, as defined here, is a measure of a natural system's capacity to remain stable as the climate changes over time. This is based on two factors:
A watershed with lower levels of climate departure and higher levels of climate resilience is more likely to sustain current levels of native biodiversity into the future (high geoclimatic stability).
, as defined here, is a measure of a natural system's capacity to remain stable as the climate changes over time. This is based on two factors:
A watershed with lower levels of climate departure and higher levels of climate resilience is more likely to sustain current levels of native biodiversity into the future (high geoclimatic stability).
This information is intended to help land managers prioritize conservation efforts and help guide future conservation investments.
The was developed by the Conservation Biology Institute in collaboration with Oregon State University, The Nature Conservancy, and the Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative, with additional funding and support provided by the Bureau of Land Management.
Soils + Elevation + Slope = Land Facets
Geophysical features underlie the spatial distribution of biodiversity and a region's biological richness is due, in part, to its geophysical diversity. Using the geophysical features of soil, elevation and slope we were able to produce a wall-to-wall map of 162 land facets within the Pacific Northwest. We defined the geophysical diversity (the unchanging Stage) by overlaying Soils (10 Orders), Elevation (7 categories), and Slope (3 categories), creating 162 land facets. For example, Mollisols at 600-1200 meters on flat ground.
Topoclimate Diversity + Permeability = Terrestrial Resilience
Topoclimate Diversity describes the range of temperature and moisture regimes available to species within a local area. Areas rich in topoclimate diversity may increase species diversity and also increase the likelihood for species persistence over time as the climate changes. We calculated Topoclimate Diversity by looking at the range of local temperatures and the range of soil moisture potential across a 450-m radius neighborhood. The result is a relative index across the study area or a particular land facet that measures how diverse the local climate is, based on topographic qualities that are not likely to change.
Terrestrial Permeability measures the connectedness within a local area, inversely related to the fragmentation caused by development such as roads, cities, agriculture, and energy infrastructure. We mapped permeability based on the degree of development and conversion. This analysis evaluates the capacity for ecological flow outward from each focal cell into its local neighborhood up to a maximum of 3-km, then combines the results into a final, study-wide surface. In the figure from arid Eastern Oregon at left, growth around a focal cell is constrained by fragmentation associated with roads, agriculture, and housing.
Terrestrial Resilience combines Topoclimate Diversity and Permeability to identify where biodiversity is more likely to be resilient to a changing climate. By stratifying the resilience data by ecoregion and land facet with in each ecoregion, we are able to compare similar places to each other (Mollisols with other Mollisols, flat mid-elevation land facets with other flat mid-elevation land facets). We are also able to identify the places where resilience is most dense on the landscape.
Click here for more information about The Nature Conservancy's CNS project.
We used the downscaled climate projections from the NASA Earth Exchange (NEX) U.S. Downscaled Climate Projections (NEX US-DCP30) dataset (Thrasher et al. 2013) for the western United States. We chose one thirty-year period, 2016-2045, to represent the projected future.
Calculation of Climate Variables
Climate variable values (tmax, tmin, and prec) were calculated as means of annual average temperatures and of annual total precipitation for each time period (1971-2000 and 2016-2045).
The LF-GAP Map Units Descriptions provide descriptions for each LF EVT including species, distribution and classification information. Vegetation map units are primarily derived from NatureServe's Ecological Systems classification, alliances of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC), the National Land Cover Database and LF specific types.
LF uses EVT in several subsequent layers, including the development of the fuel layers.
The CONUS Climate Console is a web mapping application designed for exploring climate projections and simulated impacts for a specified area of interest in the Continental United States.
The Sagebrush Climate Console is a web mapping application designed for exploring climate projections and simulated impacts for a specified area of interest in the Pacific Northwest.
A collection of web tools for visualizing past and projected climate and hydrology of the Pacific Northwest, USA.
Data Basin is a science-based mapping and analysis platform that supports learning, research, and sustainable environmental stewardship.
Conservation Biology Institute136 SW Washington Ave # 202Corvallis, OR 97333 (541) 757-0687 http://consbio.org info@consbio.org
Barry Baker
barry.baker@consbio.org
Mike Gough
mike.gough@consbio.org |
Oregon State University1500 SW Jefferson St.Corvallis, OR 97331 541-737-1000 http://oregonstate.edu
Dominique Bachelet
bacheled@oregonstate.edu |
The Nature Conservancy in Oregon821 SE 14th AvenuePortland, OR 97214 (503) 802-8100 Fax: (503) 802-8199 E-mail: oregon@tnc.org http://www.nature.org/oregon Conserving Nature's Stage: Click Here Ken Popper kpopper@tnc.org Aaron Jones ajones@tnc.org |
John Tull John_Tull@fws.gov |
For technical questions about the web tool or to report a problem, contact Mike Gough (mike.gough@consbio.org).
For questions about the CNS data contact Ken Popper (kpopper@tnc.org).
For questions about the climate data contact Barry Baker (barry.baker@consbio.org).