2024-03-28T19:14:11+04:30 http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/browse.php?mag_id=32&slc_lang=fa&sid=1
32-996 2024-03-28 10.1002
Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2476-3128 2476-3217 doi 2020 9 2 Distribution Patterns and Endemism of the genus Onosma L. (Boraginaceae) in Central Alborz F. Khajoei Nasab farzaneh.khajoei@yahoo.com A. R. Mehrabian A_mehrabian@sbu.ac.ir A. Nemati Parshkouh homolus@yahoo.com The evaluation as well as data banking of distribution patterns are considered as the most important management action for the conservation of biodiversity. Iran is considered as one of the most important of diversity centers of Onosma L. and includes a high rate of endemism. Due to the lack of adequate data on conservation and distribution patterns of the genus at local scale, the current study was conducted in Central Alborz, as an important diversity and endemism centers in Iran, based on field and herbarium assessments, using Geographic Information System. Sampling was performed as a survey of reported points as well as other parts of the region. For physico-chemical analysis of soils, pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), organic carbon (C) and soil texture of each habitat were measured from the surface to the depth of plant roots. Results indicated that studied species are mainly distributed at the elevation range of 1257 to 3060 m.a.s.l. Members of Haplotricha subdivision are scattered at an altitude of 307 to1257 m and Heterotricha subdivision at an altitude of 2880-1589 m. Dominantly, the studied species are distributed in semi-arid and Mediterranean climates. However, some species are distributed in semi-humid climate. Generally, most of the species are distributed in habitats with an average annual rainfall of about 250 to 500 mm, on sedimentary, sedimentary-volcanic, igneous and rarely on quaternary deposits. Soils` pH ranged between 7.13 (O. gaubae) and 8 (O. dichroantha). Studied species are often on loamy clay sandy soils. Less than 50% of the populations of various Onosma species, across the study area, are located in protected areas. In addition, O. gaubae is classified as a rare taxon with a priority for conservation, due to its very small population size and geographical range. The current study has also analyzed the distribution patterns of Onosma in Central Alborz region, based on geo-botanical factors. Findings of this study can be used as an important step to improve the distribution patterns of the genus in Iran and the southwest Asia. Onosma Distribution pattern Geology Phytgeography Northwestern geomorphological unit 2020 8 01 1 18 http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-996-en.pdf 10.47176/ijae.9.2.12551
32-1005 2024-03-28 10.1002
Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2476-3128 2476-3217 doi 2020 9 2 Predicting distribution of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) using an ensemble modeling approach: A Case Study: Saveh Zarandieh Kharaghan Area, Markazi Province A. Ansari A-ansari@araku.ac.ir Adequate knowledge about suitable habitats for wildlife is essential to prevent habitat destruction and extinction of species and for their conservation and management. The Eurasian lynx is one of the mostly distributed cats in Asia. In this study, we applied an ensemble habitat suitability modeling approach, using ten predictor variables to model Eurasian Lynx’s habitat suitability in Saveh Zarandieh Kharaghan Area, Markazi Province. Due to the high value of the area under the curve index (AUC > 0.9) for Maximum Entropy, Random Forest, Boosted Regression Tree, and Generalized Linear Model, these models were used to produce the final distribution model of the target species. Based on the ensemble model, 53.22% of Saveh Zarandieh Kharaghan Area were identified as suitable for this species. According to the results, distance to residential areas, distance to river and availability of prey were identified as the most important variables, affecting the distribution of Eurasian Lynx. This study indicated that the Eurasian Lynx habitats need more protection.   Eurasian Lynx Ensemble modelling of habitat suitability Species Distribution Modelling package R software Kharaghan prohibited Area 2020 8 01 19 30 http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-1005-en.pdf 10.47176/ijae.9.2.9364
32-974 2024-03-28 10.1002
Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2476-3128 2476-3217 doi 2020 9 2 Investigating Species Diversity of Family Brassicaceae along Khorramabad-Andimeshk Highway M. M. Dehshiri dehshiri2005@yahoo.com S. Sajedi s_sajedi10@yahoo.com Y. Asri asriyounes@yahoo.com To achieve sustainable development as well as the conservation of natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, it is necessary to study ecological foctors and their impacts on plant species diversity. The Khorramabad-Andimeshk highway was selected in the current study to investigate the diversity of the family Brassicaceae. The length of this highway is 100 km and its height ranged from 420 to 1740 m. The altitudinal range was divided into three classes. Sampling was performed separately at each of these classes in six time periods of one month interval. In each month, 300 plots (4 m2) were conducted with a distance interval of 5 km, based on the minimal area method. Data of each class were analyzed, using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the indices of species richness and diversity. A total of 46 species, belonging to 33 genera were identified. The majority of Brassicaceae species, across the study area, were annual plant species (41 species), showing the characteristic of arid and semi-arid environments. Results showed that elevation has no effect on species diversity but it has a significant effect on species richness. In addition, growth time has significant effects on species diversity and richness. The highest level of species richness was observed in the lower altitudes and the highest indices of species diversity and richness were recorded in March and May. Vegetation Life form Flora Lorestan Arid and semi-arid areas Phytogeographical regions 2020 8 01 31 44 http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-974-en.pdf 10.47176/ijae.9.2.12281
32-977 2024-03-28 10.1002
Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2476-3128 2476-3217 doi 2020 9 2 Predicting the Potential Habitat Distribution of Crataegus Pontica C. Koch, Using a Combined Modeling Approach in Lorestan Province R. jafari reza.jafari@iut.ac.ir Gh. rafiee mo g.rafiee@na.iut.ac.ir S. H. matinkhah Matinkhah@iut.ac.ir M. tarkesh isfahani m_tarkesh@iut.ac.ir H. R. karimzadeh karimzadeh@iut.ac.ir Z. jafari zahra.jafari@na.iut.ac.ir Habitat degradation is one the important reasons of plant species extinction. Modeling techniques are widely used for identifying the potential habitats of different plant species. Thus, the purpose of current study was to determine potential habitats of Zalzalak in Lorestan Province. Species presence data and 23 environmental variables were collected in Lorestan Province. Correlation analysis was then applied to reduce the environmental variables into nine effective ones and potential habitat of the species was determined using five models including Maximum Entropy (MAXENT),Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Generalized Additive Models (GAM), Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) and Generalized Boosting Model (GBM). Models were evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots, true skill statistic (TSS) and Kappa coefficients. Results showed that ROC and Kappa coefficients were excellent for all models and TSS values were excellent for GBM and MAXENT, good for MARS and GAM and medium for GLM model. According to the combined model, 40% of the province was classified as suitable and 60% as unsuitable. The precipitation of the three coldest months of the year, annual rainfall and elevation were the most effective environmental variables in Zalzalak habitat mapping. The maximum presence of the species occurred at the rainfall and elevation range of 160–220 mm and 1300–1850 m, respectively. Due to the high accuracy of the Zalzalak suitable habitat map, it can be used by related organizations, as an appropriate tool for reclamation of degraded regions and conservation of current habitats. Habitat modeling Environmental variables NDVI Combined model Crataegus Pontica 2020 8 01 45 59 http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-977-en.pdf 10.47176/ijae.9.2.12131
32-993 2024-03-28 10.1002
Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2476-3128 2476-3217 doi 2020 9 2 Height and Crown Area Distribution of Cionura erecta Shrub lands in chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Using Probability Distribution Functions A. heidari safari kouchi heidariabouzar@gmail.com K. taheri abkenar kmbiztaheriabkenar@gmail.com F. moradian fard f_moradianfard@yahoo.com Y. iran manesh y_iranmanesh@yahoo.com Importance of probability distribution functions in natural resource studies is increasing due to their effective roles in better understanding of vegetation structure and providing conceptual models of quantitative indices of plant species. The present study was performed to model the distribution of height and canopy area of Cionura erecta L. shrub, using probability distribution functions in Chahar-Tagh forest reserve in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Height and crown cover (the largest and smallest diameters) of the studied species were measured by a strip meter in 35 sample plots of 10r area. The area of canopy cover was calculated by considering the crown shape of the studied species as a circle. Normal, Log-normal, Beta, Gamma, Weibull and Exponential probability distribution functions were used to model the height and canopy cover of the studied species and their goodness of fit were examined by Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Anderson Darling tests. Results showed bell-shaped distributions skewed to the right for height classes and in the case of the canopy cover it was decreasing. Beta and Gamma distribution functions were identified as the most appropriate functions for fitting to the height curve and Log-normal and Weibull functions were the most suitable ones for modeling the canopy cover. The present study showed that the quantitative characters of the studied species are far from a normal distribution under the influence of human activities. Anderson-Darling Chahartagh Gamma goodness of fit Zagros 2020 8 01 61 71 http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-993-en.pdf 10.47176/ijae.9.2.12521
32-990 2024-03-28 10.1002
Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2476-3128 2476-3217 doi 2020 9 2 Application of Artificial Neural Network in Landscape Change Process in Gharesou Watershed, Golestan Province H. R. Kamyab hrkamyab@gau.ac.ir Siroos Alipour Varaki siroosalipour1@gmail.com Land use change is certainly the most important factor that affects the conservation of natural ecosystems, resulting the conversion of natural lands such as forests and pastures into agricultural, industrial and urban areas. Despite numerous studies investigating landscape patterns due to land use change, the driving forces of landscape change has been less studied in Iran. In this study, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) method was used to investigate the process of landscape change using ten variables including slope, distance from built-up areas, water bodies, road, forest edge, rangland and agriculture, number of forest classes and elevation. Aspect and distance from water bodies variables were removed based on the Cramer’s V statistic. Using transition potential maps, land cover distribution patterns for the year 2032 were created. Also, the relative effects of the 10 predictor variables were evaluated through the sensitivity of the model by forcing a single independent variable to be constant. Distance from rangeland and distance from built-up areas were the most influential variables on land use change. Kappa coefficient was used to assess the accuracy of the modeling approach. Kappa value for ANN was 0.82. We also used landscape analysis to compare modeling results through landscape change process. The general pattern of land use change in Gharesoo Watershed showed that the landscape change process related to human (built-up areas and agricultural lands) was in the form of creation and aggregation and the category of change for natural uses (rangeland and forestland) was in the form of loss and fragmentation. Introducing "Landscape Change Process" approach in this study provides a comprehensive understanding of changes in the landscape configuration for each land use class by simplifying the analysis. Land use change modeling Landscape change process Artificial Neural Network Gharesou Watershed 2020 8 01 73 87 http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-990-en.pdf 10.47176/ijae.9.2.12471