Geoinformation modeling of potentially important territories for the brown bear's stay in the Transcarpathian region

• Published in: Man and Environment. Issues of Neoecology
• Main Authors: M. V. Teslovych, D. A. Krychevska
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University 2023
• Subjects: brown bear (ursus arctos); key areas; ecological corridors; geoinformation modeling; emerald network; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Ursus arctos
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.26565/1992-4224-2023-39-11; https://doaj.org/article/a7a31bbd41924a77a916e58bc88e0ed3

Purpose. Search for important areas for the presence of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) within the Transcarpathian region using geoinformation modeling tools to optimize the boundaries of the structural elements of the econetwork. Methods. Geoinformation modeling, geospatial analysis, processing of stock materials of environmental protection services. Results. In order to delineate potentially important areas for the presence of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) within the Transcarpathian region, a comprehensive assessment of the natural environment was carried out using geoinformation modeling tools. This modeling involved a preliminary analysis of the suitability for the life of the species of the following five parameters: types of land cover, proximity of non-forest biotopes to forest, high-altitude bioclimatic zones, degrees of dismemberment of the terrain, distance from settlements and roads. As a result of the integral assessment of these parameters, a cartographic model "Integral suitability of biotopes for the presence of the brown bear (Ursus arctos)" was obtained, which also demonstrated the habitats recorded by experts and the places of registration of the species. It was established that the total area of territories that are potentially suitable for the brown bear (Ursus arctos) within Transcarpathian region is 574.6 thousand hectares, and covers about 45.1% of the territory of the region. The largest number of such habitats is concentrated in the mountainous southwestern part of the region within the orographic ecoregion of the elevated dissected highlands. The most suitable and suitable biotopes, formed as a result of modeling, are also found within the boundaries of Gorganska Verhovyna (on the border of Transcarpathian and Ivano-Frankivsk regions), which belongs to the ecoregion of elevated lowlands. The simulated territories correlate well enough with localities where real signs of the distribution of the species have been recorded. At the second stage of research, in accordance with the chosen ...