GIS Applications in Conservation

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GIS Applications in Conservation

• Vicki Jackson
• Dept of Biology and Earth Science
• CMSU
• March 2004

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Background

• B.S. in Wildlife Fisheries TAMU
• M.S. Biology, Ecology emphasis FHSU
• Ph.D. in Biology, Ecology emphasis UNT

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GIS Experience

• Applications to swift fox research
• Earl Zimmerman and the Biodiversity and Habitat
  Assesment Lab
• Office in EESAT leads to collaborative research
• Army Corps of Engineers, TPWD, NTCOG
• Denton County Planning

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USE OF GIS AND REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGIES TO
STUDY HABITAT REQUIREMENTS OF OCELOTS, LEOPARDUS
PARDALIS, IN SOUTH TEXAS
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Ocelot Leopardus pardalis
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Study Area
Willacy Co.
LANWR
Cameron Co.
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Goals of study

• gain a better understanding of habitat
  requirements of a population of ocelots in south
  Texas using GIS and remote sensing technologies
• apply this knowledge to form a predictive model
  to find areas of suitable habitat in Willacy and
  Cameron counties, Texas

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Tasks performed to meet goals

• 1.      The creation of a land cover theme from
  Landsat Thematic Mapper Images
• 2.      An assessment of home range and resource
  requirements of ocelots in south Texas
• 3.      An assessment of landscape metrics
  associated with ocelot home ranges
• 4.      The creation of a weighted model using
  resource requirements and landscape metrics for
  predicting suitable areas for ocelots

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GIS

• Themes can be overlaid
• Easily manipulated and updated
• Useful in ecological research
• As a tool for data mining
• As a predictive tool

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Important Habitat Parameters

• Land cover
• Human disturbance
• Proximity to roads
• Proximity to water

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Parameter
U. S. Census TIGER Files
TNRIS Roads Coverage
Satellite Image
TNRIS HydrologyCoverage
Original
ArcView GRID, City Boundaries
Final
ArcView GRID
ArcView GRID, Roads
Water
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Landsat TM image August 1991
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Summary of Parameters

• Preferred closed canopy land cover
• Preferred soil types known to support thorn scrub
• Located in less dense areas located farther from
  cities
• Located closer to roads and water bodies

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GIS Model
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Unsuitable
Sub-optimal
Optimal
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Current Research

• CMSU Mammal Collection
• Mammals of Missouri
• Blarina spp. distribution
• Interactive GIS interface for MDC land managers

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Student Research

• Josh Flinn
• Resource selection of Franklins Ground Squirrels
  at Bilby CA
• Sheri Medlock
• Watershed health monitoring
• Dave Wisker
• Island biogeography of Texas mouse in MO glades
• Drew Larson
• Urban deer management

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Conservation GIS

• Practical applications to conservation
• Graduate and undergraduate students
• Huge demand
• Requirement for employment, new jobs