Habitat selection of Williams' Jerboa (Allactaga williamsi Tomas, 1897) in Ardabil Province, Iran

Abstract

Investigation of habitat afnities of Williams Jerboa in Ardabil Province showed that its activity pattern and habitat selectionare positively correlated with relatively barren areas with slopes of lower than 20% covered by Festuca ovina , Trifolium montanum , andBromus scoparius. Statistical analysis indicated that the Agropyron - Stipa vegetation type was selected more frequently by the species.Tis jerboa avoids plant species of the genus Acantholimon because of their lower adaptational value for the species survival. Tepositive correlation between the Williams Jerboa s presence and some plant species may be related to the high nutritional value of theplants, but behavioral mechanisms in avoiding or using diferent vegetation structures should also be considered in defning its habitatselection process.