Classification of Habitats in Bakhtegan wetland (Fars Province) in Mediterranean Wetland System

Understanding ecosystems and their zonation based on their characteristics and sensitivities is an essential step in protecting natural resources and the sustainability of their habitats. The Mediterranean Wetland Habitat Classification System (MEDWET) is used to identify Bakhtegan wetland, Fars Province, Iran, by hierarchical classification of their habitats, in which they are identified and demarcated by dominant vegetation, soil, and hydrology. Remote sensing methods are used to obtain the maximum possible information with the least fieldwork. The data for the water regime were obtained from seasonal satellite images (1997 to 2009) and their analysis in GIS using ArcGis software. Field visits and sampling were performed for sections with little or no information, such as wetland plants and lake bed profiles. After identification, plant samples were classified based on life cycle (annual or perennial), and habitat (submerged or submerged). The digital layers of all information were stacked in ILWIS software to separate different habitats. Habitats were designated with international identifiers, and a habitat zoning map was prepared. A total of 51 different habitats were identified, the most important of which were lacustrine – littoral – emergent – nonpersistent - intermittently flooded - polysaline LLENIP, (607100 m2), water surface - salt crust - intermittently flooded – mesosaline, LLOAIM (154561200 m2), non-vegetated - salt crust - seasonally flooded – mesosaline, LLSASM (15790400 m2), and palustrine - nonvegetated - salt crust - seasonally flooded – mesosaline, P-SASM (25967300 m2), and salt crust - Intermittently flooded – mesosaline, P-SAIM (20503100 m2). The result of this research and the resulting map is the first step for recognizing sensitive and vulnerable areas of the wetland, and further planning for utilization management and protection of the ecosystem, especially the aquatic plant communities.