Prey and predator micro-habitat selection relationships (Case study: Sand Cat in Sistan and Baluchistan Province)

During more than two years, we investigated Sand Cat habitat peculiarities in Bazman of Sistan and Baluchistan Province in circular plots of 50 m radius. In this presence plots we recorded rodent’s density and richness with live Sherman traps. We also recorded encounter rate with rodents which can not be trapped by Sherman traps such as Dipodidae family. Data from Sand Cat presence plots were compared with absence plots using paired T test analysis.This study showed that there is significant difference in rodent’s density in such two groups of plots. We resulted that the predator micro habitat selection can be strongly affecte by prey habitat selection while this may not be true regarding macro habitat scale such as predator home range. Here habitat variables will be more important which related to the cover, the second most important habitat factor and wildlife welfare variables.