Transcript Habitat Analysis

Madison Valley
Conservation
Assessment
Madison Valley Study Area
Suites of Species Make Better Umbrellas
Candidate Pool Entering Species Selection
Common name, Latin binomial
Fish
Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Oncorynchus clarki lewisi
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Oncorynchus clarki bouvieri
Arctic Grayling (fluvial), Thymallus arcticus
Amphibians
Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum
Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens
Columbia Spotted Frog, Rana luteiventris
Boreal Chorus Frog, Pseudacris maculata
Boreal Toad, Bufo boreas boreas
Reptiles
Rubber Boa, Charina bottae
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake, Thamnophis elegans
Western Rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis
Birds
American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator
Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histionicus
Barrow's Goldeneye, Bucephala islandica
Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis
Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus
Blue Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
Greater Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus
Great Gray Owl, Strix nebulosa
Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus
Black-backed Woodpecker, Picoides arcticus
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperii
Brown Creeper, Certhia americana
Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus
American Pipit, Anthus rebescens
American Dipper, Cinclus mexicanus
Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia
Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
Black Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte atrata
Mammals
Masked Shrew, Sorex cinereus
Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus townsendii
Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus californicus
Snowshoe Hare, Lepus townsendii
Beaver, Castor canadensis
Pine Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Northern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus
Northern Pocket Gopher, Thomomys talpoides
Southern Red-backed Vole, Clethrionomys gapperi
Heather Vole, Phenacomys intermedius
Sagebrush Vole, Lemmiscus curtatus
Coyote, Canis latrans
Gray Wolf, Canis lupus
Mountain Lion, Felis (Puma) concolor
Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis
Wolverine, Gulo gulo
River Otter, Lontra canadensis
American Marten, Martes americana
Fisher, Martes pennanti
Black Bear, Ursus americanus
Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos
Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana
Bison, Bison (Bos) bison
Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis
Wapiti (Elk), Cervus elaphus
Moose, Alces alces
Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus
Selecting Landscape Species
5 criteria
area
for selecting
vulnerability
landscape species
socio-economic
significance
functionality
heterogeneity
Species Ranking
Species
Area
Heterogenei
ty
Functional
ity
Vulnerabil
ity
Socioecono
mic
Total
Grizzly Bear
0.75
0.75
1.00
1.00
1.00
4.50
Gray Wolf
0.62
1.00
0.46
0.19
1.00
3.27
Wapiti (Elk)
0.39
0.69
0.77
0.54
0.80
3.19
Mountain Lion
0.58
0.86
0.23
0.47
1.00
3.14
Wolverine
1.00
0.62
0.08
0.62
0.60
2.91
Mule Deer
0.66
0.58
0.23
0.72
0.60
2.80
Canada Lynx
0.88
0.55
0.08
0.65
0.60
2.76
Black Bear
0.70
0.37
0.62
0.19
0.60
2.47
Beaver
0.48
0.33
0.77
0.04
0.80
2.42
Coyote
0.46
0.60
0.46
0.09
0.80
2.41
Greater Sage Grouse
0.45
0.40
0.23
0.66
0.60
2.35
Northern Pocket Gopher
0.58
0.29
0.85
0.08
0.40
2.19
Moose
0.49
0.29
0.23
0.54
0.60
2.16
River Otter
0.61
0.32
0.15
0.15
0.80
2.03
Final Landscape Species
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Wolverine
Bighorn sheep
Moose
Grizzly bear (CERI)
Pronghorn (CERI)
Elk (CERI)
Red-naped sapsucker
Sage grouse
Boreal toad
Columbia spotted frog
Black-backed woodpecker
Warbling vireo
Yellow warbler
West slope cutthroat trout
Arctic grayling
Riparian Habitat
A Simplified Approach
Major Habitat Types
Problem: Find the minimum set of
focal species
Species 1
Habitat 1
that will umbrella all major habitats

Species 2
Habitat 2

Species 3
 Habitat 3
Characteristics of Good Focal Species  Habitat 4
•Large Area Requirements
Habitat 5

•Sensitive to Habitat Change
 Habitat 6
•Compliments Other Focal Species
 Habitat 7
 Habitat 8
 Habitat 9
Species 4
Species 2
Species 3
Species 1
Species 4
Importance
Habitat Elements vs. Species Needs
Vegetation Structure
Community Composition
Habitat Generalist
Habitat Specialist
Selecting Habitat Types
1. Identify Broad Habitat Types (e.g.
coniferous forest, riparian, grassland
steppe, etc.)
