جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « زیستگاه » در نشریات گروه « محیط زیست »

Larestan ram is the smallest species of ram (Ovis) in the world, with small and isolated populations scattered in the south of the country, especially in Fars province. Planning any conservation measures for Larestan rams in the first place requires identifying the desired areas for the species and awareness of the habitat relationship between populations and conservation areas in the region. In the present study, species habitat suitability was investigated using species distribution modeling (SDM) based on MaxEnt method. For this purpose, 8 independent environmental variables including factors related to human presence, land cover type and topography in ArcGIS software environment were prepared and along with the file of presence points in Maxent software were used to prepare the species habitat utility model. Then, the obtained layer was used as a tool to study habitat connections and identify corridors between protected areas of the region by two theory-based methods and the least cost method. The results of Maxent model showed that a combination of covered rangeland types of herbaceous plants and shrubs with medium to good density in uneven areas with adequate provision of shelters and away from human development are the most important factors affecting the habitat suitability of the species. Also, the level below the chart (AUC) equal to 0.963 for training points and 0.953 for test points shows very good predictability of the model.

Identification and classification of habitats and their related biological and non-biological characteristics is the first and most crucial step in managing the exploitation and conservation of the environment and natural resources. Qom province is located in the central plateau of Iran and has a dry climate according to the Domarten climate classification. The different regions of the province were surveyed in order to identify the various types of habitats and their dominant vegetation. Along with collecting the required information, dominant plant species were also collected and identified. Eight of the ten main habitats in the world were identified in Qom province, with 24 sub-habitats using the EUNIS habitat classification key. These eight habitats are: 1- inland surface water habitat, 2- mire, bog and fen habitat, 3- grassland habitats, 4- heathland and scrub habitat, 5- woodland and forest habitat, 6- inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitat, 7- cultivated agricultural habitat and, 8- constructed and artificial habitat. Qom province mainly includes a desert ecosystem, and this type of ecosystem is very vulnerable and fragile. Considering the fact that the loss of ecosystem services increases the vulnerability of humans, especially in arid areas, therefore recognizing and protecting the primary and secondary habitats as well as microhabitats of the province, with emphasis on native plants, play an influential role in protecting the province's environment.

Landscape fragmentation reduces the patch area of internal habitat, hinders the operating and regulating ability of normal landscape ecological processes, and damages ecological corridors. Therefore, connecting isolated broken ecological patches and stepping stones through potential corridors within the borders can improve the impact of fragmented landscapes on biodiversity and the connectivity of landscape and promote the exchanges of genetic material and species between patches, which would effectively improve the service functions of natural ecosystems and have an important ecological significance. Basically correct landscape pattern requires ecological network and ecological system. Ecological network helps planners to increase the landscape connectivity between habitat patches. Network optimization is mainly based on the improvement in network connectivity, including the optimization of corridors and nodes. The optimization of corridors mainly refers to the increase in the number of corridors and the repair of ecological breakpoints in the corridors based on the degree of connectivity. Corridor connectivity should be increased in areas with low landscape connectivity. In recent years, the morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) approach, which mainly focuses on structural connectivity, has been increasingly applied in ecological network analysis. This model is mainly used for the analysis of structural connectivity and can be used to accurately distinguish between landscape types and structures. The MSPA method applies four parameters, namely “connectivity”, “edge width”, “transition” and “intext” to classify landscape. Landscape connectivity can be used as a quantitative indicator of how facilitating a source landscape patch is for species migration, as a high degree of connectivity facilitates biodiversity protection and the maintenance of landscape ecological functions. The connectivity of the landscape and the importance of the various landscape patches to landscape connectivity can be reflected under graph.
In northern Iranian provinces like Gilan province, cities have experienced irregular and horizontal urban sprawls during recent decades due to the existence of Hyrcanian Forests, special climatic setting, presence of green areas and adjacency to Caspian Sea, high population density, and the development of economic activities across the region. As a result of land-use change, urban growth and land degradation, the distributions of some terrestrial species have changed in recent years. Phasianus colchicus is one of the focal species in this region. Dispersal distance, which is species specific, is a critical process determining the distance threshold. The maximal dispersal distance of the Phasianus colchicus 3.2. The species prefers forests with canopy cover of 5–25% because these forests are largely covered by shrubs and bushes, which common pheasant use as a refuge. Pheasants live out their lives within a home range of about one square mile (640 acres), requiring all habitat components (nesting cover, brood habitat, winter cover and food plots) to be in close proximity. Ideally, a minimum of 30-60 acres (about 5-10 percent) of this range should be nesting cover. Larger blocks of cover are preferable to narrow linear strips.
In this study, seeking to make a more comprehensive assessment of landscape connectivity, the core habitats and corridors will be identified according to the habitat type and dispersal distance of the focal species.

