Mohammad Kaboli

University of Tehran | UT · Department of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences

The Caucasian pit viper Gloydius caucasicus is one of six snake species that is frequently reported as a cause of venomous snakebite in Iran. We present the results of successful captive breeding of 20 Caucasian pit vipers (10 males and 10 females) collected in August 2018 from the Lar National Park, northern Iran. Mating and copulatory behaviours...

Species distribution models (SDMs) are practical tools to assess the habitat suitability of species with numerous applications in environmental management and conservation planning. The manipulation of the input data to deal with their spatial bias is one of the advantageous methods to enhance the performance of SDMs. However, the development of a...

Large carnivores have long fascinated human societies and have profound influences on ecosystems. However, their conservation represents one of the greatest challenges of our time, particularly where attacks on humans occur. Where human recreational and/or livelihood activities overlap with large carnivore ranges, conflicts can become particularly...

Species distribution models (SDMs) are practical tools to assess the habitat suitability of species with numerous applications in environmental management and conservation planning. The manipulation of the input data to deal with their spatial bias is one of the advantageous methods to enhance the performance of SDMs. However, the development of a...

This study examines the effects of the change in the shape of landscape patches, known as landscape structure, on ecological susceptibility, which is defined using the object-oriented method. The aim is to determine whether ecological susceptibility is influenced by the shape of the landscape patches in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea. The mu...

Given the complex and dynamic interrelationships of the underlying factors contributing to conflicts associated with wolf presence and persistence in human‐dominated landscapes, it is often difficult to clearly identify the ultimate causes of these conflicts. In this study, a system dynamics modeling approach was adopted to simulate human–wolf conf...

Background The orogeny of the eastern Mediterranean region has substantially affected ecological speciation patterns, particularly of mountain-dwelling species. Mountain vipers of the genus Montivipera are among the paramount examples of Mediterranean neo-endemism, with restricted ranges in the mountains of Anatolia, the Levant, Caucasus, Alborz, a...

In the present study, in order to model the environmental impacts using landscape metrics; Guilan province was divided into 183 impact units, and the Land Degradation Model was applied. In the next step, using the measures of (Related circumscribing circle, Perimeter-area ratio, Shape index, Fractal dimension index & Contiguity index) which were ca...

We evaluated local communities’ fear of wolves in a scenario of wolf attacks on people and livestock in Western Iran. In particular, we investigated the interaction between experiences of wolf attacks (both on people and livestock) and three factors: behavioral action (management action, e.g., livestock carcass management), religious (e.g., the bel...

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the phylogenetic, phylogeographic, and demographic relationships of Caspian cobra (Naja oxiana; Eichwald, 1831) popula- tions based on a concatenated dataset of two mtDNA genes (cyt b and ND4) across the species' range in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, along with other members of Asian cobras (i.e., su...

Gloydius caucasicus (NIKOLSKY, 1916) is a member of the Viperidae family in Iran. Comprehensive understanding of the toxigenic characteristics of snake venom is important for clinical monitoring of snakebite patients and effective therapy. We compared the toxic activities of venoms and the neutralization capacity of antivenoms produced with venoms...

The dwarf snakes of the colubrine genus Eirenis comprises 24 species, in which 12 to 14 species are found in Iran. Eirenis thospitis has been described on the basis of specimens which had been collected in Turkey. We found an adult male of this species in Iran, near the Marmishoo River, and about 150 km from the type locality of this species. Our n...

The genus Asaccus is one of the most unknown members of the Phyllodactylidae family. The earliest described species within the genus is Werner's Leaf-toed gecko, Asaccus elisae. However, little information is still available on the distribution, phylogeny, speciation processes, gene flow, ecological relationships, and potential and actual threats t...

Revealing cryptic diversity constitutes the backbone of the future identification and description of a new lineage. For the genus Ophisops (Lacertidae), previous studies indicated that this genus is characterized by cryptic diversity as three clades were obtained for O. elegans and O. occidentalis that do not fit the classical systematics. Notably,...

To study the genetic diversity of the Yellow ground squirrel (Spermophilus fulvus) in Iran, 79 tissue samples were collected from seven provinces (Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, Zanjan, Qazvin, Alborz, Hamedan and Kurdistan). Following DNA isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), genetic variation was investigated using the complete sequenc...