2. Subdivide by important topographical
classes (lowland, alpine, etc)
3. Include specialty habitats (e.g. whitebark
pine, cliff faces, standing burnt forest)
Choosing Focal Species
Start With:
Need large areas to survive
and persist
Are sensitive to human
threats or activities
and optionally:
Are keystone species-species
whose loss would significantly
alter the ecosystem
Add:
Species as close to target as
possible
Do not overlap habitat
requirements with previous
species
Landscape Species Approach
human landscape
(people’s activities)
biological landscape
(species’ requirements)
intersections define the
conservation landscape
identify Priorities
direct and focus
interventions
Human landscapes
Conceptual models
Goal: To conserve and restore all major wildlife habitat types and their component species with emphasis on
ungulate winter range, riparian ecosystems, and linkages between mountain chains and mountain valleys.
Conservation Target: Maintain viable meta-populations of Columbia Spotted Frog
Direct threat
(stress): Predation
and competition
Source: Historical nonnative fish introductions
Indirect threat:
Management
emphasis on
sport fishery
Indirect
threat:
Inadequate
information
on breeding
sites
Intervention:
Remove
nonnative fish
Intervention:
Elevate importance
of amphibians and
their mgmt
Direct threat (stress):
Mortality
Source:
Disease???
Intervention:
Reduce spreading
through education
Indirect threat:
Local and regional
environmental
contamination
Intervention:
Inventory for
breeding sites in
MVPU
Direct threat (stress):
Habitat loss
Source:
Loss of
floodplain
pools due
to river
regulation
by dams
Source:
Loss of
beaver
Intervention:
Beaver
restoration
Intervention: Mitigate
contamination around
breeding sites
Source:
Dewatering
from
irrigation,
loss of
beaver
Intervention:
Lease water
rights for
conservation
Mapped Human Influences
•Housing (Structures) Density
•(Weighted) Road Density
•Roadway Salting
•Motor Recreation (Snowmobiling)
•Grazing (Public Lands)
•Mining
•Water Quality
•Dewatering
•Fish Stocking (Non-native
Introductions)
•Fire Severity
Habitat Models
Information Sources
•Existing Models
•Literature Review
•Expert Interviews
•Workshops
Habitat
connectivity
Species Report Outline
•Focal Species (Scientific name)
•Current Status:
•Current Threats:
•Habitat Analysis:
•Conservation Strategies:
summary Analysis
Umbrella effects
SPECIES
VULNERAB
ILITY
Umbrella1
Proport
ion
Umbrell
a2
0.33
Wapiti
(Elk)
Proport
ion
Umbrella
3
Proport
ion
INDEX
Mammals
Masked Shrew
0
0.083618396
Grizzly Bear
Townsend's Bigeared Bat
0.059673128
Grizzly Bear
0.33
Black-tailed
Jackrabbit
0.02204485
Pronghorn
1.00
0.33
0.33
Moose
Wapiti
(Elk)
0.33
Bighorn
Sheep
0.30
0.30
Snowshoe Hare
0.045990118
Grizzly Bear
0.70
Wolveri
ne
Beaver
0.0336374
Riparian Habitat
0.70
Moose
0.33
Wapiti
(Elk)
0.33
0.70
Grizzly
Bear
0.30
0.33
Wapiti
(Elk)
0.33
0.70
Grizzly
Bear
0.30
Pine Squirrel
Northern Flying
Squirrel
Northern Pocket
Gopher
Southern Redbacked Vole
0.091220068
Grizzly Bear
0.091220068
Black-backed
Woodpecker
0.051311288
0.045610034
Grizzly Bear
Wolverine
0.33
0.33
Moose
0.33
Moose
0
Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (378 vertebrate species)
ALPINE MEADOW
MIXED SUBALPINE FOREST
DOUGLAS-FIR/ LODGEPOLE PINE
DOUGLAS-FIR
LODGEPOLE PINE
MIXED WHITEBARK PINE FOREST
STANDING BURNT FOREST
MIXED BROADLEAF & CONIFER RIPARIAN
BROADLEAF RIPARIAN
CONIFER RIPARIAN
MIXED BROADLEAF & CONIFER FOREST
MIXED BROADLEAF FOREST
MIXED XERIC FOREST
PONDEROSA PINE
URBAN OR DEVELOPED LANDS
MIXED RIPARIAN
SHRUB RIPARIAN
GRAMINOID & FORB RIPARIAN
MONTANE PARKLANDS & SUBALPINE MEADOWS
MESIC SHRUB-GRASSLAND ASSOCIATIONS
MIXED MESIC SHRUBS
ROCK
ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIPER
LIMBER PINE
LOW DENSITY XERIC FOREST
XERIC SHRUB-GRASSLAND ASSOCIATIONS
MIXED XERIC SHRUBS
SAGEBRUSH
MIXED BARREN SITES
SALT-DESERT SHRUB/ DRY SALT FLATS
BADLANDS
MINES, QUARRIES, GRAVEL PITS
WATER
MODERATE/ HIGH COVER GRASSLANDS
LOW/ MODERATE COVER GRASSLANDS
VERY LOW COVER GRASSLANDS
ALTERED HERBACEOUS
AGRICULTURAL LANDS - IRRIGATED
AGRICULTURAL LANDS - DRY
Dissimilarity
Dendrogram GAP CLASSES
1
0.800
0.600
0.400
0.200
Setting priorities
•Species Richness
•Connectivity Hotspots
•Addressing Key Threats
Current
Biodiversity potential
Loss of Biodiversity
Potential
Priority Areas for Conserving Biodiversity
Papoose Creek to Raynold’s Pass
Sagebrush Steppe
Norris Hill to North Meadow Creek
Jack Creek Drainage
Madison Willow Flats
Potential habitat
connectivity
Current Habitat
Connectivity
Change in habitat
connectivity
Priority Areas for Wildlife Connectivity
Wolf Creek to Raynold’s Pass
Norris Hill to North Meadow Creek
Central Valley
Major Drainages and foothills
Virginia City Hill
Analyzing threats
Priorities Based on Threats
 Protect and restore aquatic
habitats that support fish and
amphibians.
