Related Experiment Videos
A riparian wildlife habitat evaluation scheme developed using GIS
L R Iverson1, D L Szafoni, S E Baum
1USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, 359 Main Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015, USA. iverson@fs.ded.us
Environmental Management
|September 25, 2001
Summary
A geographic information system (GIS) effectively ranks riparian habitats for wildlife management. This method, using Landsat TM and NHAP data, shows potential for large-scale conservation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Geographic Information Science
Background:
- Riparian habitats are crucial for wildlife but require effective evaluation methods.
- Existing land cover data may lack the resolution needed for detailed habitat assessment.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer powerful tools for spatial analysis and resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a GIS-based methodology for ranking riparian stream habitats.
- To assess the suitability of different land cover data sets for habitat evaluation.
- To aid in prioritizing streams for conservation and management actions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a GIS to rank 30 tributaries in the Vermilion River basin based on riparian habitat quality.
- Compared three land cover data sets: LUDA, NHAP, and Landsat TM.
- Developed habitat ranking schemes for forest, grassland, and mixed successional species guilds.
Main Results:
- Landsat TM and NHAP data provided suitable differentiation of habitat scores among tributaries.
- The LUDA data set was unsuitable due to its coarse resolution.
- The GIS methodology proved effective for ranking streams by riparian habitat quality.
Conclusions:
- The demonstrated GIS methodology is suitable for ranking streams based on riparian habitat quality.
- Landsat TM and NHAP data are valuable for detailed riparian habitat assessment.
- The approach has significant potential for evaluating, tracking, and improving wildlife resource management over large areas.