Wide-ranging Species Conservation
“The overwhelming message from population viability studies of large carnivores is that conservation planning must be undertaken at vast spatial scales and must consider connectivity. . . If maintaining viable populations of species that have large home ranges and are vulnerable to human activities is an objective, then the conservation planner must grapple with the design and management of entire landscapes.” (Noss et al. 1996)
MERIT Panther Subteam Members and Co-authors:
Author Affiliation ExpertiseRandy Kautz FFWCC Conservation planningBob Kawula FFWCC GIS data analysisTom Hoctor UF Landscape modelingJane Comiskey UT Mathematical modelingDeborah Jansen BCNP Public land biologistDawn Jennings USFWS Team leaderJohn Kasbohm USFWS Recovery coordinatorDavid Maehr UK Panther researcherFrank Mazzotti UF Wildlife and land useRoy McBride FFWCC Panther capture teamLarry Richardson FPNWR Public land biologistKaren Root BGSU PVA modeling
Panther Subteam Goals:
• Identify areas essential to the long-term survival of the Florida panther in the wild.
• Identify landscape linkage(s) to habitats north of Caloosahatchee River to ensure future dispersal.
• Identify areas that could be restored to provide additional habitat for panthers.
• All of this work done in a best science, consensus-based reserve design process
Panther Habitat/Landscape Zones:
• Primary Zone
• Dispersal Zone
• Secondary Zone
“The Primary, Dispersal and Secondary zones comprise essential components of a landscape-scale conservation plan for the protection of a viable Florida panther population in south Florida.”
Primary zoneSecondary zone Dispersal zonePublic lands
Florida PantherSubteam of MERIT
August 27-28, 2001Final Boundaries of
Primary Zone,Secondary Zone, and
Dispersal Zone
Florida Ecological Greenways Network 2013 Update Goals
• Update the FEGN to identify a functionally connected statewide ecological network of public and private conservation lands that incorporates new and updated GIS data.
• Ensure the FEGN maximizes protection of high priority natural communities and species identified in the Florida State Wildlife Action Plan.
• Address climate change impacts to maximize the potential of Florida’s native biodiversity to functionally respond to sea-level rise and other environmental changes.
2013 FEGN Update Panther Maxent Results
2013 FEGN Update Panther
Circuitscape Results
New FEGN (2013)
CLIPCLIP
Critical Lands & WatersIdentification Project
Critical Lands & WatersIdentification Project
CLIP Database Schematic
CLIP Database Schematic
Strategic Habitat Conservation
Areas
Potential Habitat Richness
Rare Spp. Habitat Conserv. Priorities
Priority Natural Communities
FL Ecological Greenways Network
Landscape Integrity Index
Significant Surface Waters
Natural Floodplain
Wetlands
Core Data Layers Resource Categories
Aggregated CLIP ModelBiodiversity
Landscapes
Surface Water
Groundwater
Marine
Aquifer Recharge
10 Marine Layers
CLIP v3.0 Aggregated PrioritiesCLIP v3.0 Aggregated Priorities
CLIP and the BlueprintCLIP and the BlueprintCooperative Conservation Blueprint
CLIP is the Science Expert science product A unified GIS application Stands alone
Blueprint Builds on CLIP Cross links with social & economic priorities Creates GIS overlay
Cooperative Conservation Blueprint
CLIP is the Science Expert science product A unified GIS application Stands alone
Blueprint Builds on CLIP Cross links with social & economic priorities Creates GIS overlay
Blueprint Regional Pilot Study Areas
Overall Coordination Mary Oakley & Tom
Hoctor Ensure regional continuity
Southwest Christine Small &
Julie Morris Ecological connectivity
work
Northern Everglades Kim Love Landowner incentive work Focus on water
CCB Regional Pilot Project Elements
• Create a regional science-based map of landscape-scale conservation priorities (a Regional CLIP).
• Work with federal, state, and local partners.• Identify best potential routes for protecting
ecological connectivity and other conservation priorities.
• Identify existing and proposed incentives.• Work with strategic landowners to discuss
conservation options including non-regulatory incentives relevant to selected corridor routes.
Draft Regional CLIP PrioritiesDraft Regional CLIP Priorities
CCB Subcommittee
Corridors
CCB Subcommittee
Corridors
Panther Habitat Data SynthesisTom Hoctor, University of Florida
Julie Morris, Wildlands ConservationMike O’Brien
University of Tennessee
Panther Habitat Model
University of Tennessee
Panther Habitat Model
USFWS Panther Focal
Areas
USFWS Panther Focal
Areas
CCB Regional CLIP Priority
Areas
CCB Regional CLIP Priority
Areas
University of Florida FEGN
Panther Maxent
Habitat Model
University of Florida FEGN
Panther Maxent
Habitat Model
UT and Potential
Panther Habitat Synthesis Model
UT and Potential
Panther Habitat Synthesis Model
Panther Habitat
Overlay Model
Panther Habitat
Overlay Model