Extension of landscape-based population viability models to ecoregional scales for conservation planning

Abstract

Landscape-based population models are potentially valuable tools in facilitating conservation planning and actions at large scales. However, such models have rarely been applied at ecoregional scales. We extended landscape-based population models to ecoregional scales for three species of concern in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region and compared model projections against long-term trend data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey. We used a spatially-explicit demographic model and structured the regional population into ecological subsections on the basis of habitat, landscape patterns, and demographic rates to assess species viability. Our model projections were within 2% of the Breeding Bird Survey trends over the last 40 years for each species. Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina

Keywords

Central hardwoods, Demographic, Habitat, HSI, Landscape, Prairie warbler, Wood thrush, Worm-eating warbler, Viability modeling

Citation

Bonnot, Thomas W.; Thompson, Frank R. III; Millspaugh, Joshua J. 2011. Extension of landscape-based population viability models to ecoregional scales for conservation planning. Biological Conservation. 144: 2041-2053.

Citations

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