Habitat Evaluation Research Articles

A STUDY OF A FISH HABITAT EVALUATION PROCEDURE FOR RIVER RESTORATION

This study focuses on the quantitative evaluation of the effect of environmental change caused by the river restoration work. Firstly, we investigated the fish distribution as well as the distribution of riffle-pool and attached algae in the Furukou River, Yamaguchi, in which restoration work is going on. Then we applied our former model of fish preference, including the factors of water depth, velocity, food and cover, to reproduce the observed fish distribution. The model is based on the laboratory experiments. The calculated fish distribution met the observation, but was not enough. The difference between the calculation and the observation might come from:(1) the experiences do not handle preference change according to the seasons, (2) some environmental conditions in the experiments do not represent the real river and (3) the model does not take into account the change of behavioral mode of fish in a day. Taking the third point into account, a new habitat evaluation model is proposed considering the fish home range and three fish behavioral modes of feeding, resting, and hiding. This comprehensive preference model was proved to be more effective in the real river.

A decision support system for evaluation of wildlife habitat

A decision support system (DSS) for the evaluation of wildlife habitat suitability based on the spatial characteristics of habitat has been developed and implemented on a unix workstation. The system uses a geographic information system for the manipulation of spatial information. At the present time, the system is using several habitat models to quantify the quality of wildlife habitat. This paper describes the theoretical background of the system and provides a case study for the use of the system.

Evaluation of fields and field margins in nature production capacity with special regard to plant protection

Biotic diversity in rural areas is one of the key points of sustainable agriculture and rural development. Biotic diversity and species restoration are closely connected with habitats and thus plant cover diversity. Hungarian agriculture is in a state of transition towards market oriented production and development. Changes in property rights, farm size, land use and the greater importance of environmental issues demand new approaches for plant protection and habitat evaluation. In our study some examples will be given showing the importance both of fields and field margins and about their contribution to plant protection and nature production. Plant species and predators (carabids, spiders) were studied in winter wheat fields and in the field margins. Evidence was found of the importance of the field margin for the number and composition of plant species. Parallel to this, carabids and spiders (as significant predators) were studied. For both carabids and spiders, species number and diversity were significantly higher in field margins compared with fields. The species distribution of carabids among these two different habitats, however, indicates that some species are typical ‘field species’. Thus, proper management of both habitats is necessary so that they may contribute to biotic diversity. A possible evaluation of the contribution of habitats to native flora and fauna is discussed.

Comparison of Three Qualitative Habitat Indices and Their Applicability to Prairie Streams

Qualitative stream habitat indices are important tools in classifying, interpreting, and assessing the conditions of stream ecosystems. Habitat indices are numerical values produced from scoring various features of a stream. Three commonly used habitat indices are the qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI), the rapid bioassessment protocols (RBP), and the riparian, channel, and environmental inventory (RCE). All three indices were used to assess the habitat conditions of 18 prairie streams of different sizes and environmental settings in the Red River of the North basin. Correlations suggest that these three indices provide similar results (r ranged from 0.83 to 0.85, P ≤ 0.003); however, the indices emphasize different aspects of the stream environment. Metrics from each index were classified as one of the following: channel geomorphology, riparian zone, substrate related, and instream cover and biota. The QHEI and RBP indices emphasize channel geomorphology metrics (41% of total score for the QHEI and 42% of the total score for the RBP). The RCE had a more balanced emphasis among the four classes but emphasized riparianzone metrics (32% of total score). There is redundancy within indices. Several metrics showed high correlations (e.g., r = 0.74 for land use and riparian-zone width in QHEI; r = 0.86 for bank vegetative protection and bank condition in RBP; r = 0.83 for macrobenthos and fish in RCE). To evaluate biological applicability, index scores were correlated to scores of the index of biotic integrity and fish community statistics of species richness, evenness, diversity, and percent of individuals in four trophic groups. No significant correlations were identified. We concluded that the metrics making up the habitat indices were either not applicable or not weighted appropriately for northern prairie streams.

