Seasonal Habitat Use of Persian Gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa) Based on Vegetation Parameters at Golestan National Park, Iran

Abstract

Effective management and conservation of wildlife populations and their habitats depend on understanding and predicting species-habitat interaction. The distribution of Persian gazelles, which is related to habitat structure and dispersal of food resources, has been studied by clearance transect pellet group counts during different seasons. This study of habitat use was conducted by recording pellet groups along 20 permanent 3 m × 210 m transects in five vegetation types in the steppe habitat of Golestan National Park. Pellet groups were counted and cleared every two months over one year. Habitat use differed between seasons and vegetation types. Types I and II which featured diversified plant species, higher forage quality, and were adjacent to agricultural fields were used the most in all seasons and especially in fall and winter. Vegetation types III and IV with higher forage production, canopy cover, and vegetation density showed the lowest rate of use among all seasons. This could be due to the high protein content forage favoured by gazelles. The minimal model using multiple regression analysis showed a number of plant species were the indicative variable in gazelle habitats during each season. Positive relationship was detected between pellet group density and canopy cover of annual forbs and grasses in spring, with Aellenia sp in summer, and with Salsola rigida in fall and winter. This indicated higher use of types I and II throughout the year. The pellet group density of gazelles was negatively correlated with canopy cover of Stipa barbata and Poa bulbosa in all seasons, which indicated lower use of vegetation types III and IV.