Investigating habitat degradation of Ursus arctos using species distribution modelling and remote sensing in Zagros Mountains of Iran

Knowledge on habitat suitability of ecologically important species is central for their conservation management. The occurrence records brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Kurdestan Province Iran and environmental data were compiled to predict the ecological niche this using Maxent distribution algorithm. Satellite imagery Landsat 5 8 1990 2017 was also employed investigate human-induced land degradation suitable habitats species. images pre-processed classified into seven use cover (LULC) classes support vector machine (SVM) According model, about 9% study area could be regarded as highly habitat, followed by moderately (11.6%) marginally (29.3%). integration potential map LULC changes revealed that more than 6997 ha have been degraded due different human activities mainly related conversion natural lands Daryan Dam construction.