Assessing Ecoregional‐Scale Habitat Suitability Index Models for Priority Landbirds

Tirpak, John M.; Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Thompson, Frank R.; Twedt, Daniel J.; Baxter, Charles K.; Fitzgerald, Jane A.; Uihlein, William B.

doi:10.2193/2008-125

Cited by 31 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Habitat suitability indices provide a quantitative tool that integrates the best available environmental data and corresponding science to identify locations with the most potential for successful restoration (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1981;Roloff and Kernohan, 1999), but their efficacy depends critically on validation with independent data (Brooks, 1997;Araújo and Guisan, 2006;Tirpak et al, 2009;Reiley et al, 2014). Of the eight published HSI models used in native oyster restoration and fishery production ( Table 1), none has been validated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although widely used, HSI models have been criticized as unreliable and lacking scientific rigor (Cole and Smith, 1983;Roloff and Kernohan, 1999). Despite the potential cost associated with obtaining these independent datasets, the validation process is required to determine the reliability and utility of these models if they are to inform species conservation and management (Brooks, 1997;Tirpak et al, 2009;Reiley et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To implement HSI models confidently, they must be tested for accuracy in a four-step process (Brooks, 1997;Tirpak et al, 2009;Reiley et al, 2014): development, calibration, verification, and validation. Development involves the application of wildlifehabitat relationships to relevant habitat spatial datasets to generate an HSI.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantitative Validation of a Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

Theuerkauf

Lipcius

2016

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Habitat suitability index (HSI) models provide spatially explicit information on the capacity of a given habitat to support a species of interest, and their prevalence has increased dramatically in recent years. Despite caution that the reliability of HSIs must be validated using independent, quantitative data, most HSIs intended to inform terrestrial and marine species management remain unvalidated. Furthermore, of the eight HSI models developed for eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) restoration and fishery production, none has been validated. Consequently, we developed, calibrated, and validated an HSI for the eastern oyster to identify optimal habitat for restoration in a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, the Great Wicomico River (GWR). The GWR harbors a high density, restored oyster population, and therefore serves as an excellent model system for assessing the validity of the HSI. The HSI was derived from GIS layers of bottom type, salinity, and water depth (surrogate for dissolved oxygen), and was tested using live adult oyster density data from a survey of high vertical relief reefs (HRR) and low vertical relief reefs (LRR) in the sanctuary network. Live adult oyster density was a statistically-significant sigmoid function of the HSI, which validates the HSI as a robust predictor of suitable oyster reef habitat for rehabilitation or restoration. In addition, HRR had on average 103-116 more adults m −2 than LRR at a given level of the HSI. For HRR, HSI ≥ 0.3 exceeded the accepted restoration target of 50 live adult oysters m −2 . For LRR, the HSI was generally able to predict live adult oyster densities that meet or exceed the target at HSI ≥ 0.3. The HSI indicated that there remain large areas of suitable habitat for restoration in the GWR. This study provides a robust framework for HSI model development and validation, which can be refined and applied to other systems and previously developed HSIs to improve the efficacy of native oyster restoration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantitative Validation of a Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

Theuerkauf

Lipcius

2016

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…Initially, this was accomplished using the 1992 NLCD and associated periodic FIA surveys. These model outputs were validated against BBS data (Table 2; Tirpak et al 2009c). We later applied the HSI models to the 2001 NLCD and the first annual 5-year cycle of FIA surveys for each state (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005).…”

Section: Theoretical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of statistical and theoretical habitat models for conservation planning: the benefit of ensemble prediction

