Can habitat suitability predict the presence of wild boar? Suitable land uses vs. georeferenced data in Bulgaria
Bosch, J., Animal Health Research Center, Madrid (Spain). Epidemiology and Environmental Health | De la Torre, A., Animal Health Research Center, Madrid (Spain). Epidemiology and Environmental Health | Alexandrov, T., Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, Sofia (Bulgaria). Animal Health and Welfare Directorate | Iglesias, I., Animal Health Research Center, Madrid (Spain). Epidemiology and Environmental Health | Miteva, A., Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, Sofia (Bulgaria). Animal Health and Welfare Directorate | Munoz, M.J., Animal Health Research Center, Madrid (Spain). Epidemiology and Environmental Health
The aim of this work was to use standardized digital cartography of vegetation coverage to test whether or not the range of habitat suitability for wild boar in Bulgaria coincides with the georeferenced/presence records of this species. The predicted range of habitat suitability based on potential biological resources in Bulgaria encompasses 13 land uses from CORINE program, being "Broad-leaved forests" (23432 square km) the most representative. The total potential resources for wild boar correspond to 57.54 % of the country area. A high level of correlation (0.86) was found between inverse distance of wild boars presence and habitat suitability areas. A significant level of correlation (0.71, P less than 0.0001) per Bulgarian region between area of habitat suitability category 2 (resources suitable for use as both food and shelter) an number of wild boar was also found. Suitable wild boar habitat on borders appeared as the most relevant parameter for evaluating the risk od introduction of diseases by wild boar into the Europe Union from neighbouring countries. Despite being the longest (608 km), the Bulgaria-Romania border did not represent the most important corridor for the wild boar since only 12.78 % of its surface is suitable habitat; the percentage of the importance of this border edges the passage of wild boar (96.88 %), with 148 km of border and 12,34 % of its surface area of suitable habitat. Our findings could be highly useful for developing adequate strategies for wildlife management practice on large spatial scales, as well as for the control of wildlife and its habitats (territorial integration and spatial planning according to the casuistry of the zone), and relationships between wildlife and other human interests.
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