Ecological Landscape Analysis Project Background and Status

Conservation Planning Challenges in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Establish landscape-level, population- based habitat objectives for priority bird species Characterize changes in habitat quantity and quality over time Determine the ecological potential of the landscape to support particular bird habitats

West Gulf Coastal Plain Ecological Landscape Analysis Project Arkansas Oklahoma Texas Louisiana

Why Ecological Characterization? =

? Characterizing Ecosystem Change and its Implication for Priority Bird Species European Settlement1992

Project Goals Develop Historic/Potential Classification System to Characterize Landscape Level Change and Identify Sites for Landscape Level Restoration for Bird Conservation Habitat Characterization Project - Ability of Current Landscape to Support Priority Bird Species

Description of Ecological Landscape Analysis Project Based on Previous Project: The Nature Conservancy’s Connecticut River Watershed Project Model Uses Biophysical Attributes: Geology, Soils, Digital Elevation Models (DEMS), Elevation, Slope, Moisture Regimes, etc. Pilot Project Initiated: Subsection of West Gulf selected based on Rick Turner’s ( of TNC) expertise Preliminary Model Developed: Described by Jake Cowart and modifications by Amy Keister New Modeling Efforts with NatureServe: Based on Ecological Systems Classification

WGCP Ecological Assessment and Characterization Project Characterize Ecosystem Changes and Implications to Priority Bird Communities

Ecological (Biophysical) Land Units

Current Status Our new partnership with NatureServe Improvements in Existing Floodplain Model Ground-truthing of terraces in Arkansas Additional field work in other states to verify model Refine floodplain model Begin work on upland model

NatureServe A non-profit organization representing a Network of 75 member programs and partners

Parallel Endeavors of the LMVJV and NatureServe United States/International ELAP Ecological Landscape Analysis Project West Gulf Coastal Plain NatureServe Ecological Systems of the United States ELAP Advantages of building ELAP around a nationally recognized classification Facilitate collaboration between Joint Ventures Increases the chance that our work will persist

Ecological systems: represent recurring groups of biological communities that are found in similar physical environments and are influenced by similar dynamic ecological processes, such as fire or flooding. intended to provide a meso scale classification unit that is readily mappable, often from remote imagery, and readily identifiable in the field.

Advantages of Ecological Systems System occurrences lend themselves more readily to mapping by remote sensing techniques Ecological systems are broad enough to allow general acceptance of their characterization by most experts Fewer units = more conducive planning framework

Strategy for Modeling Ecological Systems Eco Regions –Matrix Ecological Systems Linear and Large Patch Ecological Systems

West Gulf Coastal Plain - BCR Consists of 3 Eco- Regions –Arkansas Valley –Ouachita Mountains –West Gulf Coastal Plain - Proper

West Gulf Coastal Plain – Proper Eco Region Consists of 3 Matrix Ecological Systems –Pine-Hardwood Forest –Upland Longleaf Pine –Wetland Longleaf Savanna and Flatwoods

Upland Longleaf Pine Matrix Ecological System Consists of 10 Linear and Large Patch Ecological Systems –Large River Floodplain Forest –Small Stream and River Forest –Pine-Hardwood Forest –Mesic Hardwood Forest –Catahoula Barrens –Southern Calcareous Prairie –Seepage Swamp and Baygall –Wet Hardwood Flatwoods –Dry Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods

Diagnostic Classifiers Ecological SystemSoilGeologySlopePositionnotes Pine-Hardwood Forestvariable Upland, ridgetops and adjacent side slopes Mesic Hardwood Forestvariablesteepernarrow ridge top and side slopes Catahoula BarrensCatahoulaflatknown distribution mapable Southern Calcareous Prairiedeep flemming/cook mountainrollingknown distribution mapable Seepage Swamp and Baygallhighly acidicflatlow upland depression and wet creek bottoms Large River Floodplain Forestflatlowalluvial, brown water Small Stream and River Forestflatlowalluvial, intermittent flooding Wet Hardwood Flatwoods fine textured, hardpanflatlower Pleistocene high terraces, complex of ridges and swales Dry Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods fine textured, hardpanflatlow Pleistocene high terraces, complex of ridges and swales

WGCP – Ecological Systems Modeling Eco Regions –Matrix Ecological Systems Linear and Large Patch Ecological Systems

Current Landcover in the Floodplains

Historic Landcover Current Landcover Assumptions Woody Wetlands EmergentHerbaceousWetlandsWater No Change Herbaceous Wetlands No Change CroplandConversion Pasture/HayConversion UrbanConversion Water Additional spatial data needed Deciduous Forest Further research needed Mixed Forest Further research needed Evergreen Forest Further research needed All Others Landcover Change Decision Matrix

Landcover Change in the Floodplains Urban 1% Herbaceous Wetlands 2% All Others 1% Evergreen Forest 8% Mixed Forest 10% Pasture/ Hay 10% Deciduous Forest 11% Water 12% Woody Wetlands 33% Cropland 12% No Change Conversion Further Research Needed Additional Spatial Data Needed

ArkansasLouisiana OklahomaTexas Unchanged Conversion Uncertain Land Use and Land Use Change of Floodplains in Lower WGCP 2,880,195 2,704, ,8993,008,455 29% 45% 26% 13% 63% 24% 26% 50% 24% 25% 41% 34%

Applications of Ecological Characterization and Assessment Assesses the ecological potential of the landscape to support priority bird habitats Compare ecological potential of the landscape to existing landscape conditions Identify ecologically appropriate sites for habitat restoration