Jones-Farrand

Fearer

Thogmartin³

et al. 2011

Ecological Applications

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Selection of a modeling approach is an important step in the conservation planning process, but little guidance is available. We compared two statistical and three theoretical habitat modeling approaches representing those currently being used for avian conservation planning at landscape and regional scales: hierarchical spatial count (HSC), classification and regression tree (CRT), habitat suitability index (HSI), forest structure database (FS), and habitat association database (HA). We focused our comparison on models for five priority forest-breeding species in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region: Acadian Flycatcher, Cerulean Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Worm-eating Warbler. Lacking complete knowledge on the distribution and abundance of each species with which we could illuminate differences between approaches and provide strong grounds for recommending one approach over another, we used two approaches to compare models: rank correlations among model outputs and comparison of spatial correspondence. In general, rank correlations were significantly positive among models for each species, indicating general agreement among the models. Worm-eating Warblers had the highest pairwise correlations, all of which were significant (P < 0.05). Red-headed Woodpeckers had the lowest agreement among models, suggesting greater uncertainty in the relative conservation value of areas within the region. We assessed model uncertainty by mapping the spatial congruence in priorities (i.e., top ranks) resulting from each model for each species and calculating the coefficient of variation across model ranks for each location. This allowed identification of areas more likely to be good targets of conservation effort for a species, those areas that were least likely, and those in between where uncertainty is higher and thus conservation action incorporates more risk. Based on our results, models developed independently for the same purpose (conservation planning for a particular species in a particular geography) yield different answers and thus different conservation strategies. We assert that using only one habitat model (even if validated) as the foundation of a conservation plan is risky. Using multiple models (i.e., ensemble prediction) can reduce uncertainty and increase efficacy of conservation action when models corroborate one another and increase understanding of the system when they do not.

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“…Many bird species have preferences related to stem density, vertical structural attributes, or specific habitats like cypress brakes (Tirpak et al 2009). Conservation practices affecting these attributes directly influence habitat quality and thus the distribution and abundance of Nearctic-Neotropical migrant landbirds in the MAV (Barrow 1990, Pashley andBarrow 1993).…”

Section: Wetland Conservation Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of conservation practices on wetland ecosystem services in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

Faulkner

Barrow

Keeland

et al. 2011

Ecological Applications

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Restoration of wetland ecosystems is an important priority for many state and federal agencies, as well as nongovernmental conservation organizations. The historic conversion of wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) has resulted in large‐scale implementation of a variety of conservation practices designed to restore and enhance wetland ecosystem services. As a consequence, the effectiveness of multiple approaches in achieving desired conservation goals varies depending on site conditions, practices employed, and specific ecosystem services. We reviewed government agency programs and the scientific literature to evaluate the effects of conservation practices on wetlands in the MAV. There were 68 different conservation practices applied to a combined total of 1.27 million ha in the MAV between 2000 and 2006. These practices fell into two categories: Wetland Conservation Practices and Upland Conservation Practices. Sixteen different practices accounted for nearly 92% of the total area, and only three of these are directly related to wetlands: Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management, Wetland Restoration, and Riparian Forest Buffer. All three of these practices involve reforestation, primarily planting hard‐mast species such as Quercus sp. and Carya sp. These plantings are likely to develop into even‐aged stands of low tree diversity with little structural heterogeneity, which will impact future wildlife habitat. Since hydrology is a critical driver of wetland processes, the ability of a given conservation practice to restore wetland hydrology is a key determinant of how well it can restore ecosystem services. However, there is little to no follow‐up monitoring of projects, so it is difficult to know how much variability exists for any given practice or the efficacy of specific practices. Conservation practices that only plant trees without reconnecting the wetland to the hydrologic and nutrient fluxes in the watershed may restore some wildlife habitat but will do little for regulating services such as nitrogen retention. While conservation practices have overall beneficial effects on many ecosystem services in the MAV, the most effective are those with a direct link between the actions associated with a given practice and controls over ecosystem processes and services.

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Assessing Ecoregional‐Scale Habitat Suitability Index Models for Priority Landbirds

Cited by 31 publications

References 29 publications

Quantitative Validation of a Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

Quantitative Validation of a Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

Comparison of statistical and theoretical habitat models for conservation planning: the benefit of ensemble prediction

Effects of conservation practices on wetland ecosystem services in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

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