 Restore natural fire patterns to
restore fire-dependent habitats
and fire-dependent species.
 Protect and restore sagebrush
and native grassland habitats.
 Reduce the impact of subdivision
development on wildlife.
 Mitigate the impact of roads
through improved design through
travel corridors.
So What?
•Madison County Planning Board
(decision support tool, conservation
overlay)
•Forest Service Management Plans
•Madison Valley Futuring Committee
•Individual Landowners
Fine-scale analysis
Area Growth
1905 - 2005
Maps and
Animation
Compliments of the
Sonoran Institute
Predicted Loss of Wildlife Habitat
Predicted loss of
grizzly bear habitat
using growth
projections for 2025
Major supporters
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
The Turner Foundation
Wildlife Conservation Society
Special thanks to:
The Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, US Forest Service, MT Fish
Wildlife and Parks, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, MT Audubon
Society, and Trust for Public Lands
Choosing a Focal Species Suite to Create
a Complete Conservation Umbrella
Goals:
• Conserve sufficient quantity and quality of all major habitat types to
support ecologically functional populations of all native species
present in the planning area.
• Implement mitigation strategies that effectively reduce the impact of
all activities that significantly threaten the persistence of any native
species to levels that insure a high likelihood of persistence for the
next 100 years.
• Ensure the continuation of all natural ecosystem processes (either
through natural occurrence or simulation by prescription) that are
necessary for the long-term persistence of all native species within
their natural range of variability of abundance.
• Respect the importance of wildlife to local economies and culture, and
implementing strategies to maximize positive, and minimizes negative,
effects of wildlife on these economies while preserving cultural values.
Complete Conservation Requires Multiple
Umbrellas
Habitat
Threats
Processes
Area
•Complete Communities
- all native species in natural abundance
•Complete Ecosystem Function
•Human Values
Hierarchy of Conservation Needs
Social Acceptance
Ecological Processes
Security
Habitat
Area
Public
values that
support
conservation
Allow or simulate
natural processes to
sustain natural habitat
heterogeneity
Security from direct and indirect threats
that threaten the survival or natural
abundance of individuals or populations
Availability of appropriate habitat types in sufficient
quantity and quality to support individuals and
populations
Sufficient area to support individuals and populations at
ecologically functional levels
Using Focal Species to Address Conservation Needs
Need
Area
Habitat
Security
Ecological Processes
Social Acceptance
Focal Species
Attribute
Landscape Species
Select large area generalists to
protect sufficient area and
diversity of habitat types
Habitat Types
Make sure suite of focal species
covers all major habitat types in
the area
Threats
Make sure suite of focal species
covers all major threats that
impact wildlife populations in the
area
Ecological Processes and
Key Species
Include key species needed to
maintain natural community, and
species that depend on ecological
processes to sustain ecologically
functional populations
Socio-economic Values
Identify values that compliment
or conflict with conservation
objectives
Two Day Selection Process
• One day pre-workshop preparation
• One day workshop
Pre-workshop Preparation
• List of native species sorted by area
requirements
• List of major habitat types in planning area
• List of major threats in planning area
• List of important ecological processes
• List of key species
