Assessing the structural changes of Maral habitat (Cervus elaphus maral) based on analysis of temporal changes of habitat suitability layer and landscape ecology metrics in Lisar protectd areas in Guilan

No ecosystem is island and ecosystem sustainability depend on fitting the context of the ecosystem and the internal capabilities. Among the factors threatening biodiversity, habitat loss and habitat fragmentation are on top of major threats of habitat diversity that many protected areas has been unable to fulfill the functions defined. Therefore, analysis of the temporal changes of the protected areas and direction of composition and spatial distribution of the changes are requirements of the management of these areas The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal changes in habitat suitability as the basis of the protected areas and analyzing these changes by using landscape metrics for red deer (Cervus elaphus maral) in Hyrcanian forests of Lisar protected area in Gilan. Based on the results, besides the 35 percent decline in habitat suitability layer, we see an increase of 34 percent in the number of patches, 89 percent of edge density, 26 percent total of edge and reduction of 53% of the average size of patches. The results indicated a drop in the quantity and quality of habitat in the area investigated. This result confirms that increasing habitat destruction through the process of habitat loss and fragmentation has reduced the potential for the release and dispersal of the maral in habitat and gradually it provides the background of local extinction so reconstruction area is a key priority for management.