Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in Iran

Habitat degradation and hunting are among the most important causes of population decline for Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus, two of the most threatened game species in the Golestan Province of Iran. Limited data on distribution and location of high–quality habitats for the two species mak...

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Main Authors: Momeni Dehaghi, I., Salmanmahiny, A., Karimi, S., Shabani, A. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona 2018-01-01
Series:Animal Biodiversity and Conservation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC_41-1_pp_185-193.pdf
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author Momeni Dehaghi, I.
Salmanmahiny, A.
Karimi, S.
Shabani, A. A.
author_facet Momeni Dehaghi, I.
Salmanmahiny, A.
Karimi, S.
Shabani, A. A.
author_sort Momeni Dehaghi, I.
collection DOAJ
description Habitat degradation and hunting are among the most important causes of population decline for Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus, two of the most threatened game species in the Golestan Province of Iran. Limited data on distribution and location of high–quality habitats for the two species make conservation efforts more difficult in the province. We used multi–criteria evaluation (MCE) as a coarse–filter approach to refine the general distribution areas into habitat suitability maps for the species. We then used these maps as input to simulated annealing as a heuristic algorithm through Marxan in order to prioritize areas for conservation of the two species. To find the optimal solution, we tested various boundary length modifier (BLM) values in the simulated annealing process. Our results showed that the MCE approach was useful to refine general habitat maps. Assessment of the selected reserves confirmed the suitability of the selected areas (mainly neighboring the current reserves) making their management easier and more feasible. The total area of the selected reserves was about 476 km2. As current reserves of the Golestan Province represent only 23 % of the optimal area, further protected areas should be considered to efficiently conserve these two species.
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spelling doaj.art-1194b17bbdb147bd861ca3e101e6ee6e2022-12-22T00:47:28ZengMuseu de Ciències Naturals de BarcelonaAnimal Biodiversity and Conservation1578-665X2018-01-01411185193Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in IranMomeni Dehaghi, I.Salmanmahiny, A.Karimi, S.Shabani, A. A.Habitat degradation and hunting are among the most important causes of population decline for Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus, two of the most threatened game species in the Golestan Province of Iran. Limited data on distribution and location of high–quality habitats for the two species make conservation efforts more difficult in the province. We used multi–criteria evaluation (MCE) as a coarse–filter approach to refine the general distribution areas into habitat suitability maps for the species. We then used these maps as input to simulated annealing as a heuristic algorithm through Marxan in order to prioritize areas for conservation of the two species. To find the optimal solution, we tested various boundary length modifier (BLM) values in the simulated annealing process. Our results showed that the MCE approach was useful to refine general habitat maps. Assessment of the selected reserves confirmed the suitability of the selected areas (mainly neighboring the current reserves) making their management easier and more feasible. The total area of the selected reserves was about 476 km2. As current reserves of the Golestan Province represent only 23 % of the optimal area, further protected areas should be considered to efficiently conserve these two species.http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC_41-1_pp_185-193.pdfCommon pheasantChukar partridgeConservation planningHabitat suitabilityMulti–criteria evaluationMarxanSimulated annealing
spellingShingle Momeni Dehaghi, I.
Salmanmahiny, A.
Karimi, S.
Shabani, A. A.
Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in Iran
Animal Biodiversity and Conservation
Common pheasant
Chukar partridge
Conservation planning
Habitat suitability
Multi–criteria evaluation
Marxan
Simulated annealing
title Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in Iran
title_full Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in Iran
title_fullStr Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in Iran
title_full_unstemmed Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in Iran
title_short Multi–criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of Alectoris chukar and Phasianus colchicus in Iran
title_sort multi criteria evaluation and simulated annealing for delimiting high priority habitats of alectoris chukar and phasianus colchicus in iran
topic Common pheasant
Chukar partridge
Conservation planning
Habitat suitability
Multi–criteria evaluation
Marxan
Simulated annealing
url http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC_41-1_pp_185-193.pdf
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