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Modelling Habitat Suitability for Deciduous Forest Focal Species – A Sensitivity Analysis using Different Satellite Land Cover Data

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Abstract

We explored the usefulness of three satellite land cover data sets available to land managers in south-central Sweden for conservation planning using four deciduous forest focal resident bird species with different habitat requirements. Habitat suitability models using empirical species-specific habitat parameters and a Geographic Information System were applied to evaluate and compare the degree of consistency among three different land cover data sets. The study area encompassed 10,000 km2 in a landscape mosaic of managed boreal forests and is within the distribution range of all four focal species. Although the three land cover data sets indicated similar total amounts of deciduous forest, the habitat suitability models showed that different land cover data yielded inconsistent results regarding the amount and distribution of suitable habitat within 5×5 km grid cells. Given this sensitivity to the choice of land cover data sets, the habitat suitability models showed positive relationships among the selected focal species for each land cover data set separately. As expected, decreasing amounts of suitable habitat were identified for species with higher specialisation. Thus, because habitat suitability models are an appropriate way to gain insight into the functionality and connectivity of habitat networks, land cover data must be carefully evaluated and if necessary combined with other landscape information for effective conservation planning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Sciences, Centre for Landscape Ecology, Örebro University, SE-701 82, Örebro, Sweden

    Michael G. Manton, Per Angelstam & Grzegorz Mikusiński

  2. School of Environmental and Information Sciences, Charles Sturt University, P.O. Box 789, NSW 2640, Albury, Australia

    Michael G. Manton

  3. School for Forest Engineers, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-739 21, Skinnskatteberg, Sweden

    Per Angelstam

  4. Department of Conservation Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-730 91, Riddarhyttan, Sweden

    Grzegorz Mikusiński

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Manton, M.G., Angelstam, P. & Mikusiński, G. Modelling Habitat Suitability for Deciduous Forest Focal Species – A Sensitivity Analysis using Different Satellite Land Cover Data. Landscape Ecol 20, 827–839 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-005-3703-z

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