Climate Response for Ruffed Grouse, 2080, CT River Watershed

This dataset is a component of a complete package of products from the Connect the Connecticut project. Connect the Connecticut is a collaborative effort to identify shared priorities for conserving the Connecticut River Watershed for future generations, considering the value of fish and wildlife species and the natural ecosystems they inhabit. Click here to download the full data package, including all documentation.

This dataset represents the climate response index for Ruffed Grouse. Climate response is one of several different measures of landscape capability that reflect different decisions (or assumptions) regarding how to incorporate current versus future land use and climate changes. The climate response index is based on the current landscape capability and predicted climate conditions in 2080 (averaged between RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios). Specifically, this index is based on (1) current habitat conditions (reflecting current land use patterns) and (2) the average of current and future climate conditions. The climate response index is an attempt to emphasize areas that provide the best habitat and climate conditions today and where future climate conditions through 2080 are likely to remain suitable.

The climate response index for Ruffed Grouse, along with the 13 other representative terrestrial wildlife species, was not used as an input to the building of terrestrial cores, but is provided as an overlay to help inform the design with respect to potential climate change impacts.