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Applied GIS Nat Sci 2
Terrestrial Wildlife Modeling
Habitat suitability modeling
Gap Analysis Project
Applied GIS Nat Sci 3
Example: Habitat suitability modeling
Habitat suitability indices: quantify specific habitat requirements of fish/wildlife species
Use of GIS:
Map key habitat elements
Assign score or values to each element
Combination & overlay of results
Applied GIS Nat Sci 4
Wildlife habitat assessment
GIS and remote sensing data collection techniques for aquatic systems differ from terrestrial habitats.
Examples of aquaticaquatic habitat characteristics:
-Surrounding land cover, riparian vegetation
-Water depth
-Water quality
-Substrate
-Slope, stream gradients
-Valley segment types
-Geology (sandstone versus limestone)
Habitat Assessment
Applied GIS Nat Sci 5
Wildlife habitat assessment
GIS techniques and data can be used to describe landscape characteristics to assess habitat quality and quantity.
Examples of terrestrialterrestrial habitat characteristics:
Derived from DEM:
-Elevation
-Slope
-Aspect
-Landform index
(Valley or ridge, concavity)
Derived from aerial photos/land cover:
-Land cover, vegetation
-Forest stand composition, age, size
-Land cover or vegetation diversity, variety, majority
Habitat Assessment
Applied GIS Nat Sci 6
Methods – Deer Habitat Quantification for Michigan
Conservative and liberal estimates of required deer habitat elements of forage/browse & cover were generated from existing land cover maps.
Land cover was reclassified into types appropriate for forage/browse (generally agricultural) and types appropriate for cover (generally forested).
Habitat was quantified as cover areas larger than a minimum area with adjacent forage/browse habitat within a maximum allowed distance.
Example – white-tailed deer habitat
Reference:Strong (2001)Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Habitat Assessment
Applied GIS Nat Sci 7
Example – white-tailed deer habitat
Conservative and liberal estimates of both cover and forage were mapped and tabulated at the county level.
Low estimate High estimate
Habitat Assessment
Applied GIS Nat Sci 8
Methods – white-tailed deer
GIS operations used in modeling:
cons
erva
tive
liber
al
Reclassify land use:
•Conserv. cover•Liberal cover
•Conserv. forage•Liberal forage
Eliminate cover areas under 4 ha
Buffer remaining cover by
100m
Select forage
within 100m of cover
Eliminate cover areas under 2 ha
Buffer remaining cover by
200m
Select forage
within 200m of coverSpatial
Analyst:Reclassify
Spatial Analyst:Convert raster to feature, select by attributes
Buffer Wizard
Select by location
Habitat Assessment
Applied GIS Nat Sci 10
Habitat suitability analysis
Habitat Suitability Index (HSI):
USFWS has developed HSI methods to assess habitat quality and quantity for individual wildlife species.
HSI models are based on calculating scores associated with variables representing requirements of particular species (such as food, cover), very specific to each species
Overall HSI scores range from 0 to 1 (1 is most suitable)
Models exist for over 150 species (available from USFWS)
HSI Models and GIS:
Some models lend themselves to the use of GIS to quantify certain variables
Not all variables in a given HSI can be found using GIS
Habitat Assessment
Applied GIS Nat Sci 11
Example: HSI model for beaver
Habitat layers: Slope < 15%
Preferred land cover (forested wetland is best)
Proximity to water
Distance from roads/bridges
Assign numeric score to each layer
Final map indicates habitat suitability
Source: Amanda White, RESM 593 Student Project Fall 2005http://www.nrac.wvu.edu/RESM493/Fall05/students/White/index.html
Unsuitable
Moderately suitable
Highly suitable
Very highly suitable
Legend
Applied GIS Nat Sci 13
Example: HSI model for beaver
Habitat layers: Slope < 15%
Preferred land cover (forested wetland is best)
Within 100m to water
At least 200 m from roads/bridges
Assign numeric score to each layer
Final map indicates habitat suitability
Source: Amanda White, RESM 593 Student Project Fall 2005http://www.nrac.wvu.edu/RESM493/Fall05/students/White/index.html
Applied GIS Nat Sci 14
Terrestrial wildlife management with GIS example
What Is GAP?
“A gap is the lack of representation or under-representation of an element of biodiversity (plant community or animal species) in an area intended for its long term maintenance.
Gap analysis is a process to keep common species common by plugging the gaps in our network of lands managed for biodiversity.”
