased as a flagship and longevous species in East Azarbaijan province during last decades, and hence it is important to protect its habitats. In this research, the habitat suitability of Juniper in Arasbaran biosphere reserve, as the only habitat of this species in Iran, was considered. For the habitat suitability modeling of this species, Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) method and ENFA software were used. Results showed that this species has narrow ecological niche and is sensitive to habitat changes. Information layers determined as affecting variables on this species include slope, aspect, elevation, land form, Geology and climate. Results showed that 27.17% of Arasbaran biosphere reserve were suitable for Juniper. The suitable habitats were recognized to be in areas with elevation range of 330 to 1500 meters above sea level, 10 to 60 percent of slope, hillsides, mediterranean and semi-arid climates. The results of this research is suitable for sustainable management of forest ecosystems, reclamation and land protection.

Keywords

References

- Ali Ahmad Korori, S. & M. Khoshnevis, 2000. Ecological and Environmental Studies of Juniperus Habitats in Iran, Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, 208 p (In Persian).
- Ali Ahmad Koruri, S., M. Khoshnevis & M. Matinizadeh, 2011. Comprehensive studies of Juniperus species in Iran, Published by Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization, Tehran, 550 p (In Persian).
- Alijanpour, A., 2000. Investigation and determination of optimum statistical methods at Arasbaran forests. PhD thesis. Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran, 165 p (In Persian).
- Alijanpour, A., 2016. Quantitative analysis of fruit production of Cornus mas L. in Arasbaran forests, Forest Research and Development, 2(1): 49-62 (In Persian).
- Alizadeh, A., 2013. The Principles of Applied Hydrology, Imam Reza (AS) University, Mashhad, 928 p (In Persian).
- Asri, Y. & L. Partonia, 2017. Site and silvicultural characteristics of Juniperus foetidissima Willd. endangered species in Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve, Iranian Journal Forest and Poplar Research, 24(4): 687-699 (In Persian).
- Bahrami, B. & A. Ghorbani, 2016. Investigation and determining environmental factors affecting on distribution of rangeland habitats in Southeast of Sabalan, Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 7(1): 33-44 (In Persian).
- Blackburn, J. k., 2006. Evaluating the spatial ecology of anthrax in North America: examining epidemiological components across multiple geographic scales using a GIS-based approach. PhD thesis. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 141 p.
- Carvalho, J. C. & P. Gomes, 2004. Influence of herbaceous cover, shelter and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in NW Portugal, Acta Theriologica, 49(1): 63-74.
- Daghestani, M., M. Zanganeh & M. Taheri, 2017. Investigation on quantitative characteristic and soil properties of Juniperus excels M.Bieb stands in Tarom Zanjan, Journal of Forest Research and Development, 3(2): 175-190. (In Persian)
- Ebrahimi Gajoti., T. Kh. Sagheb-Talebi, A. Razban Haghighi, N. Kasebi & Y. Imani, 2015. Site demands of juniper (Juniperus foetidissima Wild.) in Arasbaran, East Azerbaijan Province, Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 23(3): 452–464 (In Persian).
- Esfanjani, J., M. A. Z. Chahouki, H. Rouhani, M. M. Esmaeili & B. Behmanesh, 2017. Suitability habitat modeling species using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) in rangelands Chaharbagh of Golestan province, Iran, Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 23(3): 516-525 (In Persian).
- Farjon, A., 1992. The taxonomy of multispeed juniperus (Juniperus Sect. sabina) in southwest Asia and east Africa (Taxonomic notes on Cupressaceae I), Edinburgh Journal of Botany, 49(3): 251-283.
- Farjon, A., 2013. Juniperus foetidissima. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013, http: .dx.doi.org. 10.2305. IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42234A2965043.en. Accessed 7th September 2017.
- Fathzadeh, A., 2014. Final Report of Research Project Environmental Planning of Siyahkuh National Park Part 3: Climate & Weather), Department of the Environment I.R. IRAN, Yazd (In Persian).
- Gardner, A. S. & M. Fisher, 1996. The Distribution and Status of the Montane Juniper Woodlands of Oman, Journal of Biology, 23(6): 791-803.
- Guisan, A., & N.E. Zimmermann, 2000. Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology, Ecological Modeling, 135(2-3): 147-186.
- Hirzel A. H. & A. Guisan, 2002. Which is the optimal sampling strategy for habitat suitability modelling, Ecological Modelling, 157(2-3): 331-341.
