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Biological Planning Process for Partners in Flight

Biological Planning Process for Partners in Flight. How to Translate Population Targets into Habitat Objectives at Eco-Regional Scales. West Gulf Coastal Plain Bird Conservation Region. How Do We Utilize the Population Estimates and Objectives Listed in the Continental Plan?.

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Biological Planning Process for Partners in Flight

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  1. Biological Planning Process for Partners in Flight How to Translate Population Targets into Habitat Objectives at Eco-Regional Scales West Gulf Coastal Plain Bird Conservation Region

  2. How Do We Utilize the Population Estimates and Objectives Listed in the Continental Plan? What does this mean to my BCR? How do I derive habitat objectives?

  3. Example: Forest Breeding Birds Associated with Forested Wetlands in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

  4. Proposed PIF Biological Planning Process Identify Species of Concern Biological Foundation Establish Population Targets Discern Limiting Factors Develop Biological Models Measure Existing Conditions Establish Objectives to Counter Limiting Factors Refinement Conservation Strategies Apportion Habitat Objectives Establish Programmatic Objectives Implement Conservation Programs Monitor Habitat Change Monitoring Programs Monitor Population Response Evaluate Biological Assumptions

  5. Density ~ 1 pair / 3 ha (7.5 ac) Species ACFL REVI PROW YBCU SUTA BGGN Density ~ 1 pair / 8 ha (20 ac) Species HOWA KEWA GCFL AMRE YTVI YTWA NOPA WOTH CERW SCTA EAWP SWWA Species of Concern High Density Species Low Density Species

  6. Limiting Factors Fragmentation Nest Parasitism Nest Parasitism Land Conversion Nest Predation

  7. Biological Model Relating Birds to their Habitat Assumptions Parameters • 300 m buffer from hostile habitats • Incorporate all non-hostile when identifying “forest core” • Minimum suitable forested wetland core supports 50 pairs • Contiguous or aggregated patches w/in 500 or 1,000 ha landscapes • Minimum patch size = 3 ha for high density birds and 8 ha for low density birds • Edge effect 300 m • All forest types, water, wetlands, shrublands are non-hostile • Minimum viable population (MVP) of 50 pairs • MVP in contiguous or aggregated patches • Minimum patch size equals area required to support 1 pair

  8. Habitat Requirements Core Habitat • Core needed to support 50 breeding pairs • 150 ha (species w/ 3 ha territories) • 400 ha (species w/ 8 ha territories) Contiguous Habitat: • Total forest patch size (core & buffer) • ~ 500 ha (assumes ~10% addition for shape) • ~1,000 ha

  9. Habitat Requirements • Contiguous • Non-contiguous • Acceptable aggregations • 150 ha of core within 500 ha landscape with a minimum core patch size of 3 ha • 400 ha of core within 1,000 ha landscape with a minimum core patch size of 8 ha

  10. Bottom Land Hardwood Forest Core Non-hostile Hostile Habitat Requirements Example: >400 ha within 1,000 ha landscape Contiguous Core Habitat Non-Contiguous Core Habitat Non-Forest 1,000 ha landscape 1,000 ha landscape

  11. Refinement Proposed PIF Biological Planning Process Identify Species of Concern Biological Foundation Establish Population Targets Discern Limiting Factors Develop Biological Models Measure Existing Conditions Establish Objectives to Counter Limiting Factors Conservation Strategies Apportion Habitat Objectives Establish Programmatic Objectives Implement Conservation Programs Monitor Habitat Change Monitoring Programs Monitor Population Response Evaluate Biological Assumptions

  12. West Gulf Coastal Plain Bird Conservation Region Forested Wetland Habitat Characterization Example Area

  13. GIS Process: Extract “non-hostile” Habitats Using National Land Cover Data (NLCD) Land Cover • 11 water • 33 transitional • 41, 42, 43 forest • 51 shrubland • 61 orchards • 91, 92 wetlands NLCD Non-hostile in White NLCD Non-hostile Cover Classes

  14. GIS Process: Filter to Remove “Speckles” • “Non-hostile” habitat • Change habitat of 0.09 ha pixel if >75% of a 2.25 ha area not the same. • Two filter passes.

  15. GIS Process: Calculate Distance from “Hostile Edges” • Meters from edge to interior • Warmer colors are farther from • hostile edges.