The study area in this study is located in the two watersheds of Lahijan Chabaksar (49 12 to 5005 E, 37 07 to 37 25 N) and Astaneh-Kuchesfahan (5021 to 50 26 E, 37 02 to 37 06 N), in the east and center of Gilan province, respectively.
In the first step to classify the land cover in this study, the total Landsat 8 images in the period 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2019, which had a cloud cover below 10%, were used. Then, using Google Earth Engine and the products and instructions of vegetation index (NDVI) which related to the four seasons in 2019, urban lands, tree canopy cover to identify forest areas with trees height above 30 meters and finally the data removed from the ground and entered into the system by the user Land cover was classified into eight categories: forest land, rangeland, farmland, water, residential area, and tea farmland, garden and open space. According to the classified map of NDVI and land cover index and finally the identification of rangelands, gardens, forest lands with canopy cover less than 30%, agricultural lands and tea cultivation on the one hand and on the other hand considering the minimum area, elevation (Less than 1200 m above sea level) and slope (low to medium) required for the habitat of this species, the habitats of pheasant species in the region were identified. Then, MSPA analysis was used to form the ecological network and obtain core area. So forest land is extracted to be the foreground, and other land as the background, a series of image processing methods are used to divide the foreground into seven non-overlapping categories (namely, core, bridge, edge, branch, loop, islet and preformation), and then categories that are important for maintaining connectivity are identified, which increases the scientific nature of the ecological source and ecological corridor selection. The level of landscape connectivity in a region can quantitatively characterize whether a certain landscape type is suitable for species exchange and migration, which is of great significance for biodiversity protection and ecosystem balance. In this study, in the aspect of landscape connectivity evaluation, the integral index of connectivity (IIC), the probability of connectivity (PC), the delta of PC (dPC) and the delta of IIC (dIIC) are commonly used as the important indicators of landscape pattern and function, which can reflect well the degree of connection between core patches in the regional level and are calculated by Conefor 2.6 software. As the dispersal ability of different species varies, we assigned the dispersal distance 3.2 km and ring-necked pheasant, respectively. Finally, the top 8 patches with value of dPC above 4 were chosen as the most important habitats. The using least-cost path the corridors between them were determined. The least-cost path is often used to optimize a grid module. The resistance value of a grid describes its facilitating or impeding influences on dispersal processes of species. The resistance value is attached to each land cover unit to calculate the connectivity between two habitats (Table 1). The least-cost path model makes it possible to calculate the minimum cumulative link (corridors) between the target patch and the nearest source patch (habitat). We calculated the path of least resistance for the organism to migrate along and obtained the potential corridors between source patches using the “cost path” analysis in ArcGIS. The different resistance values of each land cover class were the key factors affecting the result.

According toincreased Concern about the long-term effects of heavy metals as environmental pollutants, studing showed that the bio monitoring could be desirable and satisfactory method to measure heavy metals. Feathers can play the role of both storing and eliminating metals. In this study, accumulation of heavy metals cadmium and lead in birds with emphasis on impact type of habitat (water and drought) were studied in birds in South West of Iran. Tail feathers of 29 birds belonging to 8 species (4 species of aquatic and terrestrial species 4) were collected. In this study heavy metals were measured by using Fillips PU 9400 Atomic Absorbtion Spectrophotometer. Mean Pb concentration in feather of birds was obtained between 18.23± 1.03 (Aythya nyroca) and 3.33± 1.31(μg/g) ( Merops orientalis). Alse mean of Cd in birds was obtaine between 1.71± 0.06 (Anas platyrhyncho) and 0.06± 0.03(μg/g) (Merops orientalis). For evaluation of effects of habitat type on level of lead and cadmium on feather, the birds studied in two groups (aquatic and terrestrial birds).The mean of Pb in aquatic and terrestrial birds were 11.94±4.95 (μg/g) and 6.81±1.03 (μg/g) respectively. A significant difference was in feather Pb concentration across aquatic and terrestrial birds.The concentration of Pb in feathers of aquatic birds was higher than terrestrial birds. The mean of Cd concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial birds was obtained 1.08±0.73 (μg/g) and 0.25±0.19 (μg/g) respectively. However Cd concentration in aquatic birds were higher than terrestrial birds, but there was no significant difference between Cd concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial birds.

