Modeling Protected Species Habitat and Assigning Risk to Inform Regulatory Decisions |
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Authors: | Robert A Montgomery C Nichole Rubeck-Schurtz Kelly F Millenbah Gary J Roloff Mark E Whalon Larry G Olsen |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;(2) ICF Jones and Stokes, 1901 Energy Court, Suite 115, Gillette, WY 82718, USA;(3) B-11 Center for Integrated Plant Systems, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;(4) B18 Food Safety and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA |
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Abstract: | In the United States, environmental regulatory agencies are required to use “best available” scientific information when making
decisions on a variety of issues. However, agencies are often hindered by coarse or incomplete data, particularly as it pertains
to threatened and endangered species protection. Stakeholders often agree that more resolute and integrated processes for
decision-making are desirable. We demonstrate a process that uses species occurrence data for a federally endangered insect
(Karner blue butterfly), a readily available habitat modeling tool, and spatially explicit information about an important
Michigan commodity (tart cherries). This case study has characteristics of many protected species regulatory decisions in
that species occurrence data were sparse and unequally distributed; regulatory decisions (on pesticide use) were required
with potentially significant impacts on a viable agricultural industry; and stakeholder relations were diverse, misinformed,
and, in some situations, unjustly contentious. Results from our process include a large-scale, empirically derived habitat
suitability map for the focal species and a risk ranking of tart cherry orchards with risk based on the likelihood that pesticide
applications will influence the focal protected species. Although the majority (77%) of pesticide-influence zones overlapped
Karner blue butterfly habitat, risk scores associated with each orchard were low. Through our process we demonstrated that
spatially explicit models can help stakeholders visualize and quantify potential protected species effects. In addition, model
outputs can serve to guide field activities (e.g., species surveys and implementation of pesticide buffer zones) that help
minimize future effects. |
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Keywords: | Endangered species Habitat suitability Lycaeides melissa samuelis Michigan Modeling Risk assessment |
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