Researchers then simulated changes in habitat conditions to explore the potential for management action at varying spatial scales affecting habitat suitability. Examples of potential management actions include removing encroaching conifers or increasing mesic habitats (habitats with moderate moisture content). 

They found that applying specific restoration treatments in seemingly similar sites could yield vastly different consequences in terms of change in habitat suitability. This indicates that the multi-variable conditions that comprise and improve habitats can be difficult to identify without the use of habitat analyses. This manuscript and accompanying data provide an example of how to improve conservation decisions that can lead to the greatest returns on investment.

Heatmaps showing projected change in habitat suitability resulting from simulated habitat restoration actions (or pairs of actions) in the Poncha Pass satellite population of Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus). The heatmaps show change in suitability for each 30-meter squared pixel, except for areas where (1) new habitat was projected to be created, (2) non-habitat was projected to remain non-habitat despite intervention, or (3) negative impacts to suitability were projected to occur. All heatmaps represent changes for crucial habitats in the breeding season, except for a single summer-season action (mesic improvements).  Researchers produced similar heatmaps and data for all crucial breeding patches for the Gunnison sage-grouse. Figure from Shyvers and others (2024).

Full Citation: Shyvers, J. E., N. D. Van Schmidt, J. Saher, J. A. Heinrichs, M. S. O’Donnell, and C. L. Aldridge. 2024. Leveraging local habitat suitability models to enhance restoration benefits for species of conservation concern. Biodiversity and Conservation, doi: 10.1007/s10531-024-02886-x.

Associated Data Release: Shyvers, J. E., N. D. Van Schmidt, J. Saher, J. A. Heinrichs, M. S. O’Donnell, and C. L. Aldridge. 2024. Maps of habitat suitability improvement potential for the Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) satellite populations in Southwestern Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VBT1ER.

This United States Geological Survey news article "Leveraging local habitat suitability models to enhance restoration benefits for species of conservation concern" was originally found on https://www.usgs.gov/news

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