The Caspian Pond Turtle, Mauremys caspica, is a terrapin belonging to family Geoemydidae. Testudines have different habitats in different stages of their life cycles. Terrapins have a limited locomotion that changes their population density in certain seasons. Totally 134 specimens (65 males, 69 females) were collected from 14 different aquatic habitats in Golestan province in 2016 – 2017. 25 morphometric characters were measured. Sex ratios of males to females were nearly 1:1. All morphometric characters showed normal distribution (P>0.001) except weight in females (p=0.001). Four characters (W, PL1, PFLW and PHLW) did not show normal distribution in males (P<0.001). Comparison of the parametric characters showed, mean values of characters TL1 (p<0.000), AnSL (p<0.005) and TL2 (p<0.005) were significantly different between the sexes. None of the four nonparametric characters showed significant differences between males and females (p>0.66). The ratio Tail length2 (TL2)to Tail length1 (TL1) and TL1 to Right bridge length (RBrL)are fast and simple grouping index to determine sex of the specimens. The most and the lowest number of specimens were collected in summer (n=52) and fall (n=6) respectively.

In this study, the aim of studying the desirability of the habitat of the whole and Capra aegagrus species in the regeneration season in the protected area of ​​Sulak, Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad province, Bahmei, was using the Hep method. Currently, most of the habitat degradation is to large mammals, especially herbivores such as whole and goats. Therefore, the maintenance of regeneration habitats and their study especially favorable habitats of low-yielding species such as whole and goat has a significant effect on survival and production and the like. There will be species. Habitat assessment is a practical solution for this important issue. By assessing the habitat, the desirability and number of habitat units available for regeneration of this species can be obtained. To do this, the region was first divided into two northern and southern habitats. Then, assessment of the habitat of whole and goat species in the regeneration season by HEP method and ranking of different habitat variables in two habitats. At the end, the results of the two cases were compared. The measured habitat indicators are density and diversity of vegetation, elevation, slope, direction, access to water resources, distance from residential areas, distance from the road, trapping rate of predators, trapping intensity in the area and predation. The score for each index varied from 1 to 5. Then, based on the habitability utility, the HSI values ​​for each section were calculated.

Brown Bear is the country's largest species in carnivorous which is distributed in a wide range of Alborz and Zagros mountains. Its distribution range in the western part of the country reaches Lorestan province. Sephid-Koh protected area with its vegetation, its breadth and ecological condition has created a good habitat for this species. In order to identify the range of distribution and favorable habitat of this species in the mentioned area, the presence points of species were collected in spring and summer seasons of 1396. 14 effective variables in the distribution of the species were identified. After performing the multicollinearity analysis, 4 variables were omitted due to variance inflation index (VIF) more than 10 and modelling was performed by using 10 habitat variables, 10000 randomized background points and 500 iterations in MaxEnt software. The significance of variables in modeling was done using jackknife analysis. In order to obtain habitat binary map, threshold of the LPT (Lowest Presence Threshold) was used the results of the model validation showed that the model was successful in the average run (AUC = 0.85); and the habitat variables of distance from human settlements, sub roads and altitudes had the most effect on species distribution. Based on the findings, 65% of the Sephid-Koh area is suitable for the brown bear. Regarding the distribution of species in the region, this species can be considered as a health index and a key species of the Sephid-Koh region.

