The terrestrial ecosystem-based core area selection index was used to create terrestrial ecosystem-based cores. It incorporates the weighted index of ecological integrity (IEI), The Nature Conservancy’s terrestrial resiliency index, The Nature Conservancy’s mapped ‘tier 1’ floodplains, and rare natural communities (S1-S3 ranks) as defined and mapped by the state Natural Heritage programs. This layer can be used to add meaning to the core areas as mapped, as well as fill in the areas around core areas with a more detailed map of their relative ecological value.

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

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (tSelectionIndex.tif).

The Nature Conservancy developed a Terrestrial Resiliency Index as part of its “Conserving the Stage” initiative. The Terrestrial Resiliency Index should be viewed in the context of long-term biodiversity retention. Resiliency is based on connectivity to a diversity of landforms, elevations, and wetlands. Sites are compared to others with similar geology, elevation, and ecoregion, and scored as more or less resilient based on 1) landscape diversity and 2) local connectedness. Landscape diversity refers to the number of microhabitats and climatic gradients available within a given area. Local connectedness refers to the accessibility of neighboring natural areas.

For this project, the raw resiliency index is (quantile) rescaled by geophysical setting class and HUC6 watershed.

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 (tResiliency.tif).

Short description: The Local Conductance index is a measure of the total amount of movement of plants and animals that has the potential to pass through a cell from neighboring cells. The scale at which this index is based is one to a few kilometers. Conductance increases as the proportion of the area around a cell increases, and as the ecosystem around a cell is more alike than that of the focal cell.

The local conductance index can be used independently from the core-connector network. It can also be used in combination with that layer; for example, to measure connectivity within a core area. In contrast, regional conductance is better suited to measuring connectivity between core areas.

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 (lConduct.tif).

Landscape capability is an integrated measure of habitat quality and ability to support a focal species, climate suitability, and existing data on occurrence and abundance. Each individual species’ landscape capability is calculated from a model unique to that species. In addition, each species is considered a representative for a larger suite of species with similar ecological needs and uses. The following 14 species landscape capability models are available: American Woodcock, Black Bear, Blackburnian Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Eastern Meadowlark, Louisiana Waterthrush, Marsh Wren, Moose, Northern Waterthrush, Prairie Warbler, Ruffed Grouse, Wood Duck, Wood Thrush, and Wood Turtle. These models were used as inputs during the creation of the species-based core areas (note the slightly different treatment of Eastern Meadowlark). More detailed information about the representative species models is available from the species documentation from the UMass-maintained DSL project web page. On Data Basin, we make these layers available as a pre-loaded map or as individual species layers.

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 the representative species landscape capability layers  (speciesLC.tif).

Landscape capability is an integrated measure of habitat quality and ability to support a focal species, climate suitability, and existing data on occurrence and abundance. Each individual species’ landscape capability is calculated from a model unique to that species. In addition, each species is considered a representative for a larger suite of species with similar ecological needs and uses. The following 14 species landscape capability models are available: American Woodcock, Black Bear, Blackburnian Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Eastern Meadowlark, Louisiana Waterthrush, Marsh Wren, Moose, Northern Waterthrush, Prairie Warbler, Ruffed Grouse, Wood Duck, Wood Thrush, and Wood Turtle. These models were used as inputs during the creation of the species-based core areas (note the slightly different treatment of Eastern Meadowlark). More detailed information about the representative species models is available from the species documentation from the UMass-maintained DSL project web page. On Data Basin, we make these layers available as a pre-loaded map or as individual species layers.

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 the representative species landscape capability layers  (speciesLC.tif).

Photo credit:
   by  skersting66