Identifying the habitat connectivity of Wapiti (Cervus canadensis) in Mongolia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5564/pib.v38i1.2534Keywords:
core habitat, least-cost path, centrality, wapitiAbstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation are serious threats to biodiversity worldwide. In the different mountain ranges of Mongolia, we evaluated the habitat connectivity of Wapiti, aiming to provide insights for support to population conservation. By using Wapiti occurrence data and seven variables related to climatic, geographic, and anthropogenic factors (human disturbance index), we modeled the habitat suitability using the Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt). The corridor design model (Linkage Mapper) was used to identify and evaluate the linkages between core habitats. The MaxEnt models suggest that human disturbance and latitudinal effects associated with climatic variables played the most important and complex role in Wapiti spatial distribution. The ecological corridors of Wapiti were composed of 130 core habitats (CHs) and 386 linkages or least-cost paths (LCPs). The shortest LCPs connecting the core habitats were mapped in the Khentii and Khuvsgul mountain ranges, which was probably due to the higher habitat suitability. In contrast, the longest LCPs were in the Altai and Khangai mountain ranges, where CHs were more fragmented and had the lowest habitat suitability based on MaxEnt modeling. Our study suggests the priority areas for protecting Wapiti and the key locations where the wildlife road crossing structures or animal guidance measures are needed.
Монгол орны халиун буга (Cervus canadensis)-ын амьдрах орчны холбоос нутгийн судалгаа
Амьдрах орчны доройтол, хуваагдал нь дэлхийн биологийн олон янз байдалд ноцтой аюул учруулсаар байгаа билээ. Монгол орны өргөн тархацтай амьтны нэг болох Халиун бугын амьдрах орчны холбогдох байдлыг уулсын мужлалаар үнэлэн популяцийн хамгаалалд санал зөвлөмж өгөх зорилгоор энэхүү ажлыг хийж гүйцэтгэв. Халиун бугын тохиолдоц болон уур амьсгал, газарзүйн болон хүний нөлөөллийн индекс зэрэг 7 хувьсагч үзүүлэлтэд тулгуурлан Максент (MaxEnt - Maximum Entropy Model) ашиглан тохиромжит амьдрах орчныг загварчилж, цөм амьдрах орчны холбогдох байдлыг гаргахдаа Linkage Mapper программ хангамж ашиглав. Хүний нөлөөллийн индекс болон өргөргийн дагуу өөрчлөгдөн хувьсах уур амьсгалын үзүүлэлтүүд нь халиун бугын орон зайн байршилд чухал нөлөөтэй болохыг харуулж байна. Судалгаанд хамрагдсан бүс нутгийн хэмжээнд Халиун бугын 130 цөм амьдрах орчин (ЦАО), тэдгээрийг холбосон 386 боломжит холбоос нутаг (хамгийн бага өртөг бүхий зам) байна. Хэнтий болон Хөвсгөлийн уулсын мужлал дахь Халиун бугын холбоос нутгийн урт харьцангуй богино байгаа нь тус уулсын мужид амьдрах орчны тохиромжит байдал бусад нутгаас харьцангуй илүү байгааг илтгэн харуулна. Харин Алтай болон Хангайн уулархаг нутагт тохиромжит амьдрах орчны хэмжээ бага байхаас гадна цөм амьдрах орчин илүү тасархайтсан, илүү урт холбоос нутагтай болох нь загварчлалын үр дүнд тогтоогдов. Энэхүү судалгааны үр дүнд халиун бугын холбоос нутагтай огтлолцож буй шугаман дэд бүтэц бүхий нутгийг тодорхойлон гаргав.
Түлхүүр үгс: цөм амьдрах орчин, хамгийн бага өртөг бүхий зам, ач холбогдлын эрэмбэ, халиун буга
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