Identifying effective environmental variables on distribution of Clandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) in Iran-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot

Climate change, land use, and human-factor are some of the most important biodiversity changes currently, as many of the surveys through the recent decades have shown the fact. Steppe habitats are one of the most impressed habitats by the mentioned elements. So this study aims to identify the most important climate variables, land cover and human cover on distribution of Clandra Lark in biodiversity hot spot, Iran-Anatoly. Clandra Lark is used as one of the Indicator species of farm land birds in modeling in order to predict how other birds of the same habitat get influenced. We modeled the habitat for the Clandra lark after assembling presence point of this species in study area, and by the use of climatical, environmental, and human elements, and the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) in the Modeling Package (SDM). Analysis and modeling data show that this species is largely dependent on the habitats of west, north and central of Irano-Anatolian region. Also average annual rain and average seasonal rain changes, and human footprint provided about 80 percent of the prediction process respectively. Totally agricultural intensification and changing the rain pattern seem to be one of the most effective elements on choosing the farm land birds’ habitat. Therefore, in order to protect these species we should notice the mentioned elements in land management.