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Data associated with the investigation of suitable habitat for the endangered plant Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum Rose) in the Potomac River near Hancock Maryland

Dates

Publication Date
Start Date
2009-07-06
End Date
2017-07-19

Citation

DeWitt, J.D., O'Pry, K.L., Chirico, P.G., and Young, J.A., 2020, Data associated with the investigation of suitable habitat for the endangered plant Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum Rose) in the Potomac River near Hancock Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NG1QSQ.

Summary

In lieu of a uniform mapping of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park corridor at very high-resolution using UAS, this study developed a multi-scale workflow, where (1) geospatial modeling methods and (2) historic image analysis were used to constrain the areal extent of (3) detailed field and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) observation. Geospatial Modeling Methods: Harperella habitat characteristics reported by literature sources and corroborated by extremely limited harperella occurrence data (in the form of GPS locations), were compiled into a geospatial prediction model (GPM) to characterize the extent of harperella habitat for the region between Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area and Harper’s Ferry National [...]

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Report_Overview_10-5_RS_edits.jpg
“Map of Study Areas”
thumbnail 3.41 MB image/jpeg
Data_for_Harperella_OFR_2020.zip 2.52 MB application/zip

Purpose

Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum (Rose) Mathias) is an endangered plant species found in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as in other locations throughout the southeastern United States. The narrow range of habitat characteristics in which harperella has been found makes locating potential occurrence sites difficult and attempts at reintroduction of the plant relatively unsuccessful. Sightings of harperella have occurred at locations along the banks and in-channel bars of the Potomac River, along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, as well as within the Sideling Hill Wildlife Refuge near Hancock, MD. The large area covered by these sightings presents logistical challenges for repeat studies of harperella growth within the Park and in nearby areas. This study develops a geospatial method for characterizing harperella habitat through remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and field investigations. A geospatial prediction model (GPM) was developed to model the habitat characteristics discussed in literature and at harperella field observation sites, in order to narrow the potential area for observation of the plant and its habitat. Analysis of historic aerial imagery was conducted within the space of the Potomac River to observe the persistence and flooding conditions of in-channel bars. The products of GPM and historical aerial image analysis are a geospatial description of where harperella habitat is most likely to be found, as well as a map of in-channel bar locations and their persistence through time. From these two analyses, areas were identified that merited detailed observation. Very high-resolution, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) imagery was collected for 10 sites within this area in the Potomac River in June 2019. UAS imagery has the potential to greatly improve detailed study of the harperella plant, as it provides the spatial resolution necessary to catalog detailed vegetation conditions (and potentially species identification). More importantly, the timing of imagery collection can be aligned carefully with the plant’s phenological patterns and local weather conditions to maximize cost-effectiveness of repeated collections for specific areas.
Map of Study Areas
Map of Study Areas

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  • USGS Data Release Products

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DOI https://www.sciencebase.gov/vocab/category/item/identifier doi:10.5066/P9NG1QSQ

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