GAP Analysis:
Nationwide project sponsored by USGS
Not focused at all on endangered species
Applied GIS Nat Sci 15
WV-GAP Analysis
Highlights
WV-GAP mapped and analyzed the distribution of native & breeding terrestrial wildlife species in WV including:
•124 species of butterflies
•84 reptiles and amphibians
•168 birds
•58 mammals
Special habitat model used for wetland/riparian reptiles & amphibians
Special Gap Analysis of species utilizing cave habitats
Applied GIS Nat Sci 16
Gap Analysis GIS Layers & Methods
# Data layer or result
A GIS analysis step
Stewardship Map
Land Cover/ Habitat Map
Species Range Maps
Habitat Relationship
Database
Predicted Distribution
Map
“Gaps” or Conservation
Needs
“Gaps” or Conservation
Needs
1
2
35
4 6
BA
Applied GIS Nat Sci 17
Gap Land Cover Map
Data Source:
Landsat TM imagery
Imagery interpreted & classified using aerial videography
Results include ~ 25 land cover categories, including 8 forested types
Land Use/Land Cover Map:
The Land Use/Land Cover map is used as a model of potential habitats for butterfly and vertebrate species.
1
Applied GIS Nat Sci 18
Species Range Maps
Description:
EPA 635 km2 hexagon cells
Each hexagon attributed with presence/absence of each species
Data sources:
Varies by taxonomic group
Research, expert knowledge, museum collections, published data
2
Applied GIS Nat Sci 19
Habitat Relationship Database
Data Source Details:
Literature references.
Larger Access database was subsetted for use in GIS software as DBF table.
Reptiles and Amphibians in WV by Greene and Pauley
3
Applied GIS Nat Sci 20
Predicted Distribution Map
Data Source Details:
Predicted distribution is mapped from intersecting appropriate habitats with species range (hexagons).
Yes
Yes
Map of all habitats
- Select by attributes
- Select by location
Result: Result: Predicted Predicted
DistributionDistributionHabitat used
Not used
4
Applied GIS Nat Sci 21
Land Stewardship Map
Data Source Details:
Mapped from existing digital and paper sources.
5
Applied GIS Nat Sci 22
Land Stewardship Map
Most protected
Least protected
Details:
Stewardship polygons also attributed with level of biodiversity protection (associated with degree of management).
NF Wilderness areas
Private lands withfew restrictions
Wildlife mgmt areas
Examples:
Applied GIS Nat Sci 23
Gaps and Conservation Needs
Details:
For each species, tabulate the area of predicted distribution within land stewardship polygons. (How much habitat is on state, federal, private land)
Tabulate area by both land steward/managing agency AND level of protection (low-high).
“Gaps” in protection (a species not being protected enough) are identified as those species with a very low % of their predicted distribution falling within lands managed for biodiversity protection.
“Gaps” are opportunities for increased wildlife management attention and conservation.
6
Applied GIS Nat Sci 24
Gap Analysis Process Example
1. Species range is mapped using hexagon grid.
2. Habitats used by species are selected from statewide map of all habitats. Selected habitat area is limited to polygons that intersect range (above).Example:
Diana (butterfly)
Correct landcover and range
Correct landcover
Applied GIS Nat Sci 25
Gap Analysis Process Example
3. Compute total area within mapped potential distribution by land steward/manager.
4. Compute total areas within mapped potential distribution by management status/level of protection.
Most protectedModerately protectedLimited protectionLow protectionNo known protection
“Who owns it and what is the level of protection?”
Applied GIS Nat Sci 26
Gap Analysis Process Example
5. Accuracy assessment:
•Compare list of species predicted to occur by WV-GAP with species checklists or data for known locations such as parks.
•Compile error of commission, omission.
•Discuss and determine potential sources of error.
Example:Gap Habitat Polygons are attributed with presence/absence of all species. Select habitat polygons intersecting the New River Gorge National River for accuracy assessment.
Applied GIS Nat Sci 27
WV-GAP Results
Summary highlights
West Virginia is over 82% forested, with mixed mesophytic forests as the dominant land cover type.
Species richness is highest across the Allegheny Mountain region of the state.
Approximately 10% of West Virginia is managed by state or federal agencies (stewardship).
Conservation “gaps” in West Virginia include open habitats and wildlife species utilizing open or edge habitats.
WV-GAP provides a broad-scale snapshot and several useful statewide data layers, but is not intended to replace long-term monitoring and other biological inventory related research.
Applied GIS Nat Sci 28
Other Analysis by WV-GAP
Example of Wetland/Riparian modeling
Use cost distancefor defining ripariancorridors
Traditional uniform buffer
Applied GIS Nat Sci 29
Other Analysis by WV-GAP
Stewardship Status of Caves1 – Permanent protection2 – Seasonal protection3 – Limited protection4 – No protection/unknown
Applied GIS Nat Sci 30
WV-GAP – Final Products
Amphibians and Reptiles
Vertebrate Species Map Atlas
West VirginiaGap Analysis ProjectNatural Resource Analysis CenterWest Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildife Research UnitUSGS Biological Resources Division
USGSScience for a changing world
U.S. Department of Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
A GAP ANALYSIS OF WEST VIRGINIA
WV-GAP
Final report
Species atlas
CD-ROM with datasets
Applied GIS Nat Sci 31
WV-GAP Website
www.nrac.wvu.edu/projects/gap/
Contains Links to:
Other GAP projects
Final report text (PDF)
Datasets for download
Species range maps – interactive web mapping