Habitat assessment of a relict brown bear Ursus arctos population in northern Spain

We assess the habitat quality of a small remnant population of Eurasian brown bears Ursus arctos in northern Spain based on a habitat evaluation procedure and analysis of bear distribution and road density. Habitat evaluation was based on our knowledge of bear habitat requirements using a combination of radiolocation and sign data and analysis of four variables (forest cover, elevation, distance to nearest village, distance to nearest roadway). Herein, we use those results to calculate habitat suitability indices for 1 km 2 UTM cells over 3500 km 2 of bear range, by summing scores (from 0 to 1) for each variable. Roughly 15% of the study area was classified as high-quality bear habitat. In secondary bear range (sporadic presence) the average unpaved road density was more than twice as high compared to that in primary, year-round, range, and was highest in areas outside of the bear range. The applicability of our habitat evaluation procedure to other small remnant Eurasian bear populations is proposed.

Fishway Design Methodology Based on New Concept for River Environment

Previously, fishways were designed to assist migration of only commercial fish. However, new emerging concept of river environment management requires fishways to provide “biopath” for many species of fish. In this paper, the new methodology for fishway design is discussed. IFIM (instream flow incremental methodology), which was derived for habitat evaluation, is here developed to apply to fishway evaluation. Not only the hydraulic condition of flow in fishway but also the influence of time series of discharge are taken into account to evaluate the fishway design. The procedure of the methodology is explained for an example of fishway of triangular section with large roughness.

Relating Diatom Assemblage Structure to Stream Habitat Quality

Diatom assemblage structure on natural and artificial substrata was related to lotic physical habitat characteristics in an agricultural basin in Minnesota. We found 59 species across the basin, but species richness at individual sites ranged from 4 to 25 (median 16) on natural substrata and 9 to 23 (median 15) on artificial substrata. Most species were rare, with nearly half appearing at fewer than 3 sites. The most abundant taxa were biraphid diatoms (relative abundance >28% in most cases). Rank correlations of guild relative abundance from the artificial substrata (Achnanthes, biraphid, silt-tolerant) were strongest with% bank erosion and the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index riparian subscore, both of which were negatively correlated. Diatom assemblages from natural substrata showed strong rank correlations between% canopy coverage and the Achnanthes, biraphid, rheophilic, and silt tolerant guilds. Relative abundance of stalked diatoms and the width of the streams at flood were also strongly correl...

ESTIMATION OF PHYSICAL HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS USING AUTOMATION AND GEODESIC‐BASED SAMPLING

Fish habitat evaluation studies are based on a wide range of physical habitat sampling methods. The main difficulty with river morphology/hydraulic sampling is the high variability and dynamics of the system. This requires the collection of large data sets and subsequently a large expenditure of time. Most sampling designs reduce cost by sacrificing the accuracy of the habitat models. The framework proposed here saves sampling time by varying the sample density in proportion to the morphological heterogeneity of the river bed and automating the sampling and analytical processes. The method was evaluated on the restructured part of the Melk River. It results in a better description of morphological heterogeneity, higher flexibility (post-processing modifications, more variable applications) and accuracy. The sampling design and proposed technological solutions save time and money.

THE USE OF KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING THE CONSERVATION AND AMENITY VALUE OF WOODLANDS: A CASE STUDY FROM SOUTHERN SCOTLAND

Summary Although habitat evaluation and assessment rely heavily on the judgement and experience of the e valuators, traditional frameworks for structuring such evaluations tend to concentrate solely on the quantitative attributes of habitats. Many benefits would accrue from the adoption of a more realistic, but transparent, evaluation process. This paper describes the Woodland Evaluation System, which is a simple expert system which seeks to provide such a framework for evaluating the conservation, landscape and recreation aspects of woodlands in southern Scotland. The development and structure of the Woodland Evaluation System is described, and the utility of similar computer programs for habitat evaluation discussed.

IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION HABITATS: THE RECREATION HABITAT ANALYSIS METHOD1

ABSTRACT: This paper describes a concept for identification and ranking of outdoor recreation habitats using principles of ecology as a guide. The Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) is a commonly used technique for assessment of human impacts on the vigor of wildlife species, and serves as the model for the Recreation Habitat Analysis Method (RHAM). Recreation activities are dependent on habitat attributes for their success just as are wildlife species. A sample model is described for recreation activities at large, multipurpose lakes. RHAM could be applied to recreation experiences in a variety of settings including smaller water bodies and riparian and terrestrial ecosystems.

