Species Distribution Model (SDM) for Yucca brevifolia 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. The dataset contained herein provides an SDM for Yucca brevifolia within its Mojave Desert range based on known occurrences.
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YUBR_habitat_metadata.xml Original FGDC Metadata
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22.42 KB
application/fgdc+xml
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YUBR_habitat.zip
YUBR_habitat.tif
671.92 KB
YUBR_habitat.tif-ColorRamp.SLD
2.09 KB
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.