Ectoparasites play a key role in transmission of various pathogens by blood-sucking from birds. The aim of this study was to identify and determine the distribution of ectoparasites of wild partridge (Alectoris chukar) in the Bahramegoor Protected Area (BPA). The method of this research was sampling and identification by morphological, molecular and Phylogenic methods. From the late spring to late fall, 2016, samples were collected. 29 partridge were live-captured by stratified random design method from plain, mountains, hill-valley and garden habitats of the BPA and ectoparasites were collected from partridge’s head by forceps and transferred to glass containing 70% alcohol, then transmitted to the laboratory for identification. The stereoscopic microscope and diagnostic keys of parasitic books as well as molecular methods were used for identifying parasites. All ectoparasites were ticks. A total of 40 ticks were collected, of which 38 ticks (95%) belonged to Ornithodoros genus and Ornithodoros canestrini species and two ticks (5%) belonged to the Hyalomma genus and the Hyalomma sp. species. The Ornithodoros canestrini species was most abundant in the garden habitat (45%) and in the autumn (57.5%) whereas Hyalomma sp. species was found only in the hill-valley habitat (5%) and in the spring (5%).  So, the Ornithodoros canestrini species are known as the dominant species of the area. Due to the importance of these species in transmitting diseases to birds and other wildlife species, appropriate health and management tasks should be taken in place to control and combat these ectoparasites.

Integrity and connectivity of habitats in protected areas is important for the plants survival and animals' populations. Investigating on the integrity of areas could help to interconnect islanded patches and preventing the negative impacts of fragmentations. This study aimed to quantify the fragmentations of the landscape to study the habitat of the important wildlife species in Jajroud protected area. To achieve this goal, after preparing area land use map using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques, the fragmentation elements were extracted to create fragmentation geometries. The acquired data were employed to study structure and the wild goat habitat integrity, wild sheep, the leopard and gazelle considering the landscape metrics. The results indicate that, the greatest increase in the fragmentation in landscape and between animal habitats has been happened due to the obstacles of the first geometry, which is included man-made lands and asphalt roads. Also, the greatest increase in fragmentation for wild sheep and gazelle occurred in first geometry, for wild goat in second geometry (garden) and for leopard in the fourth geometry (dam). Many conflicts pass through the sensitive species habitats of the wildlife, and the irreparable effects of conflicts will be more identified in the long term. The results of this research indicate that by analyzing landscape metrics in protected areas, it is possible to identify and prioritize the most important obstacles of maintaining the integrity of the habitat of different wildlife species; and also planning for the conservation of the habitat of the wildlife species will be prepared.

Hemorrhois ravergieri is one of the nonpoisonous snakes, widely distributed in Iran. Recent studies revealed considerable morphological differences among H. ravergieri in different habitats. In this study, morphological characteristics of H. ravergieri were investigated in different sampling area. To address that, 52 specimens, including 30 male, 16 female and 6 immature were collected from different provinces of Iran. The result of principle component analysis showed 5 separate categories, including (1) Khorasan and Golestan (north and north-east of Alborz), (2) Azarbayjan gharbi, Azarbayjan sharghi and Zanjan (northern Zagros), (3) Alborz, Lorestan, Esfahan and Khuzestan (northern-central Zagros), (4) Chaharmahal and bakhtiari province (central Zagros), (5) Kerman and Fars (Southern Zagros). 7 Metric and 5 meristic characteristics, were analyzed in either gender at different categories. The number of ventral and subcaudal scales was significantly (P=0.026 and P=0.041, respectively) different between mature and immature specimens. There were significant differences in total length as well as snout-vent length among male and female specimens, P=0.034 and P=0.012 respectively. Other statistical analyses were performed for comparison of our data in five different categories to identify the discriminant variable. According to results, the variability of meristic characteristics such as the number of ventral and subcaudal scales can be perceived in different categories

Tatera indica is a subfamily of the Tatera and the Muridaefamily. This species is found in most places, including dry and semi-arid areas, rivers, planted areas and sides of the irrigation and drainage channels and usually has high adaptability power. This species has great ecological importance because it is the main chain of food chain in nature for animals such as owls, jackals, foxes, snakes and birds. Tatera indica by eating the seeds of plants and repelling them in other areas, at the same time it contributes to the distribution of seeds, on the other hand it is considered as the most important pest of agricultural products among vertebrates. Rodents are one of the most important classes that they need to study in terms of the positive and negative effects that occur in various fields such as agriculture or health. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the morphometric of Tatera indica with trapping in different habitats in Jiroft and Zabol, March 2016 and April 2017. In this study, the samples was hunted by deadly and lifelong trap and were measured 15 samples of the appearance morphological traits and 15 samples of the skull and dental characteristics and were investigated by SPSS 22. The results showed according to Nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, there is a significant difference between all measured variables in both regions (p

