| Title: | Modeling Connectivity of Wildlife Habitat at Multiple Scales |
| Authors: | Donald D. Katnik, Daniel Coker, MaryEllen R. Wickett |
| Date/Time | Tuesday, November 6 ~ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
| Abstract: | Beginning with Habitat is a collaborative, public-private partnership whose goal is to maintain habitat supporting healthy populations of Maine's native plants and wildlife. The program provides local and regional planners with GIS maps depicting water resources and riparian areas, high value plant and animal habitats, and large blocks of undeveloped habitat. Our goal is to develop a new map integrating these resources to identify core habitat areas (patches) and potential connections among them to help planners prioritize areas essential to conserving the ecological integrity of the ecosystem. Most connectivity work either generalizes patterns to a landscape scale where the ecological utility becomes questionable or focuses on species-specific needs that are difficult to apply beyond a local scale. Our objective is to integrate these approaches to create a multiple scale, hierarchical model of habitat connectivity. We are using statewide data for general landcover, hydrology, mapped wildlife habitats, natural areas, and transportation to develop a preliminary index combining habitat permeability with edge effects. Concurrently, we are developing species-specific connectivity models using survey and radio telemetry data for New England cottontail; black racer; Blanding's, spotted, and wood turtles; bobcat; and forest interior birds. We will use the species-specific results to modify the landscape permeability/edge index. |
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