These data represent a normalized least-cost corridor mosaic (see WHCWG 2010 and McRae and Kavanagh 2011) calculated using temperature gradients and a landscape integrity resistance raster following the climate gradient linkage-modeling methods outlined in Nuñez (2011), using an adapted version of the Linkage Mapper software (McRae and Kavanagh 2011). These data are depicted in Figure 5b in Nuñez (2011).
This GIS dataset is one of several climate connectivity analyses produced by Tristan Nuñez for a Master’s thesis (Nuñez 2011) while a student at the School of Forest Resources at the University of Washington. The dataset was produced in part to assist the Climate Change Subgroup of the Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Working Group (WHCWG). The WHCWG is a voluntary public-private partnership between state and federal agencies, universities, tribes, and non-governmental organizations. The WHCWG is co-led by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This analysis quantifies connectivity patterns to address climate change for Washington State and neighboring areas in British Columbia, Idaho, and Oregon. Grid cell size is 1000 meters x 1000 meters. This connectivity analysis is in raster format. It should be displayed in conjunction with vector layer of Landscape Integrity Core Areas developed by the WHCWG (WHCWG 2010).
This layer is licensed by Tristan Nuñez under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode ; or, (b) send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California 94140, USA.
A description of the modeling approach can be found in the thesis:
Nuñez, Tristan A. June 2011. Connectivity Planning to Facilitate Species Movements in Response to Climate Change. Master’s Thesis. School of Forest Resources, University of Washington. Joshua J. Lawler, advisor. Available online at
Further information about the Linkage Mapper software can be found at:
McRae, B. H., and D. M. Kavanagh. 2011. Linkage Mapper Connectivity Analysis Software. ONLINE. The Nature Conservancy, Seattle WA. Available at: http://www.circuitscape.org/linkagemapper.
Additional information about the WHCWG project, study area and generic linkage modeling approach can be found in the document:
Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Working Group (WHCWG). 2010. Washington Connected Landscapes Project: Statewide Analysis. Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife, and Transportation, Olympia, WA. Online linkage:
Temperature data used in the analysis were derived from the following sources:
Wang, T., A. Hamann, D. L. Spittlehouse, and S. N. Aitken. 2006. Development of scale-free climate data for western Canada for use in resource management. International Journal of Climatology 26:383-397.
Daly, C., M. Halbleib, J. I. Smith, W. P. Gibson, M. K. Doggett, G. H. Taylor, J. Curtis, and P. P. Pasteris. 2008. Physiographically sensitive mapping of climatological temperature and precipitation across the conterminous United States. International Journal of Climatology 28:2031-2064. See http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/