The Hyrcanian forests are rich in terms of biological diversity. Besides, they are known to be much valuable due to geographical isolation and having the fauna and flora. However, these forests, because of the wide range of human activities, are among the most endangered ecosystems of Iran. In this study, the Great Spotted Woodpecker has been used as a surrogate for determining patches with high value of preservation. To do this, first, we gathered the habitat points in which the related species exist. Then, the environmental variables effective on the species distribution were prepared for developing a habitat suitability model for the species. The model, finally obtained, showed that the majority of forest habitats to be protected have been located in the eastern half of Golestan Province. Two variables, i.e. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and altitude were known to be the most effective indices in achieving the final habitat suitability model. Referring to the results of the study, the first two altitude classes of Caspian forests, the community of oak trees and the areas with dense canopy were decided to be in priority of conservation. According to what mentioned, it is, therefore, necessary and inevitable to ecologically enrich the forests through forest proper management and make them more sustainable ecologically.

No ecosystem is island and ecosystem sustainability depend on fitting the context of the ecosystem and the internal capabilities. Among the factors threatening biodiversity, habitat loss and habitat fragmentation are on top of major threats of habitat diversity that many protected areas has been unable to fulfill the functions defined. Therefore, analysis of the temporal changes of the protected areas and direction of composition and spatial distribution of the changes are requirements of the management of these areas The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal changes in habitat suitability as the basis of the protected areas and analyzing these changes by using landscape metrics for red deer (Cervus elaphus maral) in Hyrcanian forests of Lisar protected area in Gilan. Based on the results, besides the 35 percent decline in habitat suitability layer, we see an increase of 34 percent in the number of patches, 89 percent of edge density, 26 percent total of edge and reduction of 53% of the average size of patches. The results indicated a drop in the quantity and quality of habitat in the area investigated. This result confirms that increasing habitat destruction through the process of habitat loss and fragmentation has reduced the potential for the release and dispersal of the maral in habitat and gradually it provides the background of local extinction so reconstruction area is a key priority for management.

The creation of protected areas as natural reserves to prevent loss of biodiversity in the world is a key action. In the meantime, determination of the biological hotspots is considered as the most effective way to protect species. Among vertebrates, birds are indicator species to determine hotspot areas. This study was conducted to determine the hotspots bird area in the Naqadeh township. This study was conducted during 2010 and 2012, to collecting presence points of birds and analyzed using geographic information systems (GIS). In total, 145 bird species were identified in this township. The results of this study showed that the highest numerical values of the pixels were belonging to ecotone areas in the Naqadeh township. Also Aq-Qala and Solduz Wetlands, farmlands and Gadar River were identified as an important for biodiversity hotspots in this township. In total, three conservative hotspots with an area of respectively 4828, 1941 and 554 ha were identified for birds in the Naqadeh township, a total including 14% of the township's areas. According to the richness of the birds in the Naqadeh township, it is essential to find ways to manage and protect these patches. Determined patches overlapped 15% with managed area and 85% with free zones. According to high bird richness in this township, it is also recommended that similar studies be done in large scale to identify hotspots areas of birds in the country.

Fandogloo habitat, the largest gene pool of hazelnuts, is located in the Northwest of Iran. A combination of climatic variation and consecutive sexual propagation have produced a very rich genetic diversity among local hazelnuts in this gene pool. The goal of this research was to conduct a biodiversity analysis of hazelnuts in Fandogloo habitat using a correlational study among variables, principle component analysis and cluster analysis. Meanwhile, probable relationships between the studied variables of hazelnuts and their growing location were also evaluated. Twenty superior genotypes were selected out of 70 primarily studied genotypes and labelled in 2014-2015 on the basis of important morphological and phonological traits. Ten variables regarding nut and kernel dimension and phytochemical compositions (oil, protein, and carbohydrates percentages of kernels and the amount of Taxol in mature leaves) were evaluated. In order to study the environmental effects, five environmental traits including the means of annual rainfall and temperature, elevation above sea level, number of frosty days, and soil pH were evaluated for each sampling place. The statistical analysis was done with SPSS 16. According to descriptive statistics, the highest coefficient of variance (C.V.) values belonged to nut thickness (26.31%), and nut weight (24.41%), while the lowest C.V. values belonged to frosty days (1.53%), and soil pH (1.83%). There was a strong correlation between nut length and kernel percentage (r = 0.943, P<0.01) and a negative correlation between Taxol and kernel thickness (r = -0.519, P<0.05) and kernel percentage (r = -0.524, P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between soil pH and annual precipitation (r = -0.838, P<0.01) while elevation above sea level was positively correlated with annual precipitation (r = 0.481, P<0.01). Annual rainfall had a negative correlation (r = -0.495, P<0.05) with kernel ratio. Principle component analysis showed that the first five principle components (PCs) accounted for 70.85% of the total variation. Cluster analysis produced a dendrogram with two main clusters. The genotypes classified in group II were located in a higher elevation than the group I genotypes. This study showed a significant genetic diversity among the hazelnuts of Fandogloo habitat, which is of great value for breeding programmes. The diversity observed within hazelnuts in Fandogloo is related rather to their genetic variation than the impact of environmental conditions. However, among environmental properties, elevation above sea level had more effects on genotype attributes in comparison with other environmental factors. Hemmed in by tall mountains with a cold climate, Fandogloo has become one of the unique gene pools of hazelnut in Iran. The nuts of the studied genotypes in Fandogloo were smaller, globular with relatively high kernel ratio than hazelnuts from other habitats in Iran. Although none of the studied genotypes are potentially eligible to be introduced as a new cultivar, but they may be crossed with commercial cultivars in order to produce new hazelnut cultivars compatible with the harsh climatic conditions of Fandogloo.

