Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran
Abstract Southern Iran is a conservation priority area for the endangered Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager), which is threatened by habitat fragmentation and conflict with local communities. To better understand factors that influence onager conservation, we administered a questionnaire in loca...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91921-w |
| _version_ | 1818978710799253504 |
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| author | Alireza Mohammadi Kamran Almasieh Ho Yi Wan Danial Nayeri Amir Alambeigi Jason I. Ransom Samuel A. Cushman |
| author_facet | Alireza Mohammadi Kamran Almasieh Ho Yi Wan Danial Nayeri Amir Alambeigi Jason I. Ransom Samuel A. Cushman |
| author_sort | Alireza Mohammadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Southern Iran is a conservation priority area for the endangered Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager), which is threatened by habitat fragmentation and conflict with local communities. To better understand factors that influence onager conservation, we administered a questionnaire in local communities to survey their ecological knowledge, personal experience related to onager, and attitudes toward traditional solutions for reducing crop damage by onager. In addition, we used resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path analyses to identify core areas and corridors for onager movement, and spatial randomization of vehicle collisions and crossing locations to test the predictive ability of resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path predictions of movement. We found that local communities that were knowledgeable about onagers experienced less crop damage from onager compared with those who used traditional methods. Habitat connectivity models revealed that core areas of movement are highly concentrated at the center of protected areas. Some sections of core areas have been cut off by roads where most vehicle collisions with onagers occurred. We propose that effective onager conservation will require integrated landscape-level management to reduce mortality risk, protection of core areas and corridors, development of mitigation strategies to reduce vehicle collisions, and conflict mediation between local communities and onagers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:47:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0adf0fe5b3ee4f999f480207bb184283 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:47:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-0adf0fe5b3ee4f999f480207bb1842832022-12-21T19:32:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-06-0111111210.1038/s41598-021-91921-wIntegrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern IranAlireza Mohammadi0Kamran Almasieh1Ho Yi Wan2Danial Nayeri3Amir Alambeigi4Jason I. Ransom5Samuel A. Cushman6Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of JiroftDepartment of Nature Engineering, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of KhuzestanDepartment of Wildlife, Humboldt State UniversityDepartment of Wildlife, Humboldt State UniversityDepartment of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agricultural Economics and Development, University of TehranDepartment of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State UniversityUSDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research StationAbstract Southern Iran is a conservation priority area for the endangered Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager), which is threatened by habitat fragmentation and conflict with local communities. To better understand factors that influence onager conservation, we administered a questionnaire in local communities to survey their ecological knowledge, personal experience related to onager, and attitudes toward traditional solutions for reducing crop damage by onager. In addition, we used resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path analyses to identify core areas and corridors for onager movement, and spatial randomization of vehicle collisions and crossing locations to test the predictive ability of resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path predictions of movement. We found that local communities that were knowledgeable about onagers experienced less crop damage from onager compared with those who used traditional methods. Habitat connectivity models revealed that core areas of movement are highly concentrated at the center of protected areas. Some sections of core areas have been cut off by roads where most vehicle collisions with onagers occurred. We propose that effective onager conservation will require integrated landscape-level management to reduce mortality risk, protection of core areas and corridors, development of mitigation strategies to reduce vehicle collisions, and conflict mediation between local communities and onagers.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91921-w |
| spellingShingle | Alireza Mohammadi Kamran Almasieh Ho Yi Wan Danial Nayeri Amir Alambeigi Jason I. Ransom Samuel A. Cushman Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran Scientific Reports |
| title | Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran |
| title_full | Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran |
| title_fullStr | Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran |
| title_short | Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran |
| title_sort | integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human onager conflict in southern iran |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91921-w |
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