Evaluation of fish habitat in Oto river by IFIM

Recently, the request for ecological aspect in river improvement works becomes gradually stronger in order to offer higher quality of natural space to people. We adopted the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) to determine a conservation flow for freshwater fishes. Habitat variables (velocity, depth, and substrate) are utilized to derive a habitat suitability criteria for pale chub, dark club, and river lizard goby observed in 1994 in Oto River. And we surveyed macro-habitat variables, that are water temperature and cover (i. e. shadowed area on water surface by trees along the riverside), during the summer in 1995 to enhance the IFIM model by introducing the relation with target fishes. To apply the IFIM to a study reach, we developed a one-dimensional mathematical model for a gradually varied flow. We derived accurate and objective habitat suitability criteria between target fishes and habitat variables and found that density of fish species was related to cover according to each fish's food pattern. However, water temperature data during one day were not sufficient to explain a relation with target fishes. Variation in WUA, which shows a quantitative estimate of fish habitat, is found out to be closely related to density of target fishes and a conservation flow for pale chub in summer in Oto river is evaluated about 4m3/sec.

The habitat evaluation procedure as a tool for ecological rehabilitation of wetlands in the Netherlands

In the USA, the Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) has become a standard approach for impact assessment and evaluation of measures and management activities causing changes in the environmental conditions of the habitats for fauna species. Recently, the method was implemented in The Netherlands. HEP is used to predict the ecological impact of measures and management activities concerning the ecological rehabilitation of rivers, tidal wetlands, lakes and marshes. For more than 30 fauna species the habitat requirements and preferences have been modelled. Examples of species-habitat relationships are presented. First results of the application of the method in ecological rehabilitation projects of rivers, lakes and marshes are presented. The results show that the HEP approach is a useful tool in ecological water management.

The habitat evaluation procedure as a tool for ecological rehabilitation of wetlands in The Netherlands

In the USA, the Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) has become a standard approach for impact assessment and evaluation of measures and management activities causing changes in the environmental conditions of the habitats for fauna species. Recently, the method was implemented in The Netherlands. HEP is used to predict the ecological impact of measures and management activities concerning the ecological rehabilitation of rivers, tidal wetlands, lakes and marshes. For more than 30 fauna species the habitat requirements and preferences have been modelled. Examples of species-habitat relationships are presented. First results of the application of the method in ecological rehabilitation projects of rivers, lakes and marshes are presented. The results show that the HEP approach is a useful tool in ecological water management.

An evaluation of intertidal feeding habitats from a shorebird perspective: Towards relevant comparisons between temperate and tropical mudflats

Macrozoobenthic communities of intertidal soft sediments are reviewed worldwide from the perspective of a mollusc-eating shorebird species. Based on 19 sites, total biomass figures varied between 5 and 80 g AFDM per m 2 (average 24 g AFDM per m 2); no latitudinal trends are apparent. The contribution made by bivalves and gastropods varies between 1% and 99%, north-temperate intertidal flats having relatively more molluscs than tropical flats. Intertidal flats in the tropics contain a greater variety of taxa, with brachiopods in Indonesia and echinoderms in northwest Australia contributing significantly to biomass only there. Limits to the occurrence of avian predators of intertidal benthos are set by the harvestable fraction of the biomass on offer and the costs of living at a particular site. No systematic differences in the harvestable fraction of the total mollusc-biomass for a worldwide occurring shorebird species specializing on molluscs (knots Calidris canutus) were apparent between temperate and tropical intertidal areas, in spite of large differences in maintenance metabolism incurred by these birds. The harvestable fractions of bivalves in the two West African areas (Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau) tended to be high (23–84% of total biomass in six species), they were relatively low (2–52% in five species) in the temperate Wadden Sea and the tropical northwest Australian site. Harvestable biomass determines the intake rate of shorebirds, as illustrated by functional-response curves of knots feeding on two bivalves species. We argue that the collection of information on size-depth relationships along with faunal and biomass surveys at a range of sites is bound to greatly increase our understanding of both the biology of tidal-flat invertebrates and the resource base underpinning the spectacular seasonal migrations of shorebirds.