According toincreased Concern about the long-term effects of heavy metals as environmental pollutants, studing showed that the bio monitoring could be desirable and satisfactory method to measure heavy metals. Feathers can play the role of both storing and eliminating metals. In this study, accumulation of heavy metals cadmium and lead in birds with emphasis on impact type of habitat (water and drought) were studied in birds in South West of Iran. Tail feathers of 29 birds belonging to 8 species (4 species of aquatic and terrestrial species 4) were collected. In this study heavy metals were measured by using Fillips PU 9400 Atomic Absorbtion Spectrophotometer. Mean Pb concentration in feather of birds was obtained between 18.23± 1.03 (Aythya nyroca) and 3.33± 1.31(μg/g) ( Merops orientalis). Alse mean of Cd in birds was obtaine between 1.71± 0.06 (Anas platyrhyncho) and 0.06± 0.03(μg/g) (Merops orientalis). For evaluation of effects of habitat type on level of lead and cadmium on feather, the birds studied in two groups (aquatic and terrestrial birds).The mean of Pb in aquatic and terrestrial birds were 11.94±4.95 (μg/g) and 6.81±1.03 (μg/g) respectively. A significant difference was in feather Pb concentration across aquatic and terrestrial birds.The concentration of Pb in feathers of aquatic birds was higher than terrestrial birds. The mean of Cd concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial birds was obtained 1.08±0.73 (μg/g) and 0.25±0.19 (μg/g) respectively. However Cd concentration in aquatic birds were higher than terrestrial birds, but there was no significant difference between Cd concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial birds.

Habitat is an important component of biodiversity conservation. Understanding the habitat characteristics to achieve conservation programs is inevitable. The present study was carried out with an aim to identifying microhabitat ecological factors effecting habitat use of Iranian Mountain Steppe Viper (Vipera ebneri) in Alborz Mountains. Sampling was carried out during spring and summer in 2012-2013. Ecological variables were measured in 31 presence and 33 absence plots of 12 ´ 12 m. Results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that hillsides with dense vegetation cover and decimetric stones at the appropriate distance from water sources, are the most important variables in habitat suitability of Iranian Mountain Steppe Viper in the area. The results of this study can fascilitate effective conservation of the remainig populations of Iranian Mountain Steppe Viper through determining factors limiting the distribution of this species as well as identifying and protecting its critical habitats.

Asaccus andersoni is a recently described gecko from the west of Iranian Plateau, Ilam Province. Thisgecko is an endemic lizard species of Iran. Information on the ecology and behaviors of this species is very rare, and is closed to the first description of this species. We conducted our fieldwork at the type locality, in the Manesht Mountains, during several weeks from early spring to late summer of 2012. Here, we report the first data on some aspects of ecology, behaviors, and especially feeding habits of this leaf-toed gecko. Additionally, other important data on this speciesare given in detail in the text.

