Modeling habitat suitability and utilization of the last surviving populations of fallow deer (Dama dama Linnaeus, 1758)

• Published in: Journal of forestry research Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 721 - 730
• Main Authors: Ünal, Yasin, Şentürk, Özdemir, Kavgaci, Ali, Süel, Halil, Gülsoy, Serkan, Oğurlu, Idris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.04.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; Faculty of Forestry,Isparta University of Applied Sciences, 32260 Isparta,Turkey%G?lhisar Vocational School,Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University,15400 Burdur,Golhisar,Turkey%Faculty of Forestry,Karabuk University,78050 Karabuk, Turkey%Isparta University of Applied Sciences,Süt?üler Prof.Dr.Hasan Gürbüz Vocational School,32950 Isparta, Turkey%Environmental and Natural Sciences Application and Research Center,Istanbul Commerce University, 34840 Istanbul,Turkey
• Subjects: Analysis; Bedrock; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Dama dama; Deer; Elevation; Environmental protection; Forestry; Habitats; Life Sciences; Natural areas; Original Paper; Plant species; Populations; Regression analysis; Reintroduction; Ruggedness; Surveys; Sustainability; Vegetation; Wildlife conservation; Wildlife habitats; Wildlife surveys; Turkey; Antalya; Wildlife reserve area; Turkey; Ungulates; MAXENT; Fallow deer; Düzlerçamı; Düzler?am?
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607
• DOI: 10.1007/s11676-021-01391-z

Düzlerçamı Wildlife Reserve Area (WRA) is the last natural habitat of fallow deer ( Dama dama ) in the world. Fallow deer is native to Turkey, however, its geographical range is currently confined to Düzlerçamı WRA, Antalya. To date, a detailed habitat investigation of fallow deer distribution has not been conducted. This study is vital for the last surviving populations of fallow deer in Turkey. Therefore, we studied the habitat suitability and utilization of fallow deer in the Düzlerçamı WRA. Vegetation and wildlife inventory was surveyed across a total of 304 sample areas between 2015 and 2017. Plant species were recorded according to the Braun-Blanquet method and wildlife surveys were based on footprints, feces, and other signs of fallow deer. Classification and regression tree techniques, as well as MAXENT, were used to model vegetation and fallow deer habitat. Topographic position index, terrain ruggedness index, roughness index, elevation, and bedrock formation were also calculated and included in the models. Based on our results, we drafted a habitat protection map for fallow deer. To ensure sustainability of habitats where populations of fallow deer are found in Turkey, we developed recommendations such as closuring human access of the 1st-degree Protection Area and reintroduction of the species to other potential habitats.