Assessment of habitat fragmentation for grey wolf and Persian leopard in some Iranian desert landscapes

Habitat fragmentation and the disruption of connectivity caused by roads are major concerns for the conservation of large carnivores as apex predator. The central arid plains of Iran support a variety of carnivore species, which their populations have sharply decreased because of habitat destruction, deterioration, and fragmentation. This study was conducted in the three conservation areas (CAs) and surrounded landscapes in central plains of Iran, focusing on two large carnivores: the grey wolf and the Persian leopard. The objectives were to predict habitat suitability and identify the environmental variables influencing the distribution of these carnivores. Additionally, the study aimed to predict core habitats and corridors, as well as their integration with CAs. Furthermore, road densities and the number of road crossings relevant to the assessed carnivores were applied. An ensemble modeling approach for habitat suitability, which includes five different algorithms and factorial least cost analysis were applied to predict habitat suitability, core habitats and their connectivity. The results indicated that the most important variables for habitat suitability were distance to CAs, grassland density, and distance to water resources for both carnivores. Three core habitats were identified for the grey wolf, while two core habitats were identified for the Persian leopard. The coverage of predicted core habitats within CAs exceeded 90%. However, the high road density within the corridors for grey wolves (80 m/km²) and particularly for Persian leopards (152 m/km²) in our study area indicated that the habitat was fragmented by roads for the assessed carnivorous species. To enhance connectivity and reduce habitat fragmentation, it is recommended to facilitate the movement of carnivores within corridors by implementing warning signs and speed cameras in areas bisected by roads. Integrated management of core habitats and corridors for the assessed carnivores, encompassing both conservation and road management, should be prioritized by wildlife managers in the study area.