1. Raster Modeling of Indicator Plant Species for Monitoring Restoration
of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem
Michael Rasser
University of Texas Marine Science Institute

2. The Problem

3. Restoration of Longleaf Pine
Prescribed Fire
Planting of Longleaf Seedlings
Restoration of ground cover

4. Objectives
Test the efficacy of using the geostatistical analyst to interpolate surfaces of species distribution based on point data.
Generate distribution maps for 7 indicator species important for monitoring restoration success.
Create a map that can be used to prioritize areas for restoration.

5. Study Site

6. Previous Land Use

7. Methodology
Geo-reference data from relational database with sample point locations
Determine appropriate geostatistical model to interpolate point layer into raster surface
Create grid surfaces for each of the indicator species.
Create a map of “ecological integrity” that can be used to prioritize restoration areas.

8. Data Biological Communities Map (.shp) Vegetation Sampling Database
(MS access)
Property Boundary
Sample Point Locations

9. Georeferencing of Tabular Data
ARCGIS Attribute Table
MS ACCESS

10. Testing of Geostatistical Models
Model Validation

11. Testing of Geostatistical Models
Species
RMS Prediction Error
Kriging
IDW
Longleaf Pine
15.02
15.44
Turkey Oak
6.592
6.946
Laurel Oak
10.4
11.64
Black Cherry
0.6105
0.5965
Wire Grass
Winged Sumac
12.89
13.15
Cross Validation

12. Creation of Species Maps

13. Raster Calculations

14. Development of Ecological Integrity Map
Combined 4 species negatively associated with ecological quantity
by creating a new raster layer with the mean value.

16. Reclassification of Cell Values
Reclassified 5 layers
Woody Species
Wire Grass
Longleaf Pine
Turkey Oak

17. Creation of Weighted Raster Layer for Ecological Integrity
Weighted species based on Importance
Reclassified after weighting to create 0 – 10 scale

18. Incorporated Existing Biological Community Map
Convert Grid to shapefile
Clip shapefile with existing biological communities shapefile to exclude all but longleaf pine community