اردشیر امینی

Several modelling techniques have been developed for habitat suitability modelling. In the meantime, the Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) with ability to model uncertainty of input variables is an effective method to model wildlife species habitat suitability. So, Persian Leopard habitat suitability was predicted in Shimbar Protected Area using FIS. Therefore, the effective environmental variables were determined. We also defined and determined the linguistic variables, linguistic values, and range of them. Then, we designed the membership functions of the fuzzy sets of the input and output variables. Also, the definition of the fuzzy rules in the system was performed. Finally, the defuzzification of output was carried out. The accuracy of the predictive model was tested using AUC. Also, 11 FISs were developed to determine sensitivity of the models and important variables in modelling. The results showed that the predictive model was more efficient than the random model (AUC=0.960). In addition, the ‘distance to capra’ was the most important predictor. According to the success of FIS in Persian Leopard habitat suitability modelling, we suggest this method to improve and complete the existing spatial information of wildlife habitats in Iran, especially about regions and species that have been less studied.

The Khoramshahr (Naseri) marsh is a manmade wetland that lies about 17 Km North of Khoramshahr created in 2000 by discharged sugarcane waste water. Results of the direct census conducted (by total count) during 2002–2008 shows the number of species, population size and density of birds in this wetland to have increased. The coot (Fulica atra), with population of 75,000 in 2008, had the highest population size. The highest population size and number of species were 194,464 birds in 2008 and 32 species in 2007, respectively. The Shannon diversity index was the highest in 2008 (H'=2.27). This shows that the distribution of bird populations was more homogeneous in this than in other years. The Khoramshahr Marsh conforms with some of Ramsar Convention criteria and with some criteria of IBA (special second criteria in second category). By the application of 5 criteria (birds, fishes, threats, socio-economic criteria and conservation status) determined that, among 75 important wetlands in Iran, the Khoramshahr Marsh is in the 63rd rank after Khoram wetland.