1. Using GIS for Habitat Comparisons: A Case Study with Northern Goshawks
M. Wright*, S. McCartney, P. Burger, R. Tornberg, J. Soppela, and N. Bickford
Abstract
Northern goshawks are an apex predator found throughout the Holarctic 1,2. In many areas throughout the United States, goshawks are used as Management Indicator Species due to their association with high-quality, old-growth forest habitat 3,4,5. Our objective was to begin to consider areas outside of the United States where goshawks may also be used as effective indicators. We used remote sensing and GIS to analyze habitat for goshawks in the Oulu region of central Finland. By identifying areas of optimal habitat for goshawks, we are able to concentrate monitoring and conservation efforts on these areas to track changes in goshawk populations associated with changes in habitat.
Database construction
We obtained the majority of geographic layers from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) open spatial data download service 6. The DEM layer was obtained from the National Land Survey of Finland (NLSF) open spatial download 7. For each layer, we obtained the UTM200 map divisions S4, S5, R4, R5, Q3, Q4, and Q5. Map divisions for each geographic layer were mosaicked in ArcMap creating seamless raster images. All spatial layers were originally projected in ETRS 1989 Transverse Mercator and converted through a geographic transformation to ETRS 1989 TM35FIN to minimize distortion. The DEM layer was used to derive the Slope and Aspect layers using neighborhood functions available in ArcMap’s Spatial Analyst. Both layers were then resampled to 16m grid cells for consistency with the other images.
The GPS points for active nest sites were originally collected in YKJ/KKJ2 grid coordinates. We used the coordinates transformation service provided by the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute to convert the coordinates into KKJ 2D-geographic coordinates. These transformed coordinate points were projected into ETRS 1989 TM35FIN in ArcMap and saved as a points layer. The distribution of the points along with an Administrative Boundaries polygon layer obtained from the NFLS spatial data download service were used to define a study area. All of the raster image layers were then clipped in ArcMap to the geographic extent of the study area.
Habitat Needs in Finland
Spruce or pine (preferably mixed)
Mature forest
Closed canopy
Similar elevation, slope, and aspect between sites
Forested site (outside of city limits)
Data Dictionary
Layers
Units
Source
Projection
Resolution
Stand Age
Years
LUKE
ETRS 1989 Transverse Mercator
16m
Stand Height
dm (Avg)
Basal Area
m2/ha
Canopy Cover %
Land Class --
Pine Volume
m3/ha
Spruce Volume
Birch Volume
Other Broadleaf
Volume
Elevation (DEM)
NLSF
10m
Slope
NLSF (derived from DEM)
Aspect
Active Nests
GPS (field data)
YKJ (2D-unprojected)
Further Analysis
We will be completing further analysis with the help of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. With our established parameters, we will be using BioMapper, Maximum Entropy, and Mahalanobis Typicality to determine areas of optimal, marginal, and unsuitable habitat. These are presence-only models which take into account ideal habitat areas based on desirable characteristics.
Image: M. Wright
LUKE = Natural Resources Institute
NLSF = National Land Survey of Finland
Selected References
Reynolds, R. T., Graham, R. T. and Boyce Jr, D. A. (2006). An ecosystem-based conservation strategy for the northern goshawk. Studies in Avian Biology, 31, 299–311.
Squires, J. R. and Reynolds, R.T. (1997). Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). The Birds of North America, No. 298, pp. 32. Academy of Natural Sciences, Phillidelphia, Pennsylvania.
Stein Foster, V., Noble, B., Bratland, K. and Joos, R. (2010). Management Indicator Species of the Kaibab National Forest: an evaluation of population and habitat trends.
Malengo, K., Baxter, R. and Colt, C. (2013). Draft management indicator species report and draft wildlife and sensitive plant specialists report. Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Plans.
Lehr, M. M. (2014). Modeling northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nesting habitat on the Lewis and Clark National Forest using eigenvector filters to account for spatial autocorrelation. Masters thesis. University of Montana, Missoula, Montana.
LUKE.
NLSF.
Basal Area
Birch
Other Broadleaf
Canopy Cover
Stand Height
Land Class
Pine
Stand Age
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Image: M. Wright