Ebook: Predictive Species and Habitat Modeling in Landscape Ecology: Concepts and Applications

Much research in landscape ecology makes use of spatial models to define species-habitat associations. The early years of landscape ecology necessarily focused on the evolution of effective data sources, metrics, and statistical approaches that could truly capture the spatial and temporal patterns and processes of interest. Now that these tools are well established, we reflect in this volume on the ecological theories that underpin the assumptions commonly made during species distribution modeling and mapping. This is crucial for applying models to questions of global sustainability. This book will offer a unique perspective on modeling within the discipline of landscape ecology, which complements that of other recent publications. Through chapters that focus on particular aspects of modeling, illustrative case studies, and surveys of the field of modeling, this book illustrates that we can (and need to) pay attention to the foundational ecological theories and assumptions which support model development. We show how this can be done in modeling through theory, traditional inference, and predictions. Chapter authors have attempted to critically identify, evaluate, and even formally test these ecological theories and have also written thoughtful reflections on the state of landscape-scale species/habitat modeling. Predictive Species and Habitat Modeling in Landscape Ecology: Concepts and Applications is intended to be useful to researchers in landscape ecology, as well as those in conservation biology, wildlife management, population and community ecology, and general ecology. The book will be a valuable resource for graduate students incorporating landscape ecology and/or species modeling in their degree programs. About the Editors C. Ashton Drew is a postdoctoral researcher in the USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University. Her research interests focus on how models can support adaptive monitoring and management. Yolanda F. Wiersma is Assistant Professor in Biology at Memorial University (Canada). She conducts research in Boreal Landscape Ecology, with a focus on models of wildlife-habitat interactions, forestry and protected areas. Falk Huettmann is Associate Professor in the Biology and Wildlife Department, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His research interests are in wildlife/habitat modeling, GIS and remote sensing, and data management worldwide.

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Much research in landscape ecology makes use of spatial models to define species-habitat associations. The early years of landscape ecology necessarily focused on the evolution of effective data sources, metrics, and statistical approaches that could truly capture the spatial and temporal patterns and processes of interest. Now that these tools are well established, we reflect in this volume on the ecological theories that underpin the assumptions commonly made during species distribution modeling and mapping. This is crucial for applying models to questions of global sustainability. This book will offer a unique perspective on modeling within the discipline of landscape ecology, which complements that of other recent publications. Through chapters that focus on particular aspects of modeling, illustrative case studies, and surveys of the field of modeling, this book illustrates that we can (and need to) pay attention to the foundational ecological theories and assumptions which support model development. We show how this can be done in modeling through theory, traditional inference, and predictions. Chapter authors have attempted to critically identify, evaluate, and even formally test these ecological theories and have also written thoughtful reflections on the state of landscape-scale species/habitat modeling. Predictive Species and Habitat Modeling in Landscape Ecology: Concepts and Applications is intended to be useful to researchers in landscape ecology, as well as those in conservation biology, wildlife management, population and community ecology, and general ecology. The book will be a valuable resource for graduate students incorporating landscape ecology and/or species modeling in their degree programs. About the Editors C. Ashton Drew is a postdoctoral researcher in the USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University. Her research interests focus on how models can support adaptive monitoring and management. Yolanda F. Wiersma is Assistant Professor in Biology at Memorial University (Canada). She conducts research in Boreal Landscape Ecology, with a focus on models of wildlife-habitat interactions, forestry and protected areas. Falk Huettmann is Associate Professor in the Biology and Wildlife Department, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His research interests are in wildlife/habitat modeling, GIS and remote sensing, and data management worldwide.

