Biological Planning Process for Partners in Flight How to Translate Population Targets into Habitat Objectives at Eco-Regional Scales West Gulf Coastal Plain Bird Conservation Region

How Do We Utilize the Population Estimates and Objectives Listed in the Continental Plan? What does this mean to my BCR? How do I derive habitat objectives?

Example: Forest Breeding Birds Associated with Forested Wetlands in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

Establish Objectives to Counter Limiting Factors Measure Existing Conditions Apportion Habitat Objectives Establish Programmatic Objectives Implement Conservation Programs Conservation Strategies Monitor Habitat Change Monitor Population Response Evaluate Biological Assumptions Monitoring Programs Establish Population Targets Discern Limiting Factors Develop Biological Models Biological Foundation Identify Species of Concern Refinement Proposed PIF Biological Planning Process

Species of Concern Density ~ 1 pair / 3 ha (7.5 ac) Species ACFL REVI PROW YBCU SUTA BGGN Density ~ 1 pair / 8 ha (20 ac) Species HOWA KEWA GCFL AMRE YTVI YTWA NOPA WOTH CERW SCTA EAWP SWWA High Density SpeciesLow Density Species

Limiting Factors Fragmentation Land Conversion Nest Parasitism Nest Predation Nest Parasitism

 Edge effect 300 m  All forest types, water, wetlands, shrublands are non-hostile  Minimum viable population (MVP) of 50 pairs  MVP in contiguous or aggregated patches  Minimum patch size equals area required to support 1 pair  300 m buffer from hostile habitats  Incorporate all non-hostile when identifying “forest core”  Minimum suitable forested wetland core supports 50 pairs  Contiguous or aggregated patches w/in 500 or 1,000 ha landscapes  Minimum patch size = 3 ha for high density birds and 8 ha for low density birds AssumptionsParameters Biological Model Relating Birds to their Habitat

Core Habitat Core needed to support 50 breeding pairs –150 ha (species w/ 3 ha territories) –400 ha (species w/ 8 ha territories) Contiguous Habitat: Total forest patch size (core & buffer) –~ 500 ha (assumes ~10% addition for shape) –~1,000 ha Habitat Requirements

Contiguous Non-contiguous –Acceptable aggregations 150 ha of core within 500 ha landscape with a minimum core patch size of 3 ha 400 ha of core within 1,000 ha landscape with a minimum core patch size of 8 ha Habitat Requirements

1,000 ha landscape Contiguous Core HabitatNon-Contiguous Core Habitat 1,000 ha landscape Habitat Requirements Example: >400 ha within 1,000 ha landscape Non-Forest Bottom Land Hardwood Forest CoreNon-hostileHostile

Establish Objectives to Counter Limiting Factors Measure Existing Conditions Apportion Habitat Objectives Establish Programmatic Objectives Implement Conservation Programs Conservation Strategies Monitor Habitat Change Monitor Population Response Evaluate Biological Assumptions Monitoring Programs Establish Population Targets Discern Limiting Factors Develop Biological Models Biological Foundation Identify Species of Concern Refinement Proposed PIF Biological Planning Process

West Gulf Coastal Plain Bird Conservation Region Example Area Forested Wetland Habitat Characterization

Land Cover –11 water –33 transitional –41, 42, 43 forest –51 shrubland –61 orchards –91, 92 wetlands Extract “non-hostile” Habitats Using National Land Cover Data (NLCD) Non-hostile in White NLCDNLCD Non-hostile Cover Classes GIS Process:

“Non-hostile” habitat Change habitat of 0.09 ha pixel if >75% of a 2.25 ha area not the same. Two filter passes. Filter to Remove “Speckles” GIS Process:

Calculate Distance from “Hostile Edges” Meters from edge to interior Warmer colors are farther from hostile edges. GIS Process:

>300 m from edge Remove water All “core” forest remains Extract Core Area (non-hostile) GIS Process: core

Extract Bottomland Hardwood Core Area Identify forested wetlands within Core area (NLCD Classes 91,92) Filter to remove “speckles” in BLH core GIS Process: core

Forested wetland core habitat for bird conservation –150 ha / 500 ha –400 ha / 1000 ha Characterize BLH Core Suitability GIS Process:

All BLH forest habitat in WGCP 3,424,664 acres 1,386,504 hectares ACFL (1 pair / 0.85 ha) 3,262,362 individuals PROW (1 pair / 2.7 ha) 1,027,040 individuals SWWA (1 pair / 25 ha) 110,920 individuals

Suitable BLH forested core habitat for bird conservation –150 ha / 500 ha 1,690,056 acres 684,233 hectares ACFL (1 pair / 0.85 ha) 1,609,960 individuals PROW (1 pair / 2.7 ha) 506,839 individuals

Suitable BLH forested core habitat for bird conservation –400 ha / 1000 ha 1,117,586 acres 452,464 hectares SWWA (1 pair / 25 ha) 36,197 individuals KEWA (1 pair / 9 ha) 100,548 individuals

Species Continental Plan Estimate All Forested Wetlands“Balance” ACFL464,1023,262,362+2,798,260 PROW129,6891,027, ,351 SWWA37,962110,920+72,958 KEWA240,489308,112+67,623 HOWA1,173,443308, ,331 YBCU1,090,128749, ,666 West Gulf Coastal Plain Forested Wetland Bird Assessment Units of measure = individuals

Species Continental Plan Estimate All Forested Wetlands“Balance” “Suitable Habitat”“Balance” ACFL464,1023,262,362+2,798,2601,609,960+1,145,858 PROW129,6891,027, ,351506, ,150 SWWA37,962110,920+72,95836,197-1,765 KEWA240,489308,112+67,623100, ,941 HOWA1,173,443308, ,331100,548-1,072,895 YBCU1,090,128749, ,666369, ,272 West Gulf Coastal Plain Forested Wetland Bird Assessment Units of measure = individuals

Questions and Challenges Step-down - Are the BBS derived population estimates accurate? - Are the percentage of populations within a BCR correct? - How do I incorporate the C-Plan objectives (increase by 10%, increase by 50%, or double population estimate)? Step-up - Are the population estimates derived from “suitability” models accurate? - Are the (local) density estimates valid? - How do I distribute a species population among habitats (upland vs. bottomlands)? - Should I use a population estimate derived from the 1990s as the basis of my habitat objectives? West Gulf Coastal Plain Forested Wetland Bird Assessment

Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. 2. Pursue the development of spatially-explicit habitat objectives and a decision support model to guide restoration and management. 3. Incorporate Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data into the biological models, such that models speak to both, quantitative and qualitative aspects of bird biology.

Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. Examples: -How do I incorporate the C-Plan objectives (increase by 10%, increase by 50%, or double population estimate)? -How do I distribute a species population among habitats (upland vs. bottomlands)? - Should I use a population estimate derived from the 1990s as the basis of my habitat objectives?

Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. 2. Pursue the development of spatially-explicit habitat objectives and a decision support model to guide restoration and management.

Mean [(forest)+(2  patch)+(3  core)+(2  percent)+(area)] ForestPatchCorePercentArea Reforestation Decision Support Model Example: Reforestation Priority Red River ValleyWest Gulf Coastal Plain

Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. 2. Pursue the development of spatially-explicit habitat objectives and a decision support model to guide restoration and management. 3. Incorporate Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data into the biological models, such that models speak to both, quantitative and qualitative aspects of bird biology.

Current Models are Based on Quantitative Aspects of Bird Biology (i.e., Patch Size Requirements to Support Source Populations). Future Models Need to Address Qualitative Aspects of Bird Biology (i.e., Structural Complexity, Stem Density, Basal Area, Canopy Cover, etc…)

-- Data Collected at each Plot Tree species, diameter, height, damage, etc… Tree regeneration Site quality information General land use Stand characteristics – forest type, stand age, etc… Estimates of growth, mortality, and removal -- Data Collected on a Subset of Plots Crown conditions Soil conditions Lichen communities Vegetation diversity Down woody debris Ozone bioindicator data Forest Inventory and Analysis

Stand Level Information: (Examples) Stand BA (ft2/acre) Gross Stand Volume (ft3/acre) Net Stand Volume (ft3/acre) Number of Trees, 1.0 in diameter and greater (number/acre) Products: Historic and Future Projections by State, Forest Type, Forest Growth, etc….

Questions / Comments

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