Fisher (Pekania pennanti) Geospatial Dataset

Geospatial Data Available

2022-07-10 07:00:00

Start Date

2018-09-11 07:00:00

End Date

2020-12-31 08:00:00

FWS Science Applications National Data Steward(Point of Contact), Alan Yanahan(Point of Contact), Science Applications Region 1(Point of Contact), Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Working Group(Principal Investigator), Science Applications Region 1(funder), 2022-07-10(creation), Fisher (Pekania pennanti) Geospatial Dataset, https://waconnected.org/coastal-washington-analysis/, https://databasin.org/galleries/29089b580cf84d2ca63d8fef6a5eb090/

Type: webLink Type: download

Alan Yanahan(Distributor); FWS Science Applications National Data Steward(Distributor)

This Washington Connected Landscapes Project: Cascades to Coast Analysis follows the approach outlined in the Washington Connected Landscapes Project: Statewide Analysis (WHCWG, 2010) and the Washington Connected Landscapes Project: Analysis of the Columbia Plateau Ecoregion (WHCWG, 2012). As in both of these analyses, two main approaches are combined to model patterns of habitat connectivity that are representative of the needs of a wide array of species with different movement characteristics and habitat requirements in the region (Krosby et al., 2015, Landscape Ecology 10:2121-2132). One of these approaches, based on landscape integrity, is intended to function as a coarse filter, capturing and representing the needs of many species across the region. The landscape integrity approach seeks to identify the best available routes to maintain movement for wildlife and ecological processes across the landscape by modeling connectivity across large, contiguous areas that retain high levels of naturalness (that is, limited human impact). However, its results do not assess specific ecological functions, can be difficult to validate, and are challenging to communicate. We therefore complemented this approach with a focal species approach to modeling connectivity (Krosby et al., 2015, Landscape Ecology 10:2121-2132). In the focal species approach, the modeling is centered on a set of carefully selected focal species, and the habitat and connectivity needs of each of those species are modeled individually. The strength of this approach lies in the consideration given to the ways that each focal species assessment contributes to our understanding of connectivity across the region, hence the care taken in selecting these species. Fisher (Pekania pennanti) was selected to represent late seral stage coastal forests. In addition, species-specific connectivity models are more intuitive, and can be interpreted and communicated more easily. It is also easier for those with expertise on the needs and movement capabilities of different species to assess the extent to which a particular model can inform the needs of other species with similar characteristics and needs. The challenge for the focal species approach lies in the need, theoretically, to develop models for all species of interest, a potentially long list. Hence our two-pronged approach that also includes landscape integrity modeling. Finally, how do individual species models inform the regional patterns of functional connectivity across the whole landscape, for all species? Synthesizing and integrating the results across focal species and landscape integrity is therefore part of this analysis as well. By taking this two-pronged strategy to model connectivity, including both landscape integrity and focal species models, and then integrating the two, we gain the advantages associated with both approaches while addressing shortcomings associated with using each approach alone.

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