Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology

---

  Investigation of the ecological characteristics of wildlife species and determination of habitat suitability for them is one of the main pillars for wildlife management and protection. In this study, the winter and spring habitat suitability of black woodpecker (Dryocopusmartius) was studied in ShastKalateh forest. Habitat characteristics, including forest vegetationtype, structural characteristics of vegetation and topographic parameters together with presence and absence of woodpeckers were recorded within each of 103 sampling plots with a radius of 25 m. The Results of binary logistic regression showed that forest vegetation type, the number of snags, fallen dead trees and trees with height more than 20 m together with habitat elevation (a.s.l.) were the most important parameters affecting the presence of black woodpecker in spring. Moreover, forest vegetation type, the number of snags, trees with height more than 20 m and trees with dbh more than 20 cm together with the elevation (a.s.l.) and slope of habitat were the most important parameters affecting the presence of black woodpecker in winter. The results indicated that this bird species prefers old forest habitats composed with tall and thick trees specially beech trees. Due to high dependency of species such as black woodpecker on the old and undisturbed forest habitats, controlling severe exploitation of such habitats is therefore essential for the conservation of such bird species.

---

The species composition of a bird community is dependent upon many factors. Within any geographic area, vegetation structure may be the most important factor. The changes of bird community composition based on foraging behavior in relation to 3 different harvesting systems, including strip cutting, group selection logging, and single tree selection logging, was evaluated in a virgin area in this study. Birds and environmental variables were detected within 103 circle sampling plots with 25m radius. Based on the results, 4 groups of birds were observed in treatments based on the foraging behavior. Group 1 was ground foragers, group 2 consisted of foliage gleaning, group 3 included flycatchers, and group 4 represented bark foraging. The first group had the highest abundance in the strip treatment. The second group in group selection treatment, and the third and fourth groups had the highest abundance in the virgin area and then, in single tree selection treatment. The first group showed the highest correlation with shrub and herb or grass layer, stone cover and the number of trees 10-20m in height. The second, third and fourth groups showed the highest correlation with the number of trees>20m in height, basal areas, dead trees number, and the number of fagus trees. The results showed the single cutting treatment had a relatively minor effect on mature forest bird species and were more appropriate and sustainable methods to reduce the negative effects of forest harvesting on the birds.

---

Mapping spatial patterns of potential biodiversity threats is one of the important steps for effective conservation planning and activities. To determine the spatial patterns of threats in Golestan province, 12 criteria in four main groups including structural (fractal coefficient of perimeter, circularity ratio of area, average slope), compositional aspects of biodiversity (presence of species at risk), non-biological threats (distance to city, distance to village, distance to road, distance to infrastructure, distance to agricultural land, soil pollution, risk of fire) and isolation (Nearest Neighbor Index) were used. These data layers were digitized in GIS environment and were weighted through Analytical Hierarchy Process. A weighted linear combination was then used to map the spatial pattern of biodiversity threats in the province. Compositional aspect (0.59), non-biological threats (0.23), isolation (0.11), and structural aspect (0.07) were relatively weighted in the order of importance. Central parts of the province and patches in the northern and southern parts were recognized to be more exposed to biodiversity threats. The central parts of the province were mostly threatened by urban, industrial, road and agricultural development, whereas the northern and southern parts were recognized as areas of conservation importance having a variety of threatened birds.