This paper reviews the major contributions to the systematic conservation planning in landscape with Marxan software throughout a 11-year period from 2005 up to 2015. After surveying many papers in this field, the volume of the existing works is identified and classified. The paper summarizes all of the reviewed papers in two tables. These tables d...

Context The populations of the Caucasian pit viper are declining and face genetic threats because of habitat fragmentation. Landscape genetics facilitates effective connectivity conservation actions by providing methods to predict factors affecting gene flow. Objectives We described the genetic diversity and structure of Caucasian pit viper popula...

Old world ground squirrels (genus Spermophilus) are distributed throughout the Holarctic and Palearctic regions, of which two Iranian species, the Yellow ground squirrel S. fulvus and the Asia Minor ground squirrel S. xanthoprymnus, comprise the southernmost distribution of the genus in the Palearctic. The two species are found in fragmented popula...

The feeding ecology of gray wolves has been investigated extensively worldwide. Despite previous studies on food habits of wolves in Asia and Iran, none has focused on the diet of the species in a scenario of depleted of wild prey and with recent records of attacks on humans. Here, we combined telemetry methods and scat analysis to study the diet o...

The increasing trend of large carnivore attacks on humans not only raises human safety concerns but may also undermine large carnivore conservation efforts. Although rare, attacks by brown bears Ursus arctos are also on the rise and, although several studies have addressed this issue at local scales, information is lacking on a worldwide scale. Her...

The Baluchistan Black Bear (BBB), a critically endangered subspecies (CR), is distributed in the southeastern Iran. Modelling of landscape connectivity of the BBBs among habitat patches can be insightful for the conservation managers working in Iran. Our study was designed to identify the potential corridors among 31 habitat patches of the BBBs in...

Climate change is among the most important drivers of biodiversity decline through shift or shrinkage in suitable habitat of species. Mountain vipers of the genus Montivipera are under extreme risk from climate changes given their evolutionary history and geographic distribution. In this study, we divided all Montivipera species into three phylogen...

It has been generally acknowledged that glacial climates at the time of the Pleistocene altered the patterns of species distributions, prompting latitudinal and altitudinal distribution shifts in several species, including poikilothermic species commonly known for their thermal sensitivity. However, the historical hylogeographic patterns of such sp...

We investigated the phylogeographical pattern of the Caucasian Pitviper (Gloydius halys caucasicus) which is a common viper in northern Iran and southern Azerbaijan. Using partial mtDNA sequences (cytb and ND4) we detected four major and geographically well-defined evolutionary lineages from Eastern Alborz to Western Azerbaijan. Estimated diverg...

Sitta europaea, with 18 subspecies, has a wide distribution in deciduous forests of Eurasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of this subspecies to European, Asian as well as Caucasian clades. 10 individuals of two populations from Zagros forests in Kermanshah and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province...

The formerly large continuous range of brown bears in Iran has become confined to fragmented patches due to habitat conversion. Little is known about population genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, and the consequences of geographic and ecological isolation on spatial genetic variations in Iranian bears. Literature is generally sparse on t...

We used the fat dormouse (Glis glis), a species from a monotypic genus of family Gliridae, as a model to promote the understanding of patterns of cryptic diversification along the ancient Hyrcanian Forests, one of the old-growth relicts of the temperate deciduous forests worldwide. Mitochondrial Cytb data was used to investigate the phylogenetic st...

Nowadays, in western Iran, especially Hamadan province, conflicts between local communities and wolves has peaked and has become a major concern for local people. In this research, in order to investigate the role of social components, social network analysis was used to portrait a scenario in reducing conflict between local communities and environ...

Salamandra infraimmaculata is a member of family Salamandridae that is distributed in Western Asia from Iran through Turkey to Lebanon. In this study, we surveyed habitat suitability predictions for the species in Kurdistan province, Western Iran. Distribution prediction showed excellent performance (area under the curve = 0.962), with temperature...

The Zagros and Alborz mountainous ridges can be regarded as one of the most interesting and known physical barriers responsible for the vicariance event. Based on the probable effect of Zagros Mountains on the rodent population vicariance, a research on Caucasian mole vole phylogeography, population genetic structure and diversity was designed alon...

