Climate envelope modeling for evaluating anticipated effects of climate change on threatened and endangered species in the Greater Everglades

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Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:: Stephanie S. Romañach, Laura A. Brandt, Leonard Pearlstine, Donald L. DeAngelis, Ikuko Fujisaki, Frank J. Mazzotti
Publication_Date: 2010
Title:: Climate envelope modeling for evaluating anticipated effects of climate change on threatened and endangered species in the Greater Everglades
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Project
Online_Linkage:: <http://sofia.usgs.gov/projects/index.php?project_url=climateenvmodeling>

Description:

Abstract:: Our proposed project works toward finding solutions to problems related to long-term conservation planning in the face of the uncertainty surrounding climate change. We propose to work with resource managers to develop tools at appropriate spatial and temporal scales to assist with decision making. This project will result in both predictive ecological models and methodology for development and use of climate-based species-habitat relationships that will aid resource managers in long-term planning for sustainability of species.
To demonstrate the process and utility of our proposed approach, we will begin by focusing on the 21 threatened and endangered (T&E) terrestrial vertebrates in South Florida. By virtue of its physical features and geography, Florida, and in particular, South Florida will be highly susceptible to climate changes, specifically with regard to already apparent sea level rise. Although methodology and developed products will be applicable to other species and regions, our initial focus is to work with partners in the southeastern region and expand the list of species of interest in that region.
For each species we will use existing information for these 21 T&E species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1999, Cox et al. 1994), augment it with up-to-date data, and identify critical limiting factors directly and indirectly influenced by climate change. This information will be provided in the form of databases, species models (including climate envelopes), maps, and a desktop application that can be used in conjunction with projections of climate change, land use, and vegetation change to examine potential impacts on T&E species and their habitats.
Recent attention to potential impacts of climate change on habitats and species has focused on development of methods and tools that not only address current habitat and landscape conditions for species, but also help resource managers to look at potential future conditions to aid in long-term planning. Key elements to our proposed work are identifying limiting factors for species with respect to their habitats, compiling and applying population and habitat models, explicitly addressing uncertainties (assumption-driven research), and developing species habitat decision support. Data collected will be useful as inputs for efforts to assess species vulnerability.
Purpose:: Specific Relevance to Major Unanswered Questions and Information Needs Identified:
- Our project will contribute greatly toward meeting needs of resource managers, in line with USGS' Strategic Science Direction, 'The USGS scientists will meet the pressing needs of the U.S. Department of the Interior, policymakers, and resource managers for scientifically valid state-of-the-science information and predictive understanding of climate change and its effects. Studies of the interactions among climate, earth surface processes, and ecosystems across space and time will contribute directly to the strategic goals of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.' - Our products and collaborative process will help with efforts to develop a national strategy for assisting fish and wildlife in adapting to climate change. This process will work toward meeting Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) goals outlined in their draft climate change strategy and 5-year action plan. In particular, this information will assist with the goals and objectives in the draft of Adaptation and Planning and Delivering Landscape Conservation; we will provide information that can be used in a landscape conservation approach to identify key areas that must be conserved to account for climate change impacts. - Our project will assist National Park Service (NPS) with their mandates to manage for ecosystems, not for biographic islands, and to achieve management objectives through the use of science.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1991
Ending_Date: unknown

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: In work
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Unknown

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.25
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.375
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.375
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.875

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: model
Theme_Keyword: threatened species
Theme_Keyword: endangered species
Theme_Keyword: climate change
Theme_Keyword: limiting factors
Theme_Keyword: habitat
Theme_Keyword: biology
Theme_Keyword: ecology
Theme_Keyword: mapping

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme_Keyword: climatology/meterology/atmosphere

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:: Department of Commerce, 1995, Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 10-4, Washington, DC, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: US

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, DC, NIST
Place_Keyword: Florida
Place_Keyword: FL

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Greater Everglades
Place_Keyword: Southern Florida
Place_Keyword: Southeastern US
Place_Keyword: Central America
Place_Keyword: South America

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Place_Keyword: Everglades National Park

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:

Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Taxonomic_Keywords: mammals
Taxonomic_Keywords: birds
Taxonomic_Keywords: reptiles