Modeling potential corridors for the Persian Leopard (Pantera pardus saxicolor) between the two habitats of Khoshyeilagh wildlife refuge and Golestan National Park based on the least-cost path analysis

The restoration and maintenance of landscape connectivity and integration of its elements require reliable and efficient communication models and indicators. Habitat fragmentation is a dynamic process that leads to major changes in the pattern of habitat in a landscape. It describes, generally, the fragmentation and division of vegetation cover and habitat into smaller remnants. Modeling based on the least-cost path analysis is a method used to identify the potential corridors among the isolated habitat patches. This study aims to locate suitable habitats for the Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) in Golestan National Park and Khoshyeilagh Wildlife refuge and the area between these habitats. Given the close proximity of these habitats, their connectivity for the safe movement and energy consumption minimization of the Persian Leopard has vital role in gene flow and prevention of genetic isolation of the species. The habitat suitability for the Persian Leopard in the study area was analyzed using the ecological niche factor and biomapper software. The data layers used as effective variables in the presence of the species are: elevation, slope, vegetation index (NDVI), distance from roads, distance from villages, streams, and rivers. The possibility of corridor existence between the two habitats was studied by the least-cost path analysis. The results of probable map corridors proved that the northern parts of Khoshyeilagh wildlife refuge and the southern parts of Golestan National Park are the shortest and the safest pathways for the species movement. Conservation of these regions is of high importance, because the best route through which the leopard can move between the two habitats are located in these sections.