Habitat use and population genetics of golden jackals in Iran: Insights from a generalist species in a highly heterogeneous landscape

Abstract

Generalist species are often characterized by low habitat specialization and reduced genetic structure in their populations. Here, we tested this common assumption on golden jackals in Iran, a wide country with a highly heterogeneous landscape where this carnivore is assumed to be widespread, although little is known about the ecology and population genetics of this species. We investigate distribution patterns, habitat requirements, and niche breadth of golden jackals by using GIS techniques and ecological modeling over a total of 452 presence records. We then assessed genetic diversity and population structure by analyzing 24 samples for 43 microsatellites. The observed distribution patterns show an extensive range across a wide climatic, ecological and altitudinal gradient, covering eight climate regions and 16 terrestrial ecoregions. Ecological modeling confirms high habitat plasticity of the golden jackal, with selection of mountainous areas with high slopes, moderate temperatures, and areas with low human population and activity while avoiding hyper-arid regions. Estimated values of niche breadth were high, indicating that is a generalist species in the study area. The observed genetic diversity was high, representing the highest value reported so far in this species. We found no signature of population structure, suggesting a single genetic cluster, as well as no evidence of hybridization with domestic dogs.Our results provide valuable ecological and genetic information on a widespread but poorly known carnivore, often disregarded in conservation strategies but under pressure from anthropogenic threats.

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

“…Golden jackal is highly adapted to live in human-dominated landscapes where they take advantage of various anthropogenic resources [ 78 – 80 ], however, our findings revealed that they generally are found with higher probability in areas more distant from human occupation, with the exception of dump sites. Consistent with our findings, Yusefi et al (2021) showed that this species found in an area with low human population [ 41 ]. Our findings revealed that growing distance to dumpsites reduces the occurrence of this species, which is consistent with this species’ scavenging behavior.…”

“…Grey wolf and golden jackal, both are two of the most widely distributed carnivores globally and in Iran [ 36 – 41 ]. Generalist diet and plasticity in habitat selection has enabled these canids to occur across a wide range of habitats including human dominated landscapes [ 9 , 41 , 42 ] However, following reductions in prey species density in Iranian Conservation Areas (Cas) [ 43 ], the occurrence of these species in rural regions, where they may get food from pastoral sources, such as livestock, has increased over the last several decades [ 44 – 46 ]. Consequently, they have become highly vulnerable to conflict with humans [ 47 ].…”

“…Similarly, there is little information about golden jackal ecology in Iran. Only some studies on diet [ 52 ], habitat use [ 41 ], and connectivity [ 9 ]. Other aspects important for the management of the species, such as core habitats, distribution, and connectivity, are still poorly known [ 53 ].…”

“…Other aspects important for the management of the species, such as core habitats, distribution, and connectivity, are still poorly known [ 53 ]. The current knowledge on the ecology of golden jackal and grey wolf in Iran remains limited, as only one study has been devoted to habitat use of each of them: a study on grey wolf habitat suitability in central Iran [ 9 ] and research on golden jackal habitat use in Iran [ 41 ]. As elsewhere, both species are also under anthropogenic pressure in Iran, suffering direct persecution due to low public acceptance, livestock depredation and human attacks [ 50 , 53 , 54 ].…”

Rapid expansion of the golden jackal in Greece: research, management and conservation priorities

“…The golden jackal Canis aureus is a habitat generalist (Yusefi et al 2021) and one of the canids with the widest global distributions, covering large parts of Asia and southern, central and eastern Europe (Hoffmann et al 2018). In continental Europe, the distribution of the species has recently been very dynamic, undergoing phases of contraction, recovery and expansion (Arnold et al 2012).…”