Species Distribution Models for Native Species in the Mojave Desert
Dates
Publication Date
2022-03-30
Time Period
2020
Citation
Shryock, D.F., DeFalco, L.A., and Esque, T.C., 2022, Species distribution models for native species in the Mojave Desert: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9XQJFEL.
Summary
Preserving native species diversity is fundamental to ecosystem conservation. Selecting appropriate native species for use in restoration is a critical component of project design and may emphasize species attributes such as life history, functional type, pollinator services, and nutritional value for wildlife. Determining which species are likely to establish and persist in a particular environment is a key consideration. Species distribution models (SDMs) characterize relationships between species occurrences and the physical environment (e.g., climate, soil, topographic relief) and provide a mechanism for assessing which species may successfully propagate at a restoration site. In conjunction with information on species attributes, [...]
Summary
Preserving native species diversity is fundamental to ecosystem conservation. Selecting appropriate native species for use in restoration is a critical component of project design and may emphasize species attributes such as life history, functional type, pollinator services, and nutritional value for wildlife. Determining which species are likely to establish and persist in a particular environment is a key consideration. Species distribution models (SDMs) characterize relationships between species occurrences and the physical environment (e.g., climate, soil, topographic relief) and provide a mechanism for assessing which species may successfully propagate at a restoration site. In conjunction with information on species attributes, SDMs facilitate holistic ecosystem restoration by enabling practitioners to identify diverse, resilient assemblages of native species. This project develops SDMs for native species of fundamental ecosystem importance in order to guide restoration of Mojave Desert landscapes.
These data support the following publication:
Shryock, D.F., DeFalco, L.A. and Esque, T.C., 2022. Seed Menus: An integrated decision‐support framework for native plant restoration in the Mojave Desert. Ecology and Evolution, 12(4), p.e8805, https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8805.
The authors of these data require that data users contact them regarding intended use and to assist with understanding limitations and interpretation. Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Purpose
The purpose of these datasets are to describe the geographic distribution and habitat preferences of native plant species that provide ecosystems services and/or are commonly used in ecological restoration within the Mojave Desert. Each raster dataset represents a probability distribution of habitat suitability, where values range from 0 (very low probability of species occurrence) to 1 (very high probability of species occurrence). Predictions are based on known occurrence records for each species and are subject to model uncertainty. Hence, appropriate scrutiny should be taken when applying predictions to real-world assessments of habitat or other management applications. Users should consult the full metadata provided with each dataset, as well as the Larger Work, for additional details on model algorithms, performance, and uncertainty.
