Determination of the potential habitat of Calligonum Comosum rangelands using geographic information systems and hierarchical analysis (Case study: Hood area in Khuzestan province, Ahwaz city)

This research was conducted in 2015 in Hallaf (Khozestan province), to locate the potential habitat of Calligonum comosum with the use of GIS and analytic hierarchy. For this purpose, at first, the habitat of the study species was determined in the region and the current position of establishment was determined as the natural environment. Accordingly, the ecological needs of Calligonum were identified and recorded in these areas by GPS. To determine the species soil needs, 30 soil samples were taken from 0-50 cm depth. Soil texture, acidity (pH), and electrical conductivity of soil samples were measured. In the next step, layers of climate, physiographic and soil characteristics maps were prepared and standardized with the help of digital data in GIS. Then by using ARC GIS10 software, all the layers were weighted by AHP method. Eventually, by integrating thelayers in Arc GIS and weighted hierarchical model, the layer of potential habitat for the study species was obtained and presented on the map of the region. On the basis of potential habitat, the resulting map was divided into five classes as follows: very high suitability (38% with an area of ​​3775 hectares), high suitability (41% with an area of ​​4149 hectares), suitable (8.6% with an area of ​​798 hectares), low suitability (11% with an area of 1104 hectares), and very poor suitability (1.4% with an area of 148 hectares).