THE STUDY OF VERTEBRATES FAUNA OF KHOSHYEYLAGH WILDLIFE REFUGE FOR PREPARING DISTRIBUTION MAPS OF INDICATOR SPECIES WITH THE AID OF GIS

This research is from 1/2/2007 to 25/11/2007 was carried out with the aim of studying the vertebrates fauna of Khoshyeylagh Wildlife Refuge in the Semnan Province to prepare distribution map of indicator species. Khoshyeylagh Wildlife Refuge as vast as 143138ha is located between 13'55º to 54' 55º eastern longitude and 38' 36º to 3' 37º northern latitude. This region due to its important ecological indicators has considerable part of plant and animal genetic pools, from Caspian mountainous rainforest ecosystems to arid deserts. Presence of 27 species of mammals in 14 families, 93 bird species in 25 families and 25 reptile species in 3 families in this area was confirmed during the study period. Altogether, %17.68 of mammals, %17.91 of birds and %12.5 of reptiles inhabit this refuge. In this paper, Arc GIS was used to prepare distribution maps of indicatorspecies living in Khoshyeylagh Wildlife Refuge. For this purpose, after literature review and field visit were finished, environmental resources including physico chemical, biological, socio-economical and cultural resources were identified. Then, fauna map of this area was prepared in thescale of 1:250000 based on classification of fragile habitats and biotic conditions of indicator or threatened species.

Keywords:

Khoshyeylagh Wildlife Refuge , Semnan , Iran , GIS