  16. GIS Process: core Extract Core Area (non-hostile) • >300 m from edge • Remove water • All “core” forest remains

  17. GIS Process: core Extract Bottomland Hardwood Core Area • Identify forested wetlands within • Core area (NLCD Classes 91,92) • Filter to remove “speckles” in • BLH core

  18. GIS Process: Characterize BLH Core Suitability • Forested wetland core habitat for bird conservation • 150 ha / 500 ha • 400 ha / 1000 ha

  19. All BLH forest habitat in WGCP 3,424,664 acres 1,386,504 hectares ACFL (1 pair / 0.85 ha) 3,262,362 individuals PROW (1 pair / 2.7 ha) 1,027,040 individuals SWWA (1 pair / 25 ha) 110,920 individuals

  20. Suitable BLH forested core habitat for bird conservation • 150 ha / 500 ha 1,690,056 acres 684,233 hectares ACFL (1 pair / 0.85 ha) 1,609,960 individuals PROW (1 pair / 2.7 ha) 506,839 individuals

  21. Suitable BLH forested core habitat for bird conservation • 400 ha / 1000 ha 1,117,586 acres 452,464 hectares SWWA (1 pair / 25 ha) 36,197 individuals KEWA (1 pair / 9 ha) 100,548 individuals

  22. West Gulf Coastal Plain Forested Wetland Bird Assessment Units of measure = individuals

  23. West Gulf Coastal Plain Forested Wetland Bird Assessment Units of measure = individuals

  24. West Gulf Coastal Plain Forested Wetland Bird Assessment Questions and Challenges Step-down - Are the BBS derived population estimates accurate? - Are the percentage of populations within a BCR correct? - How do I incorporate the C-Plan objectives (increase by 10%, increase by 50%, or double population estimate)? • Step-up • - Are the population estimates derived from “suitability” models accurate? • - Are the (local) density estimates valid? • How do I distribute a species population among habitats (upland vs. bottomlands)? • Should I use a population estimate derived from the 1990s as the basis of my habitat objectives?

  25. Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. 2. Pursue the development of spatially-explicit habitat objectives and a decision support model to guide restoration and management. 3. Incorporate Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data into the biological models, such that models speak to both, quantitative and qualitative aspects of bird biology.

  26. Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. • Examples: • How do I incorporate the C-Plan objectives (increase by 10%, increase by 50%, or double population estimate)? • How do I distribute a species population among habitats (upland vs. bottomlands)? • Should I use a population estimate derived from the 1990s as the basis of my habitat objectives?

  27. Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. 2. Pursue the development of spatially-explicit habitat objectives and a decision support model to guide restoration and management.

  28. Forest Patch Core Percent Area Reforestation Decision Support Model Example: Mean [(forest)+(2patch)+(3core)+(2percent)+(area)] West Gulf Coastal Plain Red River Valley Reforestation Priority

  29. Next Steps….. 1. Resolve the outstanding questions and challenges. 2. Pursue the development of spatially-explicit habitat objectives and a decision support model to guide restoration and management. 3. Incorporate Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data into the biological models, such that models speak to both, quantitative and qualitative aspects of bird biology.

  30. Current Models are Based on Quantitative Aspects of Bird Biology (i.e., Patch Size Requirements to Support Source Populations). Future Models Need to Address Qualitative Aspects of Bird Biology (i.e., Structural Complexity, Stem Density, Basal Area, Canopy Cover, etc…)

  31. Forest Inventory and Analysis • -- Data Collected at each Plot • Tree species, diameter, height, damage, etc… • Tree regeneration • Site quality information • General land use • Stand characteristics – forest type, stand age, etc… • Estimates of growth, mortality, and removal • -- Data Collected on a Subset of Plots • Crown conditions • Soil conditions • Lichen communities • Vegetation diversity • Down woody debris • Ozone bioindicator data

  32. Historic and Future Projections by State, Forest Type, Forest Growth, etc…. Products: • Stand Level Information: (Examples) • Stand BA (ft2/acre) - 161.846 • Gross Stand Volume (ft3/acre) - 6065.49 • Net Stand Volume (ft3/acre) - 5570.11 • Number of Trees, 1.0 in diameter and greater (number/acre) - 120

  33. Questions / Comments

  34. Winter 2002-03 Winter 2003-04

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