Combining multiscale niche modeling, landscape connectivity, and gap analysis to prioritize habitats for conservation of striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena)

Abstract

Identifying spatial gaps in conservation networks requires information on species-environment relationships, and prioritization of habitats and corridors. We combined multi-extent niche modeling, landscape connectivity, and gap analysis to investigate scale-dependent environmental relationships, and identify core habitats and corridors for a little-known carnivore in Iran, the striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena). This species is threatened in Iran by road vehicle collisions and direct killing. Therefore, understanding the factors that affect its habitat suitability, spatial pattern of distribution, and connectivity among them are prerequisite steps to delineate strategies aiming at human-striped hyaena co-existence. The results showed that the highest predictive power and extent of habitats was obtained at the extent sizes of 4 and 2 km, respectively. Also, connectivity analysis revealed that the extent and number of core habitats and corridors changed with increasing dispersal distance, and approximately 21% of the landscape was found to support corridors. The results of gap analysis showed that 15–17% of the core habitats overlapped with conservation areas. Given the body size of the species, its mobility, and lack of significant habitat specialization we conclude that this species would be more strongly influenced by changes in habitat amount rather than landscape configuration. Our approach showed that the scale of variables and dispersal ability must be accounted for in conservation efforts to prioritize habitats and corridors, and designing conservation areas. Our results could facilitate the conservation of striped hyaena through the identification and prioritization of habitats, establishment of conservation areas, and mitigating conflicts in corridors.

Identifying connectivity for two sympatric carnivores in human-dominated landscapes in central Iran

“…Long-term species conservation depends on connectivity, which is essential for preserving the genetic and demographic processes that ensure long-term viability [ 14 ]. Connectivity of populations is of paramount importance to both conserve species locally and to secure their range shifts in response to future hazards such as land use change [ 15 , 16 ] and climate change [ 17 – 19 ]. Enhancing conservation network connectivity can help to mitigate the negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation [ 20 , 21 ].…”

MaxEnt brings comparable results when the input data are being completed; Model parameterization of four species distribution models

“…Therefore, we also computed true statistic skill (TSS) as a threshold‐dependent measure of classification accuracy calculated as sensitivity + specificity – 1. We used the package “PresenceAbsence” to evaluate the performance of the models and the threshold “10 percentile of training suitability” (Ahmadi et al, 2020 ; Rezaei et al, 2022 ) was set to calculate the threshold‐dependent measures. In Addition to these traditionally‐used metrics, which give an absolute measure of the model performance, we plotted the sensitivity and specificity of the models against an ascending gradient of 100 thresholds to obtain more informative inferences on the models' predictive performance.…”

Spatio-temporal genetic structure of the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) populations inhabiting national parks in South Korea: Implications for conservation and management of protected areas

“…Because the connectivity largely affects dispersal of not only mice, but also other mammalian species across the national park habitats, large efforts need to be made to improve the connectivity for the purpose of sustaining regional biodiversity (Kahilainen et al, 2014;Almasieh et al, 2022). Particular attention should be paid to restoring possible "genetic barrier" located in the Woraksan National Park and continuous monitoring and priority on development of conservation and management program, such as prioritization or construction of ecological corridor would be required (Thapa et al, 2018;Rezaei et al, 2022). In order to improve the connectivity, it is necessary to identify physical barriers (e.g., roads) to animal movements that cause population disconnection or isolation (Almasieh et al, 2022).…”

“…Knowledge of degrees of connectivity informs decisions regarding conservation and management plans to facilitate the movements of animals, particularly for fragmented populations or habitats (Epps et al, 2018;Thapa et al, 2018;Jang et al, 2021). Recently, habitat connectivity has become exacerbated in terrestrial ecosystems, primarily due to severe habitat destruction and fragmentation, resulting from ongoing human activities such as road and railway constructions, which ultimately leads to the declines in all levels of biodiversity (Pereira et al, 2010;Rands et al, 2010;Almasieh et al, 2022;Rezaei et al, 2022). Habitat fragmentation has adverse effects on dispersal of organisms, leading to the reduction in gene flow among populations, which depletes within-population genetic diversity, causing escalating inbreeding and genetic drift effects (Khimoun et al, 2016).…”