Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Davood Pakniat, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Gilda Shahnaseri, Saeideh Maleki, Mohammad-Ali Adibi, Mohammad Reza Besmeli, Mohammad Ebrahim Sehatisabet, Hossein Abbasian, Hossein Akbari, Mahboobeh Tohidi
Summary: This study evaluated the distribution and habitat suitability of Asian Houbara in Iran, finding that climatic and topographic variations significantly influence their regional-scale distribution. It was observed that 40.6% of suitable habitats for wintering populations and 29.6% for breeding populations overlapped with the protected network, with a high level of spatial niche similarity (78%) between the two populations.
BIRD CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alice Monnier-Corbel, Anne-Christine Monnet, Leo Bacon, Blas M. Benito, Alexandre Robert, Yves Hingrat
Summary: The study indicates that reproductive success of North African Houbara bustard is negatively impacted by local densities, with this relationship remaining constant over time and space and not varying with habitat quality.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhili Xu, Bin Dong, Zezhu Wei, Zhipeng Lu, Xiao Liu, Haifeng Xu
Summary: This study analyzed the land use change of Chongming Dongtan and evaluated the habitat suitability of wintering cranes in the past 36 years. The results showed that the habitat suitability of wintering cranes in Chongming Dongtan has gradually changed from suitable to unsuitable, and the habitat quality is deteriorating. The study identified 208 potential habitat corridors, with higher density in the eastern part of the study area. The study also proposed methods for identifying important habitat corridors and analyzing habitat network structure to improve habitat network stability.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhiyuan Lu, Yuepeng Zhai, Derong Meng, Guanqun Kou, Hao Li, Jingze Liu
Summary: Changes in future climate will impact the geographic distributions of the Asian Great Bustard, a globally threatened species highly dependent on farmlands during the wintering period. Species distribution models are powerful tools for predicting potential distributions and assessing habitat suitability for conservation management plans. Under future climatic scenarios, the suitable habitats for wintering Asian Great Bustard are expected to increase to varying degrees by the end of this century.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Juan Carlos Alonso, Thibault Dieuleveut, Carlos Palacin, Inmaculada Abril-Colon, Alberto Ucero, Christelle Lucas
Summary: This study provides morphological data from Chlamydotis bustards, showing differences in size and weight between species/subspecies. MacQueen's Bustards are the largest, African Houbaras are intermediate, and Canarian Houbaras are the smallest. Male bustards are larger and heavier than females, indicating a moderate effect of sexual selection. The results also support the hypothesis of insular dwarfism in the Canarian subspecies.
ARDEOLA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Megersa Tsegaye Debela, Qingming Wu, Zhe Li, Xueying Sun, Opelele Omeno, Yibin Li
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the habitat suitability of herbivorous Anseriformes in China's Poyang Lake, revealing significant spatial variations in habitat suitability grades, with vegetation areas having the best grade and unsuitable areas covering the smallest portion of the lake. The study results showed slight changes in habitat suitability areas, highlighting the valuable importance of Poyang Lake for the conservation of herbivorous Anseriformes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mojtaba Asgharzadeh, Ali Asghar Alesheikh, Masoud Yousefi
Summary: Climate and land cover change are important factors that affect avian species range shift. Predicting their response to these changes and identifying suitable habitats in the future can help with conservation planning.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zezhu Wei, Zhili Xu, Bin Dong, Haifeng Xu, Zhipeng Lu, Xiao Liu
Summary: The construction of ecological corridor is important for mitigating the impact of habitat fragmentation and maintaining regional ecosystem stability. This study focused on overwintering cranes in a typical wetland of Poyang Lake, and used landscape connectivity analysis and an analytic hierarchy process to construct ecological corridors. Results showed that the resistance surface was high in certain regions and low in others, and the optimal habitat and least suitable habitat changed over time. A total of 18 potential ecological corridors were identified in this study.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jiakun Teng, Shaoxia Xia, Yu Liu, Xiubo Yu, Houlang Duan, Han Xiao, Chuanpeng Zhao
Summary: Hydrological conditions play a crucial role in influencing the abundance and distribution of water-birds. This study proposes a method using NDWI derived from satellite images to identify suitable habitats for wintering geese, revealing a close relationship between NDWI, water level, and geese occurrence. The study highlights the potential of using NDWI to improve distribution models for waterbird species to enhance their protection and wetland management.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Reza Kheirandish, Soodeh Alidadi, Shahrzad Azizi, Atena Azami
Summary: A 2-year-old Asian Houbara bustard presented with a rare histologic variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) characterized by a solitary well-defined, firm cutaneous mass on the hairless and unpigmented area of the right hock joint with ulceration.
