Terrestrial core-connector network

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The set of highest priority (Tier 1) terrestrial core areas and the connectors between them. In combination with the aquatic core areas (see loticCores.shp and lenticCores.shp), they spatially represent the ecological network derived from the CTR LCD project. The network is designed to provide strategic guidance for conserving natural areas, and the fish, wildlife, and other components of biodiversity that they support within the Connecticut River watershed. A total of 1,120 core areas have been identified, ranging in size from 8 to 26,515 ha, with an average size of 600 ha.

Two associated files (tCoreEcoSum.csv and tCoreSpeciesSum.csv) provide details on the makeup of each individual core area. The first file reports the total area of each ecological system that makes up a given core (for example, 2 ha of Boreal-Laurentian Bog, 119 ha of Northeastern Coastal and Interior Pine-Oak Forest, etc.). It also includes other information about the relative importance of a given core in terms of ecosystems. The second file reports information about the importance of the core area as habitat for the terrestrial representative species.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website. 

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (tCoreNet.shp).

 

Terrestrial core tiers

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This layer shows the top 2 tiers, plus additional supporting landscape area. Tier 1 is a highly strategic selection of land that targets the best, highest priority areas on the landscape, which are represented as core areas (25% of the watershed). Tier 2 core areas also encompass important ecosystems and habitat but are not as high priority as Tier 1 core areas; they represent an additional 25% of the landscape. Areas in the supporting landscape are the road-bounded blocks containing the Tier 1 and 2 cores, in which all road classes except tracks and medium-to-high intensity development function as boundaries (an additional 27% of the landscape). This supporting landscape is intended to represent more practical on-the-ground conservation units necessary to ensure maintenance of the ecological values of the Tier 1 and 2 cores in the future.

Two associated files (tCoreEcoSum.csv and tCoreSpeciesSum.csv) provide details on the makeup of each individual core area. The tCoreEcoSum csv reports the total area of each ecological system that makes up a given core, as well as other statistics related to the relative importance of a given core in terms of ecosystems, are available in the csv. The tCoreSpeciesSum csv reports, for each representative species, statistics about the representation of each of the 14 modeled species on the landscape and within the tiers.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website. 

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (tCoreTiers.shp).

Grassland cores

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This layer represents a set of terrestrial core areas for grassland species, represented by Eastern Meadowlark. These cores are based on the Eastern Meadowlark species landscape capability layer. They were built based on the best patches of habitat for grassland species. These core areas were developed separately from the terrestrial Tier 1 and Tier 2 core areas, but should be viewed concurrently with them and are considered part of the ecological core area network. The grassland cores were developed separately for several reasons, among them the fact that grasslands in the watershed are created and maintained by human actions.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website.

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (eameCores.shp).

Lake and pond (lentic) cores

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Core areas for lakes and ponds in the watershed. These aquatic core areas include lakes and ponds of relatively high ecological integrity. There are 1,206 lotic core areas, ranging in size from 0.06 to 1,323 ha, with an average size of 11.7 ha. Core areas are built from focal areas with high value in the aquatic ecosystem-based core area selection index, which are then expanded to include the entire water body in order to create logical conservation units.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website.

Read the Technical Abstract (p. 111) for this data layer (lenticCores.shp).

River and stream (lotic) cores

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Core areas for rivers and streams in the watershed. These aquatic core areas include streams of relatively high ecological integrity, headwater streams of relatively high current habitat value for brook trout, and large and medium rivers that provide habitat for anadromous fish (specifically, American shad, blueback herring, shortnose sturgeon, alewife, and sea lamprey). There are 424 lotic core areas, ranging in stream length from 1 km to 442 km, with an average of 16 km. Dams present an absolute barrier to the continuity of these aquatic core areas. Core areas are built from focal areas with high value in the aquatic ecosystem-based core area selection index, which are then expanded up and downstream to include areas that provide additional ecological value.

An associated file (aCoreEcoSum.csv) provide details on the makeup of each individual core area. The first file reports the total area of each ecological system that makes up a given core. It also includes other information about the relative importance of a given core in terms of ecosystems. The second file reports information about the importance of the core area as habitat for aquatic species.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website.

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (loticCores.shp).