Habitat preference modeling of Iranobuthus krali (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Iran

Today, ecological niche models (ENMs) are one of the main components of ecological, conservation, and biogeography studies. The ENMs using presence records and environmental variables estimate the presence probability of different species in the desired geographical area. In this study, using MaxEnt software, ۱۹ bioclimatic variables, and ۱۳ occurrence points recorded in previous studies from the provinces of Isfahan (Kashan), Qom, Markazi, Hormozgan, Fars, Tehran, and Alborz, the habitat preference of Kral Iranian scorpion (Iranobuthus krali) was modeled in Iran. The AUC value for training dataset was equal to ۰.۹۹۱ which indicates high discriminative performance of the model. Three bioclimatic variables including precipitation of coldest quarter (Bio۱۹), precipitation of driest quarter (Bio۱۷), and minimum temperature of coldest month (Bio۶) collectively had the highest percentage of contribution (۴۷.۵%) in building the model. Based on the Jackknife test, the Bio۱۷ contained the most information than other variables and annual precipitation (Bio۱۲) contained the most useful information in building the model. Based on the response curves, I. krali preferred some parts of Iran with precipitation of coldest quarter more than ۸۰mm, precipitation of driest quarter between ۱-۱۰ mm, and annual precipitation more than ۱۰۰ mm. Also, the potential distribution range of the species included some parts of Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, Semnan, Kerman, and Yazd provinces. The results of this study which predicts some ecological features of the Kral scorpion can be used in conservation programs as one of the valuable biological resources of Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Kral Iranian Scorpion ، Habitat preference ، Maxent ، Climate variables ، Iran