Northern and western mountains of Iran are among the most important biodiversity and endemism hot spots for reptiles in the Middle East. Among herpetofauna, the montivipers represent an emblematic and fragmented endemic group for which estimating their level of genetic differentiation and defining conservation priorities is urgently needed. Here, w...

Anthropogenic activities, including road expansion, are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss in Iran. Central and northeastern Iran have been among the most vulnerable areas where expanding anthropogenic activities (in particular construction of road networks) have come into conflict with conservation and management of the endangered Asiati...

The amphibian decline and extinction crisis demands urgent action to prevent further large numbers of species extinctions. Lists of priority species are an important tool for the Effective allocation of scarce conservation resources. Amphibians of Iran consist of 22 species belonging to six families. In this study we have analyzed 15 species of Ira...

Divergent evolution between Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer and Eastern Rock Nuthatch S. tephronota is widely recognised as the original case study of character displacement. However, in their contact zone in the Zagros Mountains, Iran, the morphological differences important for niche segregation between the two species remain unknown. We inv...

Phylogenetic relationships between Afghan Pika (O. rufescens) and others in the world are still unclear. Morphological phylogeny study of the genus Ochotona by different experts showed the different taxonomic position of the Afghan Pika, but could not determine the taxonomic position of this species. Previous phylogenetic studies based on mtDNA mar...

As the most easterly species of the subgenus Naja, the Caspian Cobra (Naja oxiana) has long remained a case of major controversy with regard to phylogenetic relationships. The aim of the present study is to analyze the evolutionary relationships, genetic diversity, structure and variations of the Caspian Cobra in north and northeastern populations...

Interspecific killing is a widespread phenomenon among mammalian carnivores; being common, for instance, within the canid guild. The canid guild in Hamadan province, west of Iran, comprises three species: the gray wolf Canis lupus pallipes, the golden jackal Canis aureus, and the red fox Vulpes vulpes. In this area, habitat transformation and agric...

We developed a habitat suitability model for wintering populations of the Asian Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii in Iran and determined environmental variables affecting its occurrence. Our results indicate that various patches in central, western and eastern Iran provide the most suitable habitats for the Houbara. Annual precipitation, slope...

The authors regret that the contribution of Dr. Steve Jordan and Dr. Gordon Luikart was unfortunately overlooked when retrieving from an internal database the nuclear DNA sequences which were part of their research project. Consequently, the authors of the article should be: Hamid Reza Rezaei-a,b, Saeid Naderi-a,c, Ioana Cristina Chintauan- Marquie...

Absract Dogs were domesticated from grey wolf about several thousand years ago with the beginning of agricultural activities. High genetic diversity and many varied breeds of domestic dogs are found in the world. Indigenous in Hamedan province try to cross bred between dogs and wolves in order to have hybrid animals as guard dogs. The relationships...

The striped hyena is one of the carnivorous orders which by eating dead animals plays an important role in clearing the ecosystem and preventing disease. There is little information about the biology and distribution of this species in Iran. In this study habitat and distribution of striped hyena have evaluated in Lashgardar protected area. At firs...

The Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea Linnaeus, 1758) is a resident bird in the Alborz and Zagros deciduous forests. We investigated the phylogenetic relationships and the taxonomic position of the Eurasian Nuthatch among other separated lineages of Eurasia with the help of blood samples collected from 19 individuals belonging to four populations i...

Today most destruction of environmental is the habitats. Hence, the need for methods that can help them to evaluate the habitat, and the over time obtained quality in this habitat. In this study was performed habitat evaluation of the Afghan Pika with Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) and Binary logistic regression. Then, the results of these two...

Latifi’s Viper (Montivipera latifii), an endemic viper in the Alborz mountain chains in Iran, is facing serious threats within its last stronghold, the Lar National Park. The little information available on the distribution, population dynamics, and ecology of this scarce species, as well as its major threats, has hampered effective conservation pl...

The aim of the study is to investigate diversity, variation and genetic structure within Eurasian Nuthatches populations from Zagros and Alborz habitats. For this purpose, 19 individuals of four populations from Alborz (Golestan and Gilan) and Zagros forests were captured and blood samples were collected. Then genetic variations and Genealogical an...

