Modelling the habitat of a wild ungulate in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment in southwestern Europe: Small cliffs are key predictors of the presence of Iberian wild goat

摘要: Abstract After a drastic contraction in the species’ range, Iberian wild goat Capra pyrenaica (Schinz, 1838) has recolonized semi-arid steppe areas where availability of resources is lower than it species typical habitat. There gap habitat characteristics that allow to survive an environment lacks high cliffs and rocky outcrops. We hypothesize microhabitat find necessary for survival atypical areas. To test that, we measured several topographic variables (slope, distance small elevation) as well land use/cover (distance bushes, forests, agriculture, artificial rivers). model Middle Ebro Valley, Spain, used data from 7-yr monitoring averaged-model with Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM-Logit). Distance bushes explained most variance which reflected fragmented potential The structure might act metapopulation system, spatial configuration fragments along rivers corridors favour dispersal should be taken consideration conservation management species.