Balancing energy development and conservation: a method utilizing species distribution models
Catherine S Jarnevich1, Murray K Laubhan
1U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, Colorodo 80525, USA. jarnevichc@usgs.gov
Environmental Management
|March 15, 2011
Summary
Resource managers can now model habitat suitability for species like the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPCH) to balance energy development and conservation. Maximum Entropy modeling accurately predicts LPCH lek occurrence, aiding in siting energy projects to minimize wildlife impacts.
Area of Science:
- Ecological modeling
- Wildlife conservation biology
- Energy development impacts
Background:
- Increasing alternative energy development poses risks to wildlife.
- Resource managers need science-based methods for balancing energy needs and species protection.
- Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPCH) populations are declining and threatened by energy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPCH) habitat suitability using Maximum Entropy.
- To create predictive maps for siting energy developments and guiding conservation efforts.
- To provide a scientifically-based methodology for resource managers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Maximum Entropy modeling techniques.
- Incorporated Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPCH) lek locations in Kansas.
- Included environmental and anthropogenic parameters in model development.
Main Results:
- Models demonstrated high predictive performance with Area Under the Curve (AUC) scores >0.9.
- Inclusion of anthropogenic factors slightly improved model performance.
- Predicted lek occurrence probability across the landscape.
Conclusions:
- Maximum Entropy modeling is effective for assessing LPCH habitat suitability.
- The methodology can inform energy development siting to minimize impacts on at-risk species.
- This approach aids in standardizing and quantifying development impacts on wildlife.
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