Mahsa Ghazimoradi; Mostafa Tarkesh; Hossein Bashari; Mohammad Reza Vahabi
Abstract
In this study, the ability of Generalized Additive Model (GAM) for mapping potential distribution of Ferula ovina Boiss, and the description of species response curves to environmental variables were examined in Fereidonshar region with area of 1000 square kilometers located in West of Isfahan province. ...
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In this study, the ability of Generalized Additive Model (GAM) for mapping potential distribution of Ferula ovina Boiss, and the description of species response curves to environmental variables were examined in Fereidonshar region with area of 1000 square kilometers located in West of Isfahan province. The presence and absence data of the species were collected from 278 sites (including 138 presence sites and 140 absence sites) by random systematic method, and 9 soil variables, 22 climate variables and 3 physiographic variables were mapped with pixel size of 72*72 square meters by using interpolation techniques (krigging, Inverse Distance Weighting) for the entire studied area. Then, the relationships between presence and absence of the species with the environmental variables were examined by GAM method. According to the results, the presence of Ferula ovina was inversely correlated with some environmental variables including soil silt and clay contents and also its distribution was directly correlated with slope, distance from sea level, organic matter content, soil saturation percentage and average annual temperature. The model evaluation conducted by the separate data gave Kappa coefficient equal to 0.64 and ROC area under curve equal to 0.86. According to the produced potential habitat map and the response curves of the species, the presence of Ferula ovina is more likely in the habitats with mean annual temperature: 9-11 degree centigrade, slop: 25-50%, elevation: 1950-3000 meter (Above sea level), CaCO3 content of soil: 10-30%, organic matter: 4-6%, silt: 10-30% and soil saturation percentage: 45-60%. The GAM enables managers to identify appropriate areas for rangelands rehabilitation and protection programs. The produced model has a suitable performance in identifying regions with high growth potential and rangelands rehabilitation and protection programs.
Ebrahim Gavili; Mohamad Reza Vahabi; Fazel Amiri; Hossain Arzani
Abstract
This research was conducted to recognize Sibak-Sardab watershed rangeland potentials, evaluate and determine of suitability classes for sheep grazing. In this research, we used the proposed method of FAO (1992) and for information layers crossing used in Geographical Information System (GIS). In this ...
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This research was conducted to recognize Sibak-Sardab watershed rangeland potentials, evaluate and determine of suitability classes for sheep grazing. In this research, we used the proposed method of FAO (1992) and for information layers crossing used in Geographical Information System (GIS). In this research, sensitivity to erosion, water resources and forage production are three basic components of this study. We used the MPSIAC model for the sensitivity to erosion. The model of water resource suitability consists of three parameters, quantity, quality and water resource's accessibility. In the forage production model, we estimated the ratio of available forage to the whole produced forage in each vegetation type. According to the result 96% of the rangeland was in low suitability class (S3) and only 4% were in medium suitability class (S2). The most important factors causing the decrease in suitability were lower rates of available forage for the livestock, low forage production of classes, I, II and low palatability percentage. According to Actual use (22170 animal units in season grazing); and grazing capacity (15989 animal units) and also according to the high destruction because of heavy grazing; using a management method that can help to improve the rangeland condition is suggestion.
