Modeling the Spatial Distribution and Habitat Suitability of <em>Capra aegagrus</em> from South-Eastern Türkiye using Distance Sampling and Kernel Density Estimation

Understanding spatial habitat use and population density is essential for effective wildlife conservation and management. This study integrates kernel density estimation and line transect distance sampling to assess habitat use patterns and population density of wild goats. Habitat use intensity was quantified using kernel density estimates derived from field observations, and relationships between log-transformed kernel density values and Euclidean distances to forests, agricultural areas, water bodies, and settlements were examined using univariate linear regression models. A significant negative relationship was detected between distance to forest and log-transformed kernel density (p = 0.047), indicating higher habitat use intensity closer to forested areas. Population density was estimated from distance-sampling surveys conducted in the northern and southern subregions. Detection functions were selected based on diagnostic plots and goodness-of-fit tests, and left truncation was applied to improve model fit. Overall density was estimated at 6.47 individuals/km2, with values similar across subregions. Uncertainty was mainly driven by variation in detection probability and group size. Together, these results emphasize the importance of forest habitats and suggest a relatively homogeneous population distribution, providing a baseline for future monitoring and conservation planning.