Habitat suitability modeling for Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen. using ecological-niche factor analysis (case study: rangeland of middle Taleghan)

Zare Chahouki, M.A.; Abasi, M.

doi:10.22092/ijmapr.2016.107129

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

M.A. Zare Chahouki ¹
M. Abasi ²

¹ Faculty of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran Iran, Karaj

² MSc. Graduate student, Faculty of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22092/ijmapr.2016.107129

Abstract

The purpose of this study was habitat suitability modeling for Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen. using ecological-niche factor analysis. This model was implemented in the Biomapper software. The information layers included species presence map, soil map (gravel percentage, pH, electrical conductivity, lime, organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, soil depth, sand, clay and silt percent), and the topography map (slope, aspect and elevation). The accuracy of the model was obtained 89% using Boyce index, indicating the high accuracy of the model. The Kappa coefficient obtained from matching the prediction map with the ground truth map was calculated to be 0.73, which is at a good level. The results showed that T. kotschyanus preferred soils with a pH of 7.5-8, an electrical conductivity of 0.20-0.25 dS/m and less than 21.5 percent of lime. The optimal habitat of this species is located at an altitude of over 2000 meters above sea level and in the northern and eastern slopes. Furthermore, the results of this study showed that T. kotschyanus is a specialized species in the study area with a relatively narrow ecological niche, tending to live in its own special habitat conditions.

Keywords

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Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research

Habitat suitability modeling for Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen. using ecological-niche factor analysis (case study: rangeland of middle Taleghan)

References

References

Volume 32, Issue 4 - Serial Number 78
November 2016
Pages 561-573

Habitat suitability modeling for Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen. using ecological-niche factor analysis (case study: rangeland of middle Taleghan)

References

References

Volume 32, Issue 4 - Serial Number 78November 2016Pages 561-573

Volume 32, Issue 4 - Serial Number 78
November 2016
Pages 561-573