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Abstract
Wildlife habitat analysis often is a central focus of natural resources management and policy. State-and-transition models (STMs) allow for simulation of landscape level ecological processes, and for managers to test “what if” scenarios of how those processes may affect wildlife habitat. This chapter describes the methods used to link STM output to wildlife habitat to determine how estimated habitat varies across the landscape, how habitat is affected by different land management scenarios, and how management might enhance estimated habitat for particular species. Using the Washington East Cascades as an example, we provide sample output of habitat analysis for the American marten and western bluebird under two management scenarios. Wildlife habitat assessments based on the methods illustrated here will differ greatly based on habitat characteristics important to individual species, and the ability to interpret wildlife information accurately.
Parent Publication
Keywords
Landscapes,
state-and-transition modeling,
vegetation mapping,
fuels,
wildfire hazard,
treatment costs,
biomass,
wildlife habitat,
decision support,
climate change,
watersheds,
community economics,
all ownerships,
geographic information systems,
landscape assessment
Citation
Morzillo, Anita T.; Comeleo, Pamela; Csuti, Blair; Lee, Stephanie. 2014. Chapter 5: Application of state-and-transition models to evaluate wildlife habitat. In: Halofsky, Jessica E.; Creutzburg, Megan K.; Hemstrom, Miles A., eds. 2014. Integrating social, economic, and ecological values across large landscapes. Gen.Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-896. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 129-146.
