MODELLING LANDSCAPE RESILIENCE OF THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY REGION, NOVA SCOTIA

An Implementation of the University of Massachusetts’ CAPS software using ArcGISBy: Karissa Reischke

(The Nature Conservancy, 2010)

OUTLINE

Background AGRG’s Landscape Modelling Framework UMASS’ CAPS software Landscape Permeability & Landscape Complexity

Study Areas Objectives of Project Interactive Tool Dialogs

Tool Help Flexibility for User

Geoprocessing with Python Final Results PROS & CONS of the CAPS Approach Conclusions

APPLIED GEOMATICS RESEARCH GROUP’S LANDSCAPE MODELLING FRAMEWORK

Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources

Compute Landscape Metrics Patch Density, Size, Shape Mean Nearest Neighbour Occurrence Count of Patches

Understand Ecological Processes Informed management decisions Quantify spatial patterns (temporal)

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS’ CAPS

SOFTWARE

Conservation and Assessment Prioritization System (CAPS)

Assess ecological integrity

Prioritize conservation management for Nova Scotia

Ability to sustain ecosystems and biodiversity for a long period of time.

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS’ CAPS SOFTWARE (CONTINUED)

LANDSCAPE PERMEABILITY

“degree to which a landscape can sustain ecological processes and facilitate movement for several species” (Anderson et al, 2011)

Species connected to resource patches Constrained versus Unconstrained

Habitat fragmentation Prioritizing conservation

(Reid, 2012)

LANDSCAPE COMPLEXITY

Variation in Microclimates caused by: Landform Variety Wetland Density Elevation

Temperature, Moisture gradient, etc. Species shift to optimal microclimatic

conditions

(Valley Summer Theatre, 2014)

STUDY AREAS: SMALL SCALE

Annapolis Valley region, N.S.

STUDY AREA: LARGE SCALE

Lawrencetown region, N.S.

OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT

Implement UMASS’ CAPS software with ArcGIS

Three Interactive Tool Dialogs Landscape Permeability Landscape Complexity Landscape Resilience

Flexibility for User Make Recommendations:

Model for Landscape Modelling Framework Where to Prioritize Conservation in Nova Scotia

THREE INTERACTIVE TOOL DIALOGS

Ensure comprehension, flexibility for user

INTERACTIVE TOOL DIALOGS: TOOL HELP

Additional information about parameters used to compute measurements

Clarify any specifications required for a parameter i.e. dBASE table

INTERACTIVE TOOL DIALOGS: MESSAGES

Inform user on processing state

Identify time-consuming processes within script

INTERACTIVE TOOL DIALOGS:FLEXIBILITY FOR USER

Provide Options for User Can use Different Input Layers

i.e. Biosystems versus Landforms Tool Parameters used to Compute Landscape

Permeability and Landscape Complexity

1. LANDSCAPE PERMEABILITY

Clip Input Layers? Options for Land Cover

Classification: Default: FOR_NON Identify Field for

Classification Options for Resistant

Weights: Default: Slider dBASE Table Identify Field for

Resistant Weights Output Cell Size?

2. LANDSCAPE COMPLEXITY

Clip Input Layers? Identify Field for

Landform Types Options for Wetlands:

Default: FOR_NON Identify Field for

Wetlands Radiuses for Focal

Statistics Output Cell Size?

3. LANDSCAPE RESILIENCE

Combine Landscape Permeability & Landscape Complexity

Output Cell Size?

GEOPROCESSING WITH PYTHON:LANDSCAPE PERMEABILITY

Convert to Raster (based on assigned Resistant Weights)

Add all Rasters together with Map Algebra Focal Statistics (Circle, 3 kilometers, Mean) Rescale raster values between 0 and 100:

((x - minimum) / (maximum - minimum)) * 100

ASSIGNING RESISTANT WEIGHTS FOR EACH LAND COVER CLASS

High Resistant Weights = Impermeable Low Resistant Weights = Permeable

LANDSCAPE PERMEABILITY

GEOPROCESSING WITH PYTHON:LANDSCAPE COMPLEXITY

Focal Statistics tool

GEOPROCESSING WITH PYTHON:LANDSCAPE COMPLEXITY

o Standardize into z-values…• Z = (x – μ) / σ

o LC = (2 * LV + WD + ER) / 4

Landform Variety

Elevation Range

Wetland Density

Landscape Complexit

y

• Focal Statistics

- Circle- Large-

scale radius

- Variety

• Focal Statistics- Circle- Large-scale

radius - Range

• Focal Statistics- Circle- Large-

scale radius

- Sum• Focal Statistics- Circle- Small-scale radius - Sum

• 0.66 * Large-scale WD +

0.33 * Small-scale WD

LANDSCAPE COMPLEXITY

GEOPROCESSING WITH PYTHON:LANDSCAPE RESILIENCE

Convert Landscape Permeability and Landscape Complexity into z-values… Z = (x – μ) / σ

(Landscape Permeability + = Landscape Landscape Complexity) / 2 Resilience

Rescale raster values between 0 and 100 Resample raster cell size?

LANDSCAPE RESILIENCE

FINAL RESULTS

Permeability Constrained in New Minas region

Complexity North Mountain (change in landforms &

elevation) Prioritize Conservation:

Minas Basin region Along North Mountain throughout Annapolis

Valley microclimates

PROS & CONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS’ CAPS APPROACH

PROS CONS

Resistant Weighting Scheme

Relative Values

Coarse analysis

Species-independent

Three Measurements

CONCLUSIONS

Prioritize conservation in the New Minas region

CAPS = Robust model Compare with other approaches Species-independent Expand…

Add Landscape Permeability and Landscape Complexity to LMF Important Landscape Metric Coarse spatial analysis

ANY QUESTIONS?