Identification of Ecological Connectivity for Brown Bears: Example of Malatya Province

Abstract

Increasing population, industrialization and use of agricultural land in the world results in devastation and fragmentation of natural areas, and thus the wild life is threatened. Especially big carnivorous animals are influenced heavily by this situation. They are vulnerable due to the need for wide areas for habitation, low reproduction rates, huge body size and the fact that they are perceived as threats by people because of their predatory characteristics. Therefore, these species should be considered as a priority in protection strategies.

Connectivity is one of the tools used for preventing the mentioned devastation created by human activities and enabling protection of the habitats of mentioned species. An umbrella species, big carnivorous brown bear (Ursus arctos L) is tackled in the study which is found in the natural landscape of Malatya province. The purpose of the study is to identify their habitats via Geographical Information Systems and ensure ecological connectivity among habitats. Similar studies are examined as examples within the applied model in this context and they are transferred to the field. The mobility among reproduction and population areas of the brown bears is provided by the to-be-established ecological networks, while they are protected from isolation and spatial losses.

Keywords

• Brown bear (Ursus arctos L),ecological connectivity,habitat model,Malatya,Turkey

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