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Gap Analysis of Special Features General Discussion and a Case Study: Amphibians and Mammals of West Virginia Caves

Gap Analysis of Special Features General Discussion and a Case Study: Amphibians and Mammals of West Virginia Caves. West Virginia Gap Analysis West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Biological Resources Discipline U.S. Geological Survey. Jacquelyn M. Strager

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Gap Analysis of Special Features General Discussion and a Case Study: Amphibians and Mammals of West Virginia Caves

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  1. Gap Analysis of Special FeaturesGeneral Discussion and a Case Study:Amphibians and Mammals of West Virginia Caves West Virginia Gap Analysis West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Biological Resources Discipline U.S. Geological Survey Jacquelyn M. Strager Charles B. Yuill

  2. Introduction • WV-GAP Project • Work performed at Natural Resource Analysis Center, West Virginia University • In cooperation with West Virginia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit • Final CD-ROM, datasets, and report complete

  3. Gap Analysis in West Virginia • Highlights of WV-GAP • Gap analysis of 310 vertebrates, 124 butterflies • Special habitat model for wetland/riparian reptiles & amphibians • Supplemental Gap Analysis of cave species • Gaps in protection tended to include open, edge habitat species

  4. The Gap Analysis Process • The different steps in the Gap Analysis process can each incorporate uncertainty into final results Land Cover/ Habitat Map Predicted Distribution Map “Gaps” or Conservation Needs Species Range Maps Habitat Relationship Database Stewardship Map

  5. Land Cover/Habitat Map • Limitation of statewide habitat maps: Classified satellite imagery cannot capture certain special habitat features • Solutions: • Assume features are present • Identify species requiring additional site-specific modeling • “Special features” analysis – various methods

  6. Gap Analysis of Special Features • Examples of “Special” habitat features: • Relatively small features such as snags, springs, vernal pools, specific tree species, rock outcrops, larval host plants (butterflies) • Linear features such as riparian areas • Other features such as cliffs, karst and/or limestone geology, caves, shale barrens

  7. 1. Incorporating Special Features • Description • Special habitat features can be mapped independently and then “burned in” to final remotely sensed habitat map • Examples • Riparian corridors • Major highways

  8. 2. Mapping Special Features • Description • Creation of additional statewide habitat features map, in addition to standard remotely-sensed map. Map used in predictive distribution mapping for certain species only. • Example • WV-GAP wetland/riparian • species habitat model • Used for certain WV herps

  9. 3. Gap Analysis of Special Features • Description • Unique opportunities may arise to map and analyze the conservation status of special habitat features in addition to standard gap analysis. • Examples • Deer wintering habitat (ME-GAP) • Species associated with caves (WV-GAP)

  10. Case Study – WV Caves Gap Analysis • Gap analysis of WV caves • Additional Gap Analysis of mammals and amphibians associated with caves in WV. • Made possible by data availability: • WHR database included cave habitats • Statewide map of caves for WV • Database of cave access (stewardship)

  11. Methods • Determine species to be analyzed: • 16 mammals • 8 amphibians • Obtain cave data: • Location • Stewardship status • Predict cave distribution for all species • Conduct gap analysis by species NSS Kingston Saltpeter Cave Preserve, GA

  12. Stewardship Status of Caves • 1 – Permanent protection • 2 – Seasonal protection • 3 – Limited protection • 4 – No protection/unknown Data

  13. Cave Stewardship Results Cave Stewardship Gap Status Num. Caves Description of Cave Access 1 6 Federal, State, or TNC Permanently closed 2 16 Federal, State, or TNC Seasonally closed 2 3 TNC, private Limited to conservation/study 2 4 Private/other Permanently closed 3 18 Private/other Access denied/physically blocked 3 1 Private/other including commercial Access limited for other reasons (commercial) 4 484 Unknown/other * Unknown * Status assigned based on Grotto data, not Gap stewardship

  14. Cave Species Sample Results

  15. Gap Analysis of WV Caves • Discussion of results • Analysis of results must consider other aspects of species biology • Current species management may or may not consider the importance of cave habitats depending on the species • Some datasets (such as cave locations) are considered sensitive information, with implications for data distribution

  16. Gap Analysis of WV Caves • Application of results • Additional gap analysis of WV caves offered the opportunity to expand information & results included in the WV-GAP final report • Information may assist cooperators in management planning & coordination

  17. Conclusions • Gap analysis of “special” features… • Many possible means of incorporating special features • May help answer some of the challenges of Gap Analysis • Takes advantage of unique data opportunities for state/region • May serve as additional screening tool to identify additional data & mapping needs

  18. BAT MOVIE Virginia Big-Eared Bat Infrared Video From WV Division of Natural Resources

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