UTILIZING THE KENTUCKY GAP UTILIZING THE KENTUCKY GAP ANALYSIS PROJECT AS A TOOL ANALYSIS PROJECT AS A TOOL

FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING:FOR CONSERVATION PLANNING:

ASSESSING MANAGEMENT AREA ASSESSING MANAGEMENT AREA DIVERSITYDIVERSITY

Kelly E. Somerlot Terry L. Derting Kelly E. Somerlot Terry L. Derting

Kentucky GAP Analysis Project Kentucky GAP Analysis Project (KY(KY--GAP)GAP)

Species’Range

Habitat Associations

Literature & Review

Predicted Species Distributions

“Keeping Common Species Common”

Identify “gaps” between biodiversity and managementIdentify “gaps” between biodiversity and management

Tools for Conservation PlanningTools for Conservation Planning

•• Species Richness Species Richness

•• Land StewardshipLand Stewardship

•• Vegetation TypesVegetation Types

•• Habitat DiversityHabitat Diversity

•• Wetland / Aquatic Wetland / Aquatic AreasAreas

•• Land useLand use

Using KYUsing KY--GAP to Assess Diversity GAP to Assess Diversity of Management Areasof Management Areas

••Evaluation of existing preserves / parksEvaluation of existing preserves / parks

••Identification of new locations valuable Identification of new locations valuable for biodiversityfor biodiversity

PurposePurpose

Use KYUse KY--GAP data to evaluate a GAP data to evaluate a management area in terms of its management area in terms of its

biodiversity significancebiodiversity significance

••Habitat CompositionHabitat Composition

••Species Richness/DiversitySpecies Richness/Diversity

••Special ConcernsSpecial Concerns

A Case Study: A Case Study: Terrapin Creek State Nature PreserveTerrapin Creek State Nature Preserve

Habitat / Vegetation CompositionHabitat / Vegetation Composition

Habitat Diversity (Habitat Diversity (Within Preserve)Within Preserve)

Riparian ForestRiparian Forest

10 Habitat Types10 Habitat Types

NN

40% 40%

Floodplain Floodplain ForestForest

AgriculturalAgricultural

15%15%

21%21%

Shrub Shrub WetlandWetland

13%

Habitat Diversity (Habitat Diversity (1 mile radius)1 mile radius)

14 Habitat Types14 Habitat Types

DryDry--Mesic Oak Mesic Oak ForestForest

NN

AgricultureAgriculture

40%40%

Pasture/GrasslandPasture/Grassland

25%25%

11%11%

Habitat Diversity Habitat Diversity (5 mile radius)(5 mile radius)

14 Habitat Types14 Habitat TypesDryDry--Mesic Oak Mesic Oak

ForestForestNN

AgricultureAgriculture

51%51%

Pasture / Pasture / GrasslandGrassland

23%23%

15%15%

Reliability of Predicted Distributions : Reliability of Predicted Distributions : Small Mammals in TCSNPSmall Mammals in TCSNP

KYKY--GAP predicted GAP predicted species’ species’

occurrenceoccurrence

Confirmed Confirmed species’ species’

occurrenceoccurrence

17

14

1,890 trap 1,890 trap nightsnights

Species RichnessSpecies Richness

••Community Composition/ Community Composition/ UniquenessUniqueness

••Species of Special ConcernSpecies of Special Concern

As well as…As well as…

Species Richness (Mammals)Species Richness (Mammals)

NN

Within PreserveWithin Preserve

Species Richness (Mammals)Species Richness (Mammals)NN

Within 1 Mile RadiusWithin 1 Mile Radius

Species Richness (Mammals)Species Richness (Mammals)

NNWithin 5 Mile RadiusWithin 5 Mile Radius

Mammals of Special Mammals of Special Concern/InterestConcern/Interest

••Southeastern Myotis (Southeastern Myotis (State EndangeredState Endangered))

••Indiana Myotis (Indiana Myotis (Federal EndangeredFederal Endangered))

••Rafinesque’s BigRafinesque’s Big--Eared Bat (Eared Bat (State ThreatenedState Threatened))

••American BeaverAmerican Beaver

••Swamp RabbitSwamp Rabbit

••CoyoteCoyote

••WhiteWhite--tailed Deertailed Deer

ConclusionConclusion

•• TCSNP is identified as a unique area TCSNP is identified as a unique area high in diversity, by both GAP analysis high in diversity, by both GAP analysis and field evaluationand field evaluation

•• KY GAP serves as a valuable tool for KY GAP serves as a valuable tool for conservation planning and maintaining conservation planning and maintaining biodiversitybiodiversity

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

National Gap Analysis ProgramNational Gap Analysis Program

U.S. Department of Geological SurveyU.S. Department of Geological Survey

Kentucky Department of Fish and WildlifeKentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife

MidMid--America Remote Sensing CenterAmerica Remote Sensing Center

Kentucky State Nature Preserves Kentucky State Nature Preserves CommissionCommission