A multiple criteria decision-making approach to GIS-based land suitability evaluation

Abstract Land suitability evaluation in a raster GIS environment is conceptualized as a multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. A combination of MCDM techniques selected for implementing the methodology included value and priority assessment techniques for scaling the interval and ordinal data respectively, and compromise programming (CP) to aggregate the unidimensional evaluations. The contribution of the proposed methodology to handle problems of scaling and dependence that often affect expert-based suitability analyses is discussed. A case-study of habitat evaluation for the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel is presented. The multiple-criteria models resulting from the CP analysis of an expert's perception of the habitat preference structure of the red squirrel are compared with data of actual habitat use. The predictive power of the models is good and sensitivity analysis based on the distance-metric parameter p of CP reveals some interesting differences between alternative strategies for data aggregation.

Vertebrate abundance and wildlife habitat suitability near the Palmerton zinc smelters, Pennsylvania

Wild vertebrates associated with habitats affected by two zinc smelters near Palmerton, Pennsylvania, were surveyed in 1986 and 1987. The objectives were to estimate abundance and distribution of vertebrate fauna, and to determine habitat suitability for 10 species of vertebrates at locations adjacent to and up to 15 km from the smelters. Sixteen species of amphibians and 51 species of birds were identified during surveys in April–July. The highest diversity of amphibians and birds occurred at habitats more than 5 km upwind or 5 km downwind of the smelters, whereas only a few species were observed or captured in areas within 5 km of the smelters where vegetation was minimal or absent. White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi) were captured during August 19–29, 1986. Mean capture rates were markedly higher at upwind and downwind sites compared with sites close to the smelters. Habitat unit scores for 10 indicator species, based on standard habitat evaluation procedures, were lowest at sites closest to the smelters. The lack of plant cover and generally low quality habitat were associated with the depauperate vertebrate community within 5 km of the zinc smelters.

Habitat evaluation procedures (HEP) applied to mitigation banking in North Carolina: G. R. McCrain, Journal of Environmental Management, 35(2), 1992, pp 153dash162

Habitat evaluation procedures (HEP) applied to mitigation banking in North Carolina: G. R. McCrain, Journal of Environmental Management, 35(2), 1992, pp 153dash162

Canopy architecture of natural and planted cordgrass marshes: selecting habitat evaluation criteria: J. B. Zedler, Ecological Applications, 3(1), 1993, pp 123–138

Canopy architecture of natural and planted cordgrass marshes: selecting habitat evaluation criteria: J. B. Zedler, Ecological Applications, 3(1), 1993, pp 123–138

Habitat evaluation procedures (HEP) applied to mitigation banking in North Carolina

Fifteen highway sites in eastern North Carolina were evaluated for anticipated bottomland hardwood wetland losses resulting from roadway construction. Wetland takings were expressed in acres of HEP (habitat evaluation procedures) units for comparative purposes. Debits were withdrawn from the North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT's) Company Swamp mitigation bank. Acre-for-acre transactions were found to provide only one third of the functional value replacement when compared to HEP unit debiting. In addition, an analysis of accrued habitat unit values for the 15 sites over the 90-year study period revealed negligible differences. Study findings demonstrated that similar systems evaluated under similar circumstances over similar periods of time may result in similar accrued HEP values.

An Overview of Remote Sensing in Forestry and Related Activities Its Potential Application in South Africa

SYNOPSIS The paper reviews general applications of remotely sensed data within the fields of forestry and environmental, management, and the potential of such data for resource assessment and monitoring. The various satellite systems and sensors available for resource surveys in South Africa are discussed; and comparisons are made in terms of data formats, mapping feasibilities, operating scales, and cost-effectiveness. The applicability of both digital processing and visual interpretation techniques are assessed, now that precision-corrected hard copy imagery is available in Gauss Conformal projection; and that GISs are becoming an acceptable management tool in South Africa. Forestry and associated environmental management applications are reviewed in some detail. Examples include the capability for species level inventory, forest structure analysis, leaf area index measurements, biomass estimates, canopy chemistry, stress/disease assessment, fire and fire management; and wildlife habitat evaluation.