Investigation of Habitat Suitability and Connectivity Pathways of Persian Gazelle (Gazella subgutturusa subgutturosa) in the West of Kermanshah province and East of Iraq (Case Study: Qaraviz No-Hunting Area)

Communication is an important feature of the landscape, which in the event of destruction of biodiversity gets in serious denger. Persian Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa) is one of the salient species of Iranian plain which is distributed in the no hunting area of Qaraviz in the west of Kermanshah province. Due to the vulnerability of habitats of this species, numerous threats have potential to affect this species. As a result, preservation of suitable habitats and communication pathways between these habitats is necessary. The aim of this study is identifying the communication pathways of the species in the Qaraviz no hunting area with western parts of the distribution range in Iraq. Initially, suitability of the species habitat was obtained using the Maxent model. Then, the results of the model were extended to the boundary that includes the connectivity range between Iran and Iraq. In order to modelling, presence points of species and 9 habitat variables were used. By applying the threshold on the habitat suitability map, the habitat blocks were identified. The reversal of the suitability map was used as transfer cost map. Paradigm modeling was conducted using the least cost analysis method between the habitat blocks. The results showed that the variables of distance from the road, height and slope had the most effect on the species. Based on the density and suitability of landscape metrics, the highest protection value for the displacement between habitat spots, belongs to the western corridors of the Qaraviz area in the vicinity of Iraq.