A GIS analysis of species distributions and their usefulness in identification of conservation areas

1
A GIS analysis of species distributions and their
usefulness in identification of conservation
areas

• Matt Gifford
• Environmental Spatial Data Analysis
• Final Project, 2003

2
GIS and Biodiversity

• SLOSS
• Global Amphibian Decline Task Force
• Endangered Species Act (ESA)
• Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs)
• Generally focused on single species

3
Approach used

• Focus on suitable habitat (data from GAP
  Analysis)
• GIS to identify multispecies assemblages
• Evaluation based on a priori criteria
• Identify candidate areas for conservation action

4
Data used

• Species distributions based on habitat
  suitability (10 reptile and 10 amphibian species)
• Shape files for major roads, urban areas, rivers
  and streams, and parks

5
Areas of high faunal diversity
6
Site of proposed conservation area
7
Limitations of approach

• Additional data necessary to make inferences
  biologically meaningful
• Use of habitat suitability rather than actual
  species distributions

8
Advantages of approach

• Use of multispecies assemblages
• GIS is effective to identify possible areas of
  concern
• Good proxy for first step in conservation process
  (ID of areas of concern)