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Much research in landscape ecology makes use of spatial models to define species-habitat associations. The early years of landscape ecology necessarily focused on the evolution of effective data sources, metrics, and statistical approaches that could truly capture the spatial and temporal patterns and processes of interest. Now that these tools are well established, we reflect in this volume on the ecological theories that underpin the assumptions commonly made during species distribution modeling and mapping. This is crucial for applying models to questions of global sustainability. This book will offer a unique perspective on modeling within the discipline of landscape ecology, which complements that of other recent publications. Through chapters that focus on particular aspects of modeling, illustrative case studies, and surveys of the field of modeling, this book illustrates that we can (and need to) pay attention to the foundational ecological theories and assumptions which support model development. We show how this can be done in modeling through theory, traditional inference, and predictions. Chapter authors have attempted to critically identify, evaluate, and even formally test these ecological theories and have also written thoughtful reflections on the state of landscape-scale species/habitat modeling. Predictive Species and Habitat Modeling in Landscape Ecology: Concepts and Applications is intended to be useful to researchers in landscape ecology, as well as those in conservation biology, wildlife management, population and community ecology, and general ecology. The book will be a valuable resource for graduate students incorporating landscape ecology and/or species modeling in their degree programs. About the Editors C. Ashton Drew is a postdoctoral researcher in the USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University. Her research interests focus on how models can support adaptive monitoring and management. Yolanda F. Wiersma is Assistant Professor in Biology at Memorial University (Canada). She conducts research in Boreal Landscape Ecology, with a focus on models of wildlife-habitat interactions, forestry and protected areas. Falk Huettmann is Associate Professor in the Biology and Wildlife Department, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His research interests are in wildlife/habitat modeling, GIS and remote sensing, and data management worldwide.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiv
Front Matter....Pages 7-7
Integrating Theory and Predictive Modeling for Conservation Research....Pages 9-28
The State of Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Statistical Modeling....Pages 29-41
Front Matter....Pages 43-43
Proper Data Management as a Scientific Foundation for Reliable Species Distribution Modeling....Pages 45-70
The Role of Assumptions in Predictions of Habitat Availability and Quality....Pages 71-90
Insights from Ecological Theory on Temporal Dynamics and Species Distribution Modeling....Pages 91-107
Front Matter....Pages 109-109
Focused Assessment of Scale-Dependent Vegetation Pattern....Pages 111-138
Modeling Species Distribution and Change Using Random Forest....Pages 139-159
Genetic Patterns as a Function of Landscape Process: Applications of Neutral Genetic Markers for Predictive Modeling in Landscape Ecology....Pages 161-188
Simplicity, Model Fit, Complexity and Uncertainty in Spatial Prediction Models Applied Over Time: We Are Quite Sure, Aren’t We?....Pages 189-208
Variation, Use, and Misuse of Statistical Models: A Review of the Effects on the Interpretation of Research Results....Pages 209-227
Expert Knowledge as a Basis for Landscape Ecological Predictive Models....Pages 229-248
Front Matter....Pages 249-249
Choices and Strategies for Using a Resource Inventory Database to Support Local Wildlife Habitat Monitoring....Pages 251-270
Using Species Distribution Models for Conservation Planning and Ecological Forecasting....Pages 271-290
Conclusion: An Attempt to Describe the State of Habitat and Species Modeling Today....Pages 291-298
Introduction. Landscape Modeling of Species and Their Habitats: History, Uncertainty, and Complexity....Pages 1-6
Back Matter....Pages 299-313

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Much research in landscape ecology makes use of spatial models to define species-habitat associations. The early years of landscape ecology necessarily focused on the evolution of effective data sources, metrics, and statistical approaches that could truly capture the spatial and temporal patterns and processes of interest. Now that these tools are well established, we reflect in this volume on the ecological theories that underpin the assumptions commonly made during species distribution modeling and mapping. This is crucial for applying models to questions of global sustainability. This book will offer a unique perspective on modeling within the discipline of landscape ecology, which complements that of other recent publications. Through chapters that focus on particular aspects of modeling, illustrative case studies, and surveys of the field of modeling, this book illustrates that we can (and need to) pay attention to the foundational ecological theories and assumptions which support model development. We show how this can be done in modeling through theory, traditional inference, and predictions. Chapter authors have attempted to critically identify, evaluate, and even formally test these ecological theories and have also written thoughtful reflections on the state of landscape-scale species/habitat modeling. Predictive Species and Habitat Modeling in Landscape Ecology: Concepts and Applications is intended to be useful to researchers in landscape ecology, as well as those in conservation biology, wildlife management, population and community ecology, and general ecology. The book will be a valuable resource for graduate students incorporating landscape ecology and/or species modeling in their degree programs. About the Editors C. Ashton Drew is a postdoctoral researcher in the USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University. Her research interests focus on how models can support adaptive monitoring and management. Yolanda F. Wiersma is Assistant Professor in Biology at Memorial University (Canada). She conducts research in Boreal Landscape Ecology, with a focus on models of wildlife-habitat interactions, forestry and protected areas. Falk Huettmann is Associate Professor in the Biology and Wildlife Department, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His research interests are in wildlife/habitat modeling, GIS and remote sensing, and data management worldwide.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiv
Front Matter....Pages 7-7
Integrating Theory and Predictive Modeling for Conservation Research....Pages 9-28
The State of Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Statistical Modeling....Pages 29-41
Front Matter....Pages 43-43
Proper Data Management as a Scientific Foundation for Reliable Species Distribution Modeling....Pages 45-70
The Role of Assumptions in Predictions of Habitat Availability and Quality....Pages 71-90
Insights from Ecological Theory on Temporal Dynamics and Species Distribution Modeling....Pages 91-107
Front Matter....Pages 109-109
Focused Assessment of Scale-Dependent Vegetation Pattern....Pages 111-138
Modeling Species Distribution and Change Using Random Forest....Pages 139-159
Genetic Patterns as a Function of Landscape Process: Applications of Neutral Genetic Markers for Predictive Modeling in Landscape Ecology....Pages 161-188
Simplicity, Model Fit, Complexity and Uncertainty in Spatial Prediction Models Applied Over Time: We Are Quite Sure, Aren’t We?....Pages 189-208
Variation, Use, and Misuse of Statistical Models: A Review of the Effects on the Interpretation of Research Results....Pages 209-227
Expert Knowledge as a Basis for Landscape Ecological Predictive Models....Pages 229-248
Front Matter....Pages 249-249
Choices and Strategies for Using a Resource Inventory Database to Support Local Wildlife Habitat Monitoring....Pages 251-270
Using Species Distribution Models for Conservation Planning and Ecological Forecasting....Pages 271-290
Conclusion: An Attempt to Describe the State of Habitat and Species Modeling Today....Pages 291-298
Introduction. Landscape Modeling of Species and Their Habitats: History, Uncertainty, and Complexity....Pages 1-6
Back Matter....Pages 299-313
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