Potentially Important Areas for the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) as a Basis for Determining the Structural Elements of the Eco-Network of the Transcarpathian Region in Ukraine
Potentially Important Areas for the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) as a Basis for Determining the Structural Elements of the Eco-Network of the Transcarpathian Region in Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of the publication is to indicate potentially important areas for the presence of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) within the Transcarpathian region in Ukraine using GIS modeling tools to optimize the network of protected areas. The modeling consisted of a preliminary analysis of the following five parameters that are important for the life of the species: type of land cover, proximity of non-forest biotopes to forest biotopes, high-altitude bioclimatic zones, degrees of relief dissection, distance from settlements and roads. A comprehensive GIS analysis of these pa- rameters made it possible to establish that the total area of territories that are potentially suitable for the presence of the Eurasian lynx within the Transcarpathian region is 192.6 thousand hectares, and covers about 9.9% of the territory of the region. The most suitable areas are concentrated in the mountainous southeastern part of the region within the orographic ecoregion of the elevated dissected highlands. Within the modeled habitats, there are often places where real signs of the species’ distribution have been recorded. In the second stage of the research, a cartographic model “Territories of the potential presence of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and key areas of the regional ecological network of the Transcarpathian region” was obtained, where population, reproduction and other areas, as well as the degree of nature protection in these areas, were established.

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