Predicting the potential distribution of striped hyena Hyaena hyaena in Iran
Amirhossein Dadashi-Jourdehi, Bahman Shams-Esfandabad, Abbas Ahmadi, Hamid Reza Rezaei, Hamid Toranjzar
Abstract
Predictive potential distribution modelling is crucial in outlining habitat usage and establishing conservation management priorities. Association among species occurrence and environmental and spatial characteristics has been calculated with species distribution models. Herein, we used maximum entropy distribution modelling (MaxEnt) for predicting the potential distribution of striped hyena Hyaena hyaena in the entire country of Iran, using a number of occurrence records (i.e., 118) and environmental variables derived from remote sensing. The MaxEnt model showed a high rate of success according to AUC test scores (0.97). Our results are roughly congruent with previous studies suggesting that mountainous re-gions in northern and western Iran, and the plains in central and eastern Iran are a suitable habitat for H. hyaena.