Determination of Carrying Capacity and Nutritional Dietary of Gazella Subgutturosa in Sorkh-e-Hesar National Park, Tehran province, Iran

Gazella subgutturosa, which is herbivorous and ruminating mammals, is one of the artiodactyls in Iran. This species is one of the most important herbivorous species of Iranian plain. It is also distributed in some protected area like Sorkhe-hesar national Park. The aim of this project was determination of Nutritional carrying capacity of habitat and amount of available forages in critical season by using cutting and weighing method. Primary observations have been performed for determination of habitat restrictions and monitoring tracks of this species. Therefore total monitoring tracks for this species was measured 44 Km. Then these tracks have been visited daily and exact points for species presenting were recorded by GPS. In addition, herbaceous species, which are feed by Gazella subgutturosa were identified and also listed by direct observation. Dried weight and density of herbaceous species which were grazed by Gazella subgutturosa were detected and biomass of Gazella subgutturosa habitat was calculated as well. In next section, nutritional carrying capacity of Gazella subgutturosa in critical period was measured by using animal units and daily requirement of Gazella subgutturosa to feeding. Cutting and weighting method and direct observation were also used for this measurement. At the end of this project, 15 herbaceous species from 8 classes, which are using by Gazella subgutturosa and wild sheep, have been identified. Furthermore it is recognized that Poaceae with 8 species have most diversity in Gazella subgutturosa diet. To sum up, total carrying capacity for Gazella subgutturosa protection in this area has been calculated 56 and 107 units with and without competitor’s assumption respectively.