Predicting the potential distribution of striped hyena Hyaena hyaena in Iran

Bahman Shams-Esfandabad,Hamid Reza Rezaei,Hamid Toranj-Zar,Abbas Ahmadi,Amirhossein Dadashi-Jourdehi

doi:10.26496/bjz.2020.80

Abstract

Predictive potential distribution modelling is crucial in outlining habitat usage and establishing conservation management priorities. Association among species occurrence and environmental and spatial characteristics has been calculated with species distribution models. Herein, we used maximum entropy distribution modelling (MaxEnt) for predicting the potential distribution of striped hyena Hyaena hyaena in the entire country of Iran, using a number of occurrence records (i.e., 118) and environmental variables derived from remote sensing. The MaxEnt model showed a high rate of success according to AUC test scores (0.97). Our results are roughly congruent with previous studies suggesting that mountainous re-gions in northern and western Iran, and the plains in central and eastern Iran are a suitable habitat for H. hyaena.

Highlights

The striped hyaena, Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758) is distributed in most parts of Africa, the Middle East including the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and the Caucasus, and extends further into Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent
All records of H. hyaena were based on our own fieldw ork as well as those obtained from the Department of Environment of Iran
According to the results of this study, the central parts of Iran which correspond to Dasht-e-Lut and Dasht-e-Kavir might not be suitable places to find the species

Summary

Introduction

The striped hyaena, Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758) is distributed in most parts of Africa (except for the southern parts), the Middle East including the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and the Caucasus, and extends further into Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The striped hyena occupies an extensive range of habitats and may settle wherever it gets sufficient food supply, adequate cover, and access to water (Kruuk 1976) It generally favors open or thorn bush areas in arid and semi-arid environments (Rosevear, 1974; Kruuk 1976; Rieger 1978; Leakey et al 1999) to pine forests (Akay et al 2011) where water is available within 10 km (Rieger 1979). Ziaie (2008) believed that the Iranian population of hyenas has severely declined They live in steppes, semi-deserts, rocky fields and valleys with sparse trees (Mills & Hoffer 1998; Fig. 1); they avoid deserts, high altitude areas, dense bushes and forests. Habitat management based on evaluation is strongly recommended as a practical solution

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