This workshop introduced and demonstrated key concepts and a series of software tools, whichallow managers, biologists, and conservationists to efficiently evaluate predictors of wildlife space-use and generate spatial models based on that analysis.
Specific content of the workshop: Access to free or low-cost remote sensing information on vegetation, climate, habitat metrics, disturbance, etc., in a useable format, including covariate datasets currently available or under development by the NASA Terrestrial Observation and Prediction System (TOPS) Explanation of how this information is derived, created, integrated, validated and matched with species data sets prior to analysis Demonstration of user-friendly computer tools (ArcGIS and web-based) that access information and provide automated summaries, trends, and visualizations Introduction to, and demonstration of, simple-to-sophisticated statistical analysis, modeling, and prediction software tools that are user-friendly and take a “white-box! (not black box) approach to species distribution and habitat modeling Introduction to risk models which integrate remote sensing data with species data, permitting assessment of environmental and cumulative impacts to species populations and their habitats Understanding the workflow steps by using a pronghorn example to predict future impacts of climate change on species distribution and demography Discussion of end-user needs: what are your specific needs and how can we incorporate them into the final products and DSTs released in 2011
We seek to implement and improve user-friendly, decision-support tools to apply, refine, and defend science-based decision-making at continental, regional, and local scales based on robust, transparent, mechanistic model structures for predictive modeling of select focal species.
