Applied GIS Nat Sci Terrestrial Wildlife Modeling in GIS RESM 493q Wed Nov 18.

Applied GIS Nat Sci

Terrestrial Wildlife Modeling in GIS

RESM 493qWed Nov 18

Applied GIS Nat Sci 2

Terrestrial Wildlife Modeling

Habitat suitability modeling

Gap Analysis Project


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


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


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


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


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


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


Results – white-tailed deer

Habitat Assessment


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


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


Finding HSI for species


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Predicted Distribution Map


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


Land Stewardship Map


Mapped from existing digital and paper sources.

5


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:


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


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



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?”



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.


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.


Other Analysis by WV-GAP

Example of Wetland/Riparian modeling

Use cost distancefor defining ripariancorridors

Traditional uniform buffer


Other Analysis by WV-GAP

Stewardship Status of Caves1 – Permanent protection2 – Seasonal protection3 – Limited protection4 – No protection/unknown


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


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


Using Results of WV-GAP: GapServ

http://gapserv.cr.usgs.gov - Internet Map Server

Applied GIS Nat Sci Terrestrial Wildlife Modeling in GIS RESM 493q Wed Nov 18.

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