• List of important socio-economic values
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildfinder/
Candidate Species
American Badger
American Beaver
American Bison
American Black Bear
American Kestrel
American Marten
American Mink
American Pika
Big Brown Bat
Bighorn Sheep
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Blue Grouse
Bobcat
Boreal Chorus Frog
Boreal Owl
Bull Snake
Bushy-tailed Woodrat
California Myotis
Canada Lynx
Cinereus Shrew
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Common Raven
Cooper's Hawk
Cougar
Coyote
Deer Mouse
Desert Cottontail
Dwarf Shrew
Elk
Ermine
Ferruginous Hawk
Fisher
Golden Eagle
Golden-mantled Ground
Squirrel
Gray Wolf
Great Basin Pocket Mouse
Great Gray Owl
Great Horned Owl
Grizzly Bear
Hispid Pocket Mouse
Hoary Bat
Least Chipmunk
Little Brown Bat
Long-billed Curlew
Long-eared Myotis
Long-eared Owl
Long-legged Myotis
Long-tailed Vole
Long-tailed Weasel
Meadow Vole
Merriam's Shrew
Montane Shrew
Montane Vole
Moose
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
Muskrat
North American Porcupine
Northern Flying Squirrel
Northern Goshawk
Northern Grasshopper Mouse
Northern Harrier
Northern Pocket Gopher
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Northern Raccoon
Northern River Otter
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern ShrikeOrd's Kangaroo
Rat
Prairie Vole Preble's Shrew
Pronghorn
Red Fox
Red Squirrel
Red-tailed Chipmunk
Red-tailed Hawk
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Rough-legged Hawk
Ruffed Grouse
Sage Grouse
Sagebrush Vole
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Short-eared Owl
Silver-haired Bat
Snowshoe Hare
Southern Red-backed Vole
Spotted Bat
Spruce Grouse
Striped Skunk
Swainson's Hawk
Tiger Salamander
Townsend's Big-eared Bat
Turkey Vulture
Uinta Chipmunk
Uinta Ground Squirrel
Vagrant Shrew
Water Shrew
Water Vole
Western Harvest Mouse
Western Heather Vole
Western Jumping Mouse
Western Rattlesnake
Western Screech-Owl
Western Toad
Western Small-footed
Myotis
White-footed Mouse
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Wolverine
Wyoming Ground Squirrel
Wyoming Pocket Gopher
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Yellow-pine Chipmunk
Yuma Myotis
Major Habitat
Types
Major Threats
Key Species
Important
Ecological
Processes
Important SocioEconomic Values
Agriculture
Alpine
Meadow
Aspen
Foothill
Shrub/Xeric
Woodland
Lentic Water
Lotic Water
Mesic Shrub
Montane
Conifer
Native
Grassland
Non-Native
Grass
Recently Burnt
Forest
Riparian Forest
Riparian Shrub
Rock/Cliff/Tal
us
Shrub-steppe
Subalpine
Forest
Wetlands
(Marsh)
Dewatering
Exotic Disease
Farming
Fencing
Fire
Fire
Suppression
Fishing
Grazing
Harvest
(Hunting)
Homesite
Development
Invasive Aliens
Loss Of
Ecosystem
Integrity
Management/Pr
edator Control
Migratory
Sensitivity
Mineral Mining
Motorized
Recreation
Nonmotorized
Recreation
Nonnative
Introductions
Oil/Gas/Cbm
Pollution
Powerlines
Road
Chemical/Sedi
mentation
Roading
Timber Harvest
Vehicular
Traffic
Weed/Pest
Control
American
Beaver
American
Bison
Elk?
Gray Wolf
Periodic Fire
Grazing
Riparian
Flooding
Sport Hunting and
Fishing
Cattle Ranching and
Rural Lifestyle
Open Space, Wild
Areas, and Wildlife
Viewing Opportunities
Species Area Requirements
Five functional categories
• Large Landscape
– Classic landscape species
– Habitat generalists requiring large contiguous, or connected areas of habitat
(> 500 ha).
• Meso-scale
– require moderately size contiguous habitat areas (~ 5 - 500 ha).
• Habitat Selectors
– travel between relatively small habitat patches but not sensitive to habitat
changes between patches.
• Restricted or Sedentary
– Small home ranges < 5 ha
• Habitat Specialists
– Majority of seasonal use tied to one, or few habitat types.