Since 1980s, the Mnemiopsis leidyi (M. leidyi) was affected on the Black Sea ecosystems. This invasive species has a negative impact on many fish biomass of the Black Sea due to competition feeding on edible zooplankton and fish eggs and larvae of Anchovies. At the same time, the possibility of arriving was estimated into the sensitive ecosystems such as the Caspian Sea. Then this species was observed in the Caspian Sea during November in 1999. In the Black Sea, some details of impact of M. leidyi on communities, habitats and ecosystems and ultimately "biological pollution levels (Bio-Pollution Level, BPL) during arrival, establishment, expansion and adjustment process from1980 to 2000 were studies. In this assessment, impact of invasive species on communities, habitats and ecosystems were classified into five groups (no effect, weak, moderate, strong and extreme).In recent years, M. leidyi was causing problems such as reducing the amount of zooplankton, an increase nutrients at water column and snow bed (Eutrophication). However no quantitative estimation has been done for ranking the impact in the Iranian basin of Caspian Sea. Therefore, this study conducted to evaluate the impact of M. leidyi on habitat in term of environment parameters. In this research, data of physic-chemical parameters (as habitat straits) from 1996 to 2011were applied. These years were classified into two group: before introduction of ctenophore (1996-2000) and after introduction of ctenophore (2001-2011) and also these two periods were grouped into three assessment periods which included the years of 1996-2000, 2008-2011 and 2008-11, respectively. In this study, the years before the introduction of ctenophore considered as a un-disturb ecosystem and the data for these years used as reference data (Reference Value). Also the maximum studied depth was 20 meter; it is because of the high density of ctenophore which was recorded up to 20 m depth. A variety of habitat modification activities of alien species may be ranked from no noticeable alterations in benthic or pelagic environment up to massive impacts causing irreversible changes which classified into five groups: no habitat alteration (H0), alteration of a habitat(s) but no reduction of spatial extent of a habitat(s) (H1), alteration and reduction of spatial extent of a habitat(s) (H2), alteration of a key habitat, severe reduction of spatial extent of habitat(s); loss of habitat(s) within a small area of the assessment unit (H3) and loss of habitats in most or the entire assessment unit, loss of a key habitat. Since the late 1960s, like many marine environments, increasing anthropogenic activities has been a major cause of instability and disturbed in the Caspian Sea environment, therefore, the M. leidyi restructured not only increase its distribution in the Caspian Sea but also it sometimes will have high abundance. The present paper was conducted to changes habitat of the Caspian Sea, namely in terms of physicochemical parameters and nutrient in the south Caspian Sea region of Iran coastal which examined quantitative (numerical). Environment parameters showed obvious changes after introduction of M. leidyi to the references value (years before introduction into the Caspian Sea). As the statistical analyses showed the significant difference among mean values of physico-chemical parameters (p<0/05) during 3 defined periods. Meanwhile in T-test, significant difference of parameters observed between before/after introduction of M. leidyi into the Caspian Sea. The excretion of nutrients and secretion of mucus by M. leidyi should be increase the nutrient content of Caspian Sea, as well as river discharge and bottom turbulence. However, the nutrient content (except organic nitrogen) showed decreasing trend from 2008-2011. It was due to consumption of the nutrient by massive phytoplankton reproduction in the years. High abundance of primary producer and photocentetic organisms increased the water oxygen dissolved and carbon dioxide. However, pH of water didn’t change significantly due to high buffered water of Caspian Sea. Large part of excretion material by M. leidyi contained of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and a little part is from organic phosphorus. Meanwhile, rate of phosphorus turnover is faster than carbon and nitrogen elements. So as it expected inorganic phosphorus decreased and organic nitrogen increased from 1998 to 2011. M. leidyi effect on quality both water and sediment and changes the habitats. Meanwhile, these two habitats (water and sediment) have mutal effect. It expected levels of organic matter was increased in the bed with a bed of snow (create mucus from M. leidyi). Although, that information related to the percent of the total organic matter was not completed and there is a lack of information especially in the early years of the second period (the years 2001 and 2002), but its percentage increase since 1998 (the first period) to the year 2003 (second period). Although, compared to the year 2003 showed a decline but the data is not substantially decreasing the reference values. In fact, slope of trendlines showed slowly changes of each parameter in figures, but comparative values ​​of the environmental parameters changes more clearly than in the year before introduction of M. leidyi (Reference value). Impact on habitats and ecosystem process became evident at later stages of an invasion. As the results showed that even at the presence and bloom of ctenophore the impact on habitat classified in H0 during 2001-02. Evidences of impact on habitat increased by years and shifted to the ranks H2, H3 and finally H4 during 2005-06. Even in this period, biomass of big eyes and anchovies fishes severely destroyed. In the adaptation phase (2008-2010) habitat changes classified on H2 to H3 according to the decreasing of ctenophore density. Evaluation of South-Eastern and Eastern regions of the Caspian Sea indicated that this part of the sea based on habitatsا features was ranked H0-H4 in 2004, and the effects of M. leidyi was multiple levels and it was the expression of biological contamination less than 4 and nearly brought on stage was "adaptation. Similar condition showed that the stage adaptation of the Black Sea in 2000, about 20 years after the introduction of the M. leidyi in the Black Sea occurred. Also, because of differences between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea are such strong predatory Beroe ovate feeding M. leidyi a significant decrease since 1997 in the Black Sea, the abundance of M. leidyi was reached the maximum level in the Caspian Sea until 2002. The maximum level of M. leidyi was registered about 7 years after the first observation of invasive comb jelly in the Black Sea, while this condition was happened about 3 years after first introduction of M. leidyi in the Caspian Sea. Some studies showed that the maximum rate of invasive M. leidyi in the Black Sea in 1989 coincided with the expansion of the fourth level of pollution or habitat (H4), respectively. The fourth level of pollution (H4) in the Caspian Sea in 1385 was calculated about four years after the expansion of the M. leidyi (in 1380 and 1381). Shorter time to reach various stages of habitat pollutions and the biological contamination level (BPL) in the Caspian Sea compared to the Black Sea, indicates that the Caspian ecosystem is very fragile due to its semi-enclosed compared to the Black Sea which connected to open Seas. There are some evidences such as increases of eutrophic level (from oligotrophy to meso-eutrophy), increases of dissolved oxygen, algal bloom, increases/decrease of Shannon diversity index in phytoplankton/zooplankton and increase of sediment-feeders of macro-benthos in different years of third period of study (2007-10) that indicating to stress and disturbance in Caspian Sea environment. The engineering of these events was mainly by M. leidyi. In Caspian Sea, maximum abundance of M. leidyi observes in 2001-2 (about 3 years after the introduction of the invader) and class H4 calculated for years of 2005-6 (approximately 4 years after M. leidyi blooming in 2001-2. While in the Black Sea, the maximum abundance of M. leidyi and class H4 of the impact happened 7 years after arrival of the invader in to the ecosystem. It seems that the semi-closed system of the Caspian Sea is more sensitive than Black Sea. Finally, there are others factors of impacts including an increase of sea level, river flows fluctuation, oil and gas production, chemical pollution, eutrophication, others biological invasion, diseases, natural tectonic activity and climate changes on habitats and ecosystem of Caspian Sea. These factors have overlap with the biological invasion of M. leidyi. Therefore the scaling of these factors and determination of their weights in impact process is key tasks of a regional habitat protection of the Caspian Sea.

