hosein varasteh moradi

Habitat fragmentation is a concern in conservation biology that sometimes leading to habitat destruction. In this study, the effects of landscape variables on bird's aboundance were studied in forest patches in Gorgan Township. All variable were surveyed in 26 different patch sizes (300 ha). Also landscape index was calculated by FRAGSTAT software. Birds were detected within a 25m radius of each of 74 sampling points. The Results showed that Red breasted flycatcher and bolbol had negative correlation with size of patches but GreatTit had positive correlation with size, para and shape of patches. According this study Red breasted flycatcher and bolbol were detected as Forest interior and GreatTit was detected as Forestedge.The results of this study indicated the importance of forest patches for conserving and enhancing of avian and following it conserving biodiversity of the forest ecosystems.

Investigation of the ecological characteristics of wildlife species and determination of habitat suitability of them is one of the main goals for wildlife management and protection strategies. In this study, habitat suitability of Pika (Ochotona rufescens) was investigated in Golestan National Park. In order to habitat suitability modeling, the Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) method was used. Ecogeographic factors were also used as independent variables including altitude, slope, aspect, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), distances from the springs and the rivers. Result with 95 % of significance level demonstrated that the best habitat for Pika was in average altitudes 1325 m a.s.l., slope of 21degrees, south aspect, and distances of 2291 m far from the rivers, 3216 m from the springs.The results of habitat suitability modeling indicated that pika favorite Habitat in Golestan National Park was mostly at rocky and mountainous areas with steppe cover, that this species has a median niche and a tendency to occupy marginal habitats.

Lesser spotted woodpecker is one of the most important and as an umbrella species in Golestan National Park. Classification tree models were applied to explore the relationship of the occurrence of this woodpecker and habitat variables between two contrasting periods (breeding vs. nonbreeding seasons) and for the entire annual cycle. During the reproductive period the availability of mature trees (DBH > 40 cm), and snags (dead trees), for nesting and roosting, characterize the breeding territory. Outside the breeding season the choice of locations was driven by a tree cover larger than 35% and the presence of trees taller than 7 m. Overall, during the annual cycle, welldeveloped canopy sites influenced the presence of this picidae (tree cover > 40%) and on more open sites (<40%) the presence of mature trees (DBH> 40 cm) became the second most important predictor of occurrence. The abundance and availability of food could be the ultimate factor explaining the seasonal variation observed, with the availability of snags being an important factor during nesting time. It is recommended to minimize the elimination of snags, and to harvest some large trees if the priority is to expand the distributional range of the woodpecker.