- Hirzel, A. H. & R. Arletaz, 2003. Modeling habitat suitability for complex species distribution by the environmental distance geometric mean, Environmental Management, 32(5): 614-623.
- Hirzel, A. H., 2001.When GIS come to life, linking landscape and population ecology for large population management modeling: the case of ibex (Capra ibex) in Switzerland. PhD thesis. Institue of Ecology, Laboratory for Conservation Biology, University of Lausanne, 114 pp.
- Hirzel, A. H., G. Le Lay, V. Helfer, C. Randin & A. Guisan, 2006. Evaluating the ability of habitat suitability models to predict species presences, Ecological Modelling, 199(2): 142-152.
- Hirzel, A. H., J. Hausser & N. Perrin, 2004. Biomapper 3.1.Division of Conservation Biology, University of Bern. Available at http:.www.unil.ch.biomapper.
- Hirzel, A. H., J. Hausser, D. Chessel & N. Perrin, 2002. Ecological niche factor analysis: how to compute habitat suitability maps without presence data, Ecology, 83(7): 2027–2036.
- IUCN., 2017. Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2017-1. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed 7th September 2017.
- Javanshir, K., 1976. Iranian shrub and woody plants Atlas, Iran National Society of Natural Resources Conservation, Tehran, Iran, 163 p (In Persian).
- Javanshir, K., 1991. Forestry of Aras and Urmia Watersheds. Jame Iran Consulting Engineers. Report number: 11, 144 p (In Persian).
- Liprieur, V. E., J. M. Durand & J. L. Peyron, 1988. Influence of topography on forest reflectance using Landsat Thematic Mapper and digital terrain data, Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 54(4): 461-496.
- Maghsoudlou Nezhad, M., S.H. Shataee, H. Habashi & M. Babanezhad, 2013. Spatial and statistical analysis of quantitative characteristics of Juniperus stands in Chahar–bagh of Gorgan regarding to topographic and soil features, Iranian Journal of Forest, 5(2): 195 -206 (In Persian).
- Mahdavi. M., 1995. Applied Hydrology. Tehran University Press, second edition, Tehran, Iran, Vol. 1.2 (In Persian).
- Majnoniyan, H., 2000. Iran's protected areas. Foundations and measures to protect the park and regions, Environmental Protection Agency, Tehran, Iran, 216 p (In Persian).
- Manel, S., J. M. Dias & S. J. Ormerod, 1999. Comparing discriminant analysis, neural networks and logistic regression for predicting species distributions: a case study with a Himalayan river bird, Ecological Modelling, 120(2): 337-347.
- Marzluff, J. M. & K. Ewing, 2001. Restoration of fragmented landscapes for the conservation of birds: A general framework and specific recommendations for urbanizing landscapes, Restoration Ecology, 9(3): 280-292.
- Rheissi, B., N. Azami, P. Mokhtari Zenozi & L. Partonia, 2012a. Molecular identification of the Species under threat of juniper based on SrDNA18 in Arasbaran. Proceedings of 12th National Iranian Genetics Congress, Tehran, Iranian Society of Genetics (In Persian).
- Rheissi, B., P. Mokhtari Zenozi, N. Azami & L. Partonia, 2012b. Molecular identification of the juniper populations at risk of extinction threatened in the protected area of Arasbaran. Proceedings of 12th National Iranian Genetics Congress, Tehran, Iranian Society of Genetics (In Persian).
- Sarhangzadeh, J., 1996. Land use planning of Arasbaran protected area, MSc thesis. Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modarres University, Nur, Iran, 246 p (In Persian).
- Sarhangzadeh, J., M. H. Iran Nejadparazi, A. Mosleh Arani & H. Akbari, 2017. Study of growth conditions (Genetic, Biometric and Establishment) of Juniper (Juniperus excelsa) in Kouh-e-Bafgh protected area. Iran Iron Ore Company Bafgh, Yazd Province. Report number: 1, 128 p (In Persian).
- Shirzad, M. A. & M. Tabari, 2011. Effect of some environmental factors on diversity of woody plants in Juniperus excelsa habitat of Hezarmasjed Mountains, Iranian Journal of Biology, 24(6): 800 -808 (In Persian).
- Wilson, J. P. & J. C. Gallant, 2000. Terrain Analysis, Principles and Applications, John Wiley and Sons Press, New York, 479 p.
- Zare Chahouki, M. A. & M. Abasi, 2016a. Habitat suitability modeling for Stipa barbata using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) (case study: rangeland of middle Taleghan), Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 7(4): 1-16 (In Persian).
- Zare Chahouki, M. A. & M. Abasi, 2016b. Habitat suitability modeling for Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen.using ecological-niche factor analysis (case study: rangeland of middle Taleghan), Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 32(4): 516-526 (In Persian).
Forest Research and Development
Volume 5, Issue 1
June 2019
Pages 93-112

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics