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Improving habitat and connectivity model predictions with multi-scale resource selection functions from two geographic areas

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Abstract

Context

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the most pressing threats to biodiversity, yet assessing their impacts across broad landscapes is challenging. Information on habitat suitability is sometimes available in the form of a resource selection function model developed from a different geographical area, but its applicability is unknown until tested.

Objectives

We used the Mexican spotted owl as a case study to demonstrate how models developed from different geographic areas affect our predictions for habitat suitability, landscape resistance, and connectivity. We identified the most suitable habitats and core areas for dispersal and movement for the species.

Methods

We applied two multi-scale habitat selection models—a local model and a non-local model—to a broad study area in northern Arizona. We converted the models into landscape resistance surfaces and used simulations to model connectivity corridors for the species, and created composite habitat and connectivity models by averaging the local and non-local models.

Results

While the local and the non-local models both performed well, the local model performed best in the part of the study area where it was built, but performed worse in areas that are beyond the extent of the data used to train it. The composite habitat model improved performances over both models in most cases.

Conclusions

With rigorous testing, multi-scale habitat selection models built on empirical data from other geographical areas can be useful. Averaging predictions of multiple models can improve performance, but the effectiveness is subject to the performance of the reference models.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by Joint Fire Sciences Project and the National Fire Plan. We thank C. Vojta, C. Aslan, and P. Fulé for their constructive comments and feedback on this project. We also thank J. Evans for his speedy response and exceptional assistance on troubleshooting and debugging spatialEco R package.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA

    Ho Yi Wan

  2. Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 2500 S. Pine Knoll, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, USA

    Samuel A. Cushman & Joseph L. Ganey

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  1. Ho Yi Wan
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Correspondence to Ho Yi Wan.

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Wan, H.Y., Cushman, S.A. & Ganey, J.L. Improving habitat and connectivity model predictions with multi-scale resource selection functions from two geographic areas. Landscape Ecol 34, 503–519 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00788-w

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