ANKARA UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wei Yang, Yuanxu Ma, Linhai Jing, Siyuan Wang, Zhongchang Sun, Yunwei Tang, Hui Li
Summary: Climate change and human activities have had significant impacts on biodiversity, making the identification of potential suitable habitats urgent. This study used the maximum entropy model to identify current and potential future habitats of Asian elephants in South and Southeast Asia, providing useful references for optimizing protected area planning.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiuming Li, Ruimei Cheng, Wenfa Xiao, Ge Sun, Tian Ma, Fuguo Liu, Xiaoyun Liu, Fawen Qian, Kaijun Pan
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the distribution and changes of Anatidae habitats in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (TGRR) in China, and assess the impact of impoundment during different periods. The study found that water temperature and road presence were key factors affecting Anatidae distribution before the Three Gorges Project (TGP), while elevation played a significant role after TGP. The study also suggested adding Anatidae as conservation targets within existing conservation agencies and implementing a waterbird monitoring program for scientific waterbird conservation and reservoir sustainable development.
Article
Ecology
Erin E. Conlisk, Kristin B. Byrd, Elliott Matchett, Austen A. Lorenz, Michael Casazza, Gregory H. Golet, Mark D. Reynolds, Kristin A. Sesser, Matthew E. Reiter
Summary: This study developed species distribution models for three duck species to understand their response to freshwater availability and food resources. It found that dry conditions reduce habitat suitability, but flooded wetland habitat is relatively robust. Models including crop and wetland plant yield data performed slightly better.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
S. del Rio, R. Canas, E. Cano, A. Cano-Ortiz, C. Musarella, C. Pinto-Gomes, A. Penas
Summary: This study analyzes the effects of climate change on habitat suitability and vulnerability in four categories of deciduous forests in Spain, with results showing generalized losses in habitat suitability compared to current conditions for all forest categories. Forecasting models suggest the least affected forests by climate change in the future will be the Orocantabrian forests, while the Pyrenean and Oroiberian communities are the most vulnerable.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Zhenhua Luo, Xiaoyi Wang, Shaofa Yang, Xinlan Cheng, Yang Liu, Junhua Hu
Summary: The study found that giant spiny frogs shifted northward and experienced a reduction in suitable habitat during the Last Glacial Maximum, but have since seen an expansion in available habitat. Future climate change is likely to decrease available habitat and increase population fragmentation, with habitat connectivity of the frogs expected to decrease by 50-75%. It is crucial to consider the impacts of climate change on habitat suitability and connectivity, with mountains in southern China and the Sino-Vietnamese transboundary regions emerging as critical refugia and conservation priority areas.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shawan Chowdhury, Kristofer Gonzalez, M. Cisel Kemahli Aytekin, Seung-Yun Baek, Michal Belcik, Sandro Bertolino, Sjoerd Duijns, Yuqing Han, Kerstin Jantke, Ryosuke Katayose, Mu-Ming Lin, Elham Nourani, Danielle Leal Ramos, Marie-Morgane Rouyer, William Sidemo-Holm, Svetlana Vozykova, Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez, Tatsuya Amano
Summary: English is widely recognized as the language of science, and the number of English-language publications is rapidly increasing. However, the assumption that the number of non-English-language publications is decreasing contributes to the underuse of non-English articles in conservation science. This study found that conservation articles published in non-English languages have been increasing at a similar rate as English-language articles. However, the number of non-English-language articles identified varied significantly depending on the search system used. It is important to consider the biases and the role of non-English-language articles in improving the understanding of biodiversity and conservation.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anooshe Kafash, Sohrab Ashrafi, Masoud Yousefi
Summary: This study used the maximum entropy approach to model habitat suitability of bat species in Iran and identified important variables for their distribution. Forest distance was found to be the most important ecological driver of bat distribution in Iran. The Zagros Mountains were highlighted as a hotspot for bat species.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Masoud Yousefi, Ahmad Mahmoudi, Anooshe Kafash, Ali Khani, Boris Krystufek
Summary: This study aims to determine the richness and elevational distribution patterns of rodents in Iran, as well as explore the underlying mechanisms. By compiling an updated species list and mapping their distributions, the study identifies the northeast of Iran, Zagros Mountains, Alborz Mountains, and northwestern Iran as biodiversity hotspots for rodents. The results highlight the importance of past climate change as the key driver of rodent richness in Iran.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Masoud Yousefi, Anooshe Kafash, Michael P. J. Nicolai
Summary: The aim of this study is to map the richness and genetic divergence of lizards in the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot and its surrounding areas, as well as identify the main determinants of these patterns.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Masoud Yousefi, Reza Naderloo, Alireza Keikhosrav
Summary: This study used machine learning methods to assess the impact of climate change on the distribution of eight freshwater crab species. It found that most species will lose suitable habitats, while a few will gain new ones. Some species are particularly sensitive to climate change, and the current coverage of protected areas is limited.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Flack, Ellen O. Aikens, Andrea Kolzsch, Elham Nourani, Katherine R. S. Snell, Wolfgang Fiedler, Nils Linek, Hans-Gunther Bauer, Kasper Thorup, Jesko Partecke, Martin Wikelski, Hannah J. Williams
