Habitat suitability modeling of Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus) using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis in Golestan National Park

Habitat fragmentation affects numerous ecological processes across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Patch size has been identified as a major feature influencing the plant and small mammal communities. Golestan National Park is an important National Park in Iran. but this park has been changed by Tehran-Mashhad Asian Highway to two south and north parts. Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus) has been classified as a vulnerable species. Habitat determination is a complex problem that requires consideration of a wide variety of factors and their relationships. Assessments of habitat for a large area are not viable without a powerful tool. GIS is appropriate for habitat assessment. We used a GIS-based model to predict suitability of habitat for wild Goat. In order to modeling the habitat of this species Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) method in a Biomapper software has been used. In this study, the presence points of species used as a dependent variable and 10 environmental variables used as an independent variable in autumn and winter. So These layers were prepared and analyzed. Habitat suitability map which prepare in this study has showed that suitable habitat for Wild Goat in Golestan National Park located in the slopes of more than 20% and Habitat selection by Wild Goat was positively related to steep slopes. The Oak seeds had a major role on dispersion of Wild Goat in autumn. Also, the most important variables for determining the suitability of Wild Goat habitat is ruggedness and slope and the height players negative role