Using landscape habitat associations to prioritize areas of conservation action for terrestrial birds.

Tyler M Harms,Kevin T Murphy,Shane S Patterson,Karen E Kinkead,Xiaodan Lyu,Stephen J Dinsmore,Paul W Frese

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173041

Tyler M Harms, Kevin T Murphy + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173041

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Abstract

Predicting species distributions has long been a valuable tool to plan and focus efforts for biodiversity conservation, particularly because such an approach allows researchers and managers to evaluate species distribution changes in response to various threats. Utilizing data from a long-term monitoring program and land cover data sets, we modeled the probability of occupancy and colonization for 38 bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in the robust design occupancy modeling framework, and used results from the best models to predict occupancy and colonization on the Iowa landscape. Bird surveys were conducted at 292 properties from April to October, 2006–2014. We calculated landscape habitat characteristics at multiple spatial scales surrounding each of our surveyed properties to be used in our models and then used kriging in ArcGIS to create predictive maps of species distributions. We validated models with data from 2013 using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Probability of occupancy ranged from 0.001 (SE < 0.001) to 0.995 (SE = 0.004) for all species and probability of colonization ranged from 0.001 (SE < 0.001) to 0.999 (SE < 0.001) for all species. AUC values for predictive models ranged from 0.525–0.924 for all species, with 17 species having predictive models considered useful (AUC > 0.70). The most important predictor for occupancy of grassland birds was percentage of the landscape in grassland habitat, and the most important predictor for woodland birds was percentage of the landscape in woodland habitat. This emphasizes the need for managers to restore specific habitats on the landscape. In an era during which funding continues to decrease for conservation agencies, our approach aids in determining where to focus limited resources to best conserve bird species of conservation concern.

Highlights

Research on the conservation of biodiversity has become increasingly important in the last two decades, in the face of threats such as habitat loss and fragmentation [1,2,3], climate change [3,4,5], invasive species [6,7], and many others
Detections of individual species ranged from 4–1354 with common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) detected on the fewest occasions and common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) detected on the most occasions
One species responded to covariates at the 200 m spatial scale for occupancy and colonization

Summary

Introduction

Research on the conservation of biodiversity has become increasingly important in the last two decades, in the face of threats such as habitat loss and fragmentation [1,2,3], climate change [3,4,5], invasive species [6,7], and many others. Habitat loss and degradation affects all wildlife, it has drastic effects on birds. 85% of the globally threatened bird species [8] are significantly threatened by habitat loss. Such effects on birds are evident at localized scales, for example Iowa has lost 57% of historic forest habitat, 95% of historic wetland habitat, and 99.9% of historic grassland habitat since European settlement [9]. Identification of priority areas (i.e., areas where the most species can be benefitted with the least amount of cost) is critical to effective conservation planning [11,13]

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