Habitat quantity of Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis (Aves: Piciformes: Picidae) in its former historic landscape near the Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas, USA

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Published: Jan 26, 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.1735.8.1.8309-8322
Keywords:
Accuracy assessment, Big Thicket National Preserve, global positioning system, habitat fragmentation, habitat suitability, landsat image, metrics, patches.

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Vivek Thapa
313 Throckmorton Street, Gainesville, TX 76240, USA
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9653-9040
Miguel F. Acevedo
Department of Electrical Engineering and Institute of Applied Sciences, University of North Texas, 3940 North Elm Street, Denton, TX, USA
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5136-3624

Abstract

We quantified pine-forested habitat suitable for Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis in the former historic range of the species to assess the potential for possible re-colonization.  We used a remotely-sensed image and geographic information systems (GIS) to create a land-use/land (LU/LC) binary cover map, from which we calculated the habitat suitability index (HSI) based on an estimated home range of 50ha.  A sensitivity analysis revealed the necessity for more data to make an accurate estimate, but our analysis of landscape metrics indicates more than 930ha of suitable habitat patches.  These patches are heavily fragmented and mostly located on private lands.  They can be assessed for understory and herbaceous vegetation and can be restored for possible re-establishment of approximately 18 groups/colonies of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.

 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2016)
Section
Articles

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Author Biographies

Vivek Thapa, 313 Throckmorton Street, Gainesville, TX 76240, USA

Vivek Thapa  - Currently, he is working as a GIS Manager/CAD Drafter in a land surveying company called All American Surveying, located in North Central Texas, USA. He uses GIS, remote sensing, AutoCAD, to create maps for clients. 

 

Miguel F. Acevedo, Department of Electrical Engineering and Institute of Applied Sciences, University of North Texas, 3940 North Elm Street, Denton, TX, USA

Miguel F. Acevedo - in addition to his departmental affiliations he is Faculty in the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, University of North Texas. His work integrates environmental monitoring and modeling to understand the dynamics of environmental and ecological systems, and to provide socially relevant results concerning pollutants, land use change and climate variability. 

 

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