Classifying the status of threatened species using tools such as the IUCN Red List is a critical step for identifying at-risk species, and for conservation planning at global and sub-global levels. The requirement for data on population trends, geographic ranges and population sizes has proved challenging to carry out at the national level, especia...

Two sympatric nuthatch species, Sitta tephronota and S. neumayer, provided the exemplar case of character displacement when the term was coined. The two species are quite similar morphologically but have diverged from one another in sympatry, presumably because of competition-driven selection favoring the partitioning of food resources. However, ac...

The Iranian black bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus; IBB) is a critically endangered subspecies. The IBB needs connectivity to access seasonally available foods and to provide gene flow among populations in the mountains of Kerman, Hormozgan, and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces of Iran. We identified IBB cores to be used as termini for modelled c...

The fat dormouse (Glis glis L.) is a small arboreal and extreme habitat specialist mammal that is tightly linked to the deciduous mixed forests dominated by Beech (Fagus orientalis) and oaks (Quercus sp.). Despite its status in Iran as a least concern species, dormice face high risk of extinction in some parts of Europe. The unique life history and...

The transportation networks within and adjacent to protected areas degrade natural habitats and contribute to a higher risk of mortality through roadkill. Following years of unplanned and unsustainable road network development in Iran, the protected areas of signifi cant biodiversity value have suffered from such phenomenon. Yazd Province, one of I...

Calculation of the effective population size and estimating of total population size using mitochondrial DNA sequencing in Hamedan, Qazvin and Zanjan provinces Abstract Although wolves have the ability to live in different habitat types, in recent years their population has been drastically reduced in most parts of the country and in some areas h...

Modeling the distribution patterns of species is a generally efficient tool for understanding their ecological characteristics. In this study, we used the ensemble predictions of the best performing models in order to project the probability of the Mesopotamian spiny-tailed lizard’s presence in southwestern Iran. The models used in our study showed...

Modeling the distribution patterns of species is a generally efficient tool for understanding their ecological characteristics. In this study, we used the ensemble predictions of the best performing models in order to project the probability of the Mesopotamian spiny-tailed lizard’s presence in southwestern Iran. The models used in our study showed...

There is little chance for species with competitor to develop intraspecific variability such as sexual dimorphism. Sitta tephronota is a well-known rock-dwelling bird species in Iran, which occurs in Zagros Mountains in strong ecological competition with Sitta neumayer. Thus, no sexual dimorphism is expected for Sitta tephronota in this area. Despi...

We determined the effects of past and future climate changes on the distribution of the Montivipera raddei species complex (MRC) that contains rare and endangered viper species limited to Iran, Turkey and Armenia. We also investigated the current distribution of MRC to locate unidentified isolated populations as well as to evaluate the effectivenes...

Brown bears are mostly found in relatively low densities in the mountainous forests of Iran, from north to northwest and west, as well. Phylogeographic and genetic relationships between Iranian brown bears and others in the world are still unclear. We sequenced a 614 bp fragment of mtDNA control region of 15 sampled brown bears throughout Iran, whe...

Aims: The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the amount of wildlife mortality and traffic rates in Khojir National Park, and with regard to that, finding a suitable location for installing signs according to the standard level sign structure. Materials and Methods: In this study, the current placement of wildlife war...

Latifi’s Viper (Montivipera latifii), an endemic viper in the Alborz mountain chains in Iran, is facing serious threats within its last stronghold, the Lar National Park. The little information available on the distribution, population dynamics, and ecology of this scarce species, as well as its major threats, has hampered effective conservation pl...

The Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran support a great diversity of bird species. Yet, the ecological relationships of cavity-nesting birds (CNBs), the main components of forest bird communities in this area, remain unknown. We examined the importance of ecological factors in 90 study plots during the breeding season to predict the probability dist...

Sitta tephronota has three subspecies in Iran: S. t. obscura, S. t. tephronota and S. t. dresseri, with the latter occurring with very gradual variation in plumage in Zagros Mountains. Despite our knowledge about plumage variation, morphometrical variation in this subspecies is little known. In this study, we investigated geographical variation of...