– Critical habitats often small patch sizes
• Microhabitat Specialists
– Restricted to very specific and very small habitats (e.g. warm springs)
Species Pool
Land Area
Requiremen
t
Category
Cohort 1
Wolverine
Sage Grouse
Grizzly Bear
Ferruginous Hawk
Gray Wolf
Golden Eagle
American Bison
Elk
Long-billed Curlew
Cougar
American Black Bear
Canada Lynx
Western Toad
Turkey Vulture
Boreal Owl
Pronghorn
Bighorn Sheep
Western Rattlesnake
Common Raven
Moose
Tiger Salamander
Northern Goshawk
Coyote
Fisher
Mule Deer
Boreal Chorus Frog
Bull Snake
Blue Grouse
Bobcat
Rough-legged Hawk
White-tailed Deer
Great Horned Owl
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Northern River Otter
American Marten
LL-1
LL-1
LL-2
LL-2
LL-3
LL-3
LL-4
LL-4
LL-4
LL-5
LL-6
Meso-1
Meso-1
Meso-1
Meso-2
Meso-2
Meso-2
Meso-2
Meso-3
Meso-3
Meso-3
Meso-4
Meso-4
Meso-4
Meso-4
Meso-4
Meso-4
Meso-5
Meso-5
Meso-6
Meso-6
Meso-7
Meso-7
Meso-7
Meso-7
Meso-8
Wolverine
Sage Grouse
Grizzly Bear
Ferruginous Hawk
Gray Wolf
Golden Eagle
Cohort 2
Cohort 3
Cohort 4
Cohort 5
Cohort 6
Gray Wolf
Golden Eagle
American Bison
Elk
Long-billed curlew
Cougar
American Black Bear
Canada Lynx
Western Toad
Turkey Vulture
Boreal Owl
Pronghorn
Bighorn Sheep
Western Rattlesnake
Common Raven
Moose
Tiger Salamander
Moose
Tiger Salamander
Northern Goshawk
Coyote
Fisher
Mule Deer
Boreal Chorus Frog
Bull Snake
Blue Grouse
Bobcat
Rough-legged Hawk
White-tailed Deer
Great-horned Owl
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
Northern River
Otter
STOP
Complete Conservation Requires Multiple
Umbrellas
Habitat
Shrub-steppe
Recently Burnt Forest
Agriculture
Alpine Meadow
Aspen
Foothill Shrub/Xeric Woodland
Lentic Water
Lotic Water
Mesic Shrub
Montane Conifer
Native Grassland
Non-Native Grass
Riparian Forest
Riparian Shrub
Rock/Cliff/Talus
Subalpine Forest
Wetlands (Marsh)
Threats
Grazing
Harvest (Hunting)
Homesite Development
Invasive Aliens
Loss Of Ecosystem Integrity
Management/Predator Control
Mineral Mining
Motorized Recreation
Nonmotorized Recreation
Nonnative Introductions
Pollution
Road Chemical/Sedimentation
Roading
Timber Harvest
Vehicular Traffic
Weed/Pest Control
Dewatering (P)
Exotic Disease (P)
Farming (P)
Fencing
Fire Suppression (P)
Fishing
Migratory Sensitivity (P)
Oil/Gas/CBM (P)
Power lines
Completing the Conservation Umbrellas
Special
Elements:
Habitats
Covered
Under
Umbrella
Habitats
Outside
Cumulative
Umbrella
Threats Covered
Under Umbrella
Threats Outside
Cumulative
Umbrella
Special Elements
Added to Complete
Umbrella
Focal Species Suite
Sage Grouse
Shrub-steppe
Recently
Burnt Forest
(P)
Farming (P)
Oil/Gas/CBM (P)
Power lines
Dewatering (P)
Exotic Disease (P)
Fencing
Fire Suppression
(P)
Fishing
Migratory
Sensitivity (P)
Pronghorn
Recently
Burnt Forest
(P)
Fencing
Migratory
Sensitivity (P)
Dewatering (P)
Exotic Disease (P)
Fire Suppression
(P)
Fishing
Sage Grouse
Pronghorn
Westslope
Cutthroat
American Beaver –
key species
(replaces otter)
Black-backed
Woodpecker
Westslope
Cutthroat
Recently
Burnt Forest
(P)
Dewatering (P)
Exotic Disease
(P)
Fishing
Fire Suppression
(P)
Grizzly Bear
Elk
Western Toad
Bighorn Sheep
Northern
Goshawk
Northern River
Otter – replaced
by beaver as
special element
Special Elements:
Sage Grouse
Pronghorn
Westslope
Cutthroat
American Beaver
Black-backed
Woodpecker
American
Beaver
Lotic Water
Blackbacked
Woodpecker
Recently
Burnt
Recently
Burnt Forest
(P)
Fire Suppression
(P)
Fire Suppression
(P)
Complete Conservation Requires Multiple
Umbrellas
Habitat
Threats
Processes
Area
•Complete Communities
- all native species in natural abundance
•Complete Ecosystem Function
•Human Values