We identified birds and compared the diversity of birds between different habitats in Naqadeh, North Western Iran. Diversity and number of birds were monitored in four main habitats including semi-arid steppes, wetlands, agriculture and high mountains habitats from July 2010 to June 2012. Different habitats were also compared in terms of Species Diversity indices to evaluate relative importance of each habitat for birds. Overall 140 bird species were identified in the study areas, 53% of them were terrestrial and 47% depended on aquatic habitats. Among identified birds, 31 species have national/international conservation concerns indicating the importance of the study areas for threatened species. Among birds identified, 66 species (47.1%) were breeding birds including summer visitor or resident species among them was. Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) as the first breeding record for this province. The highest values of Simpson and Shanon-Wiener were found in semi-arid steppes (0.934 and 4.208) and wetland 0.872 and 3.457) respectively, both on them occurring in summer season. By contrast, the highest values of evenness indices of Camargo and Simpson were found in winter in agriculture (0.857 and 0.943) and high mountains (0.667 and 0.701) areas. The highest similarity coefficient (Jaccard index) was 0.685 and was found to be between semi-arid steppes and agricultural habitats. Not surprisingly, aquatic habitats supported the highest number of birds reaching a maximum of 10300 (75.1%). Present study implies that habitats around Naqadeh are important for bird fauna and further investigations as well as conversation measured should be undertaken to protect habitats and birds especially in semi-arid steppes.