Summary: Bird migration is a complex phenomenon that requires balancing costs and maximizing fitness. Research on bird migration has made significant progress in understanding the behavioral, cognitive, physiological, and evolutionary mechanisms involved. However, there are still gaps in knowledge and conflicting evidence in fields such as navigation, social learning, individual development, energetics, and conservation.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Masoud Yousefi, Ahmad Mahmoudi, Somaye Vaissi, Anooshe Kafash
Summary: Iran, a biodiversity-rich country, has been influenced by past events such as climate change, mountain uplifting, and sea level change, which have shaped the distribution patterns and genetic structure of vertebrate species. By reviewing different studies, we identified the major events and geographical barriers and compiled an updated checklist of vertebrate species in Iran.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Niloufar Lorestani, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Azita Rezvani, Mohsen Ahmadi
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are important tools for understanding the relationship between species distribution patterns and phylogenetic relationships. This study focuses on the Pallas's cat, a less-studied species with unknown biogeography and phylogenetic structure across a wide range. By developing SDMs for each subspecies and comparing them with a general model, the study finds that the AUC and TSS values of the subspecies models are higher than the general model. The study also predicts that future climate change may pose a greater threat to certain subspecies. These findings highlight the importance of SDMs in recognizing within-taxon habitat use and implementing effective conservation planning.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hester Bronnvik, Kamran Safi, Wouter M. G. Vansteelant, Patrik Byholm, Elham Nourani
Summary: Thermal soaring birds use wind support during migration, but there is no increase in the use of thermal uplifts with age.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Raziyeh Shahsavarzadeh, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Mohammad S. Farhadinia, Sima Fakheran, Mohsen Ahmadi
Summary: Large carnivores, such as the Persian leopard, can adapt to a wide range of natural habitats, and habitat suitability models should take into account ecoregional differences. The study used the maximum entropy model to assess the habitat suitability of leopards across four biogeographic zones in Iran and projected their future distribution under climate change scenarios. The results showed that habitat use differed among ecoregions and that the response to climate change varied depending on the region. The findings highlight the importance of considering ecoregional differences in conservation measures for widespread species.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elham Nourani, Kamran Safi, Sophie de Grissac, David J. Anderson, Nik C. Cole, Adam Fell, David Gremillet, Emmanouil Lempidakis, Miriam Lerma, Jennifer L. McKee, Lorien Pichegru, Pascal Provost, Niels C. Rattenborg, Peter G. Ryan, Carlos D. Santos, Stefan Schoombie, Vikash Tatayah, Henri Weimerskirch, Martin Wikelski, Emily L. C. Shepard
Summary: Storms can have negative effects on seabirds, causing stranding and wrecking. However, little is known about the wind speeds that birds can tolerate or avoid. By analyzing tracking data from 18 seabird species, researchers found that flight morphology affects wind selectivity. Seabirds show no general preference or avoidance of specific wind speeds, but flight morphology is adapted to wind conditions, with higher wing loading being selected in windier environments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elham Ghasidian, Anooshe Kafash, Martin Kehl, Masoud Yousefi, Saman Heydari-Guran
Summary: The study of cultural materials associated with Neanderthal remains from the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Siberian Altai reveals two distinct techno-complexes - Micoquian and Mousterian. Least-cost-path modeling based on topography and paleoclimate data identifies two dispersal routes: a northern route from the Greater Caucasus associated with the Micoquian techno-complex to Siberian Altai, and a southern route from the Lesser Caucasus associated with Mousterian to Siberian Altai via the Southern Caspian Corridor. The southern dispersal route, located in the Southern Caspian corridor, is considered a potential place of admixture of different hominin species including Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.
Article
Ecology
Mohsen Ahmadi, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Mohammad Kaboli, Farzin Shabani
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are practical tools in assessing habitat suitability. Manipulating input data can enhance the performance of SDMs. This study integrated different SDMs to model the geographic bias of data for a rare species complex of mountain vipers. The results showed that the MaxEnt model performed well in predicting training and test data.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Masoud Yousefi, Saeed Mohammadi, Anooshe Kafash
Summary: This study modeled the global habitat suitability of bearded vultures using a maximum entropy approach, 10,585 distribution records, and 10 environmental variables. The results showed that topographic diversity is the most important predictor of the species distribution. Only 16.26% of the species' suitable habitats are protected. Therefore, it is necessary to include the areas with the highest suitability for conservation in the network of protected areas.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Muhammad Riaz Ejaz, Samir Jaoua, Mohsen Ahmadi, Farzin Shabani
Summary: Climate change is predicted to increase crop diseases caused by Fusarium spp. worldwide. Correlative species distribution models were used to project how the niche of Fusarium spp. will change under different climate scenarios. The findings have global implications and can help farmers and planners in preventing the spread of Fusarium spp. and minimizing contamination.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
