JV Breeding BWTE Habitat (Pxl)

[Joint Ventures] (JVs) are bird conservation partnerships, established to achieve the goals of the [North American Waterfowl Management Plan] (NAWMP). There are 22 bird habitat JVs in North America, and our JV, the [Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Region Joint Venture] (UMGL JV) is located in the Midwest, in a pivotal location in the [Mississippi Flyway], for people involved in [migratory bird] conservation. We are a collaborative, regional group of government agencies, tribes, nonprofit organizations, corporations, universities, and individuals that conserve habitat for the benefit of migratory birds, other wildlife, and people. Our landscape includes eastern Minnesota; all of Wisconsin and Michigan; eastern Nebraska and Kansas; western, southern and eastern Iowa; northern Missouri, Illinois and Indiana; and northwestern Ohio. Targeting conservation to achieve biological objectives for Waterfowl and social objectives for People is a priority for JVs. Blue-winged Teal (BWTE; Spatula discors) is one of UMGL JV's focal waterfowl species. We produced a spatial model (this raster dataset) of Predicted Habitat Suitability for BWTE in the JV region and surrounding areas during the breeding period to help achieve this goal. We published its map in the JV Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy – 2017 Revision (Appendix A). Habitat suitability for waterfowl relates to key cover types and their juxtaposition. In this model, we started with a Landscape Suitability Index (LSI), which is a literature- and expert-based table describing breeding habitats for BWTE. The LSI evolved over the past decade based on (1) JV-supported focal species research; (2) published/unpublished literature describing focal species habitat characteristics; and (3) expert opinion melding information sources and incorporating personal observations. The table consisted of 5 levels of habitat suitability (lowest to highest) and their corresponding numerical scores (0.01–0.2, 0.21–0.4, 0.41–0.6, 0.61–0.8, and 0.81–1.0). For each level, there are specific habitat characteristics: National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) class or complex of classes, size range, and Euclidian distance range to specific National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) upland cover classes of specific size range (refer to the full table in 2017 Waterfowl strategic plan for more details). Wetland polygons with predicted highest suitability for breeding (top two habitat categories in the LSI table) were extracted from the NWI and converted to points. Using kernel density analysis, relative density and distribution of the most suitable habitats for BWTE during the breeding peroid were depicted across the JV region and surrounding areas. Finally, we converted kernel density raster dataset to TIFF format (this product) to improve data visualization, assessment, and interactivity online. This raster showed the distribution and relative density (scale of 0 – 1; values of low – high) of the most valuable areas (pixel neighborhoods) across the JV region, to acquire or manage whatever the required action at the local scale is (i.e., retention, protection, and or restoration). Aggregate-priority-areas were predicted to produce the most value for the decision makers. These hotspots were mainly prioritized using relative density of breeding habitats for BWTE. Areas other than the hotspots represents lower breeding habitat occurrence densities. For more details, please see BWTE account in Appendix A of the 2017 JV Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy. We designed a flexible and adaptable analysis framework, and all focal species models (including this one) can be scaled-down (i.e., stepped-down to state, watershed, county, or any smaller target area) and supplemented with additional local data such as soil types, current land use, hydrologic aspects, and other environmental priorities for customized output maps depicting best areas for BWTE habitat restoration vs. retention vs. enhancement. See the JV website and publications for details. Links: * On hold / contact us: To download this TIFF dataset and related data, metadata, and documentation, please [browse the UMGL JV online folder in the U.S. Geological Survey's ScienceBase repository]. * To view and explore this TIFF dataset and related data, please [visit the online experience of the UMGL JV Decision Support Tools]. References: * Model codes and final steps (for internal use of UMGLJV staff): (i) AgsJvwBbwteLsi_HghHghst_1PtKd1kmR11345m_Gamma15Hlshd1_Cropped = albers_Jv17BrdYsHbtt_BWTE. (ii) albers_Jv17BrdYsHbtt_BWTE → converted to TIFF and projected on-the-fly to WGS84 → renamed to Jv17BrdYsHbtt_BWTE_R. * For internal use of USFWS staff: Data Management Plan (DMP) ID = 735; Title: UMGL JV - Blue-winged Teal - Predicted Breeding Habitat Suitability.