Recognized Biodiversity Value
| The Conserving Nature’s Stage focus on abiotic drivers of biodiversity is meant to complement, not replace, biodiversity-based conservation priorities. In this map, we assembled information on places recognized for their biodiversity value (rare species, intact habitat, or exemplary natural communities) from other separate studies (i.e. ecoregional plans, state wildlife action plans).
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Connectivity and Climate Flow (wall to wall)
| Climate flow refers to the gradual movement of populations in response to changes in the climate. Over time, climate flow results in range shifts and the formation of novel communities. We measured climate flow using a continuous wall-to-wall model of landscape permeability based on anthropogenic resistance (resistance to movement caused by human modification) and climatic gradients (upslope, northward and riparian). On the maps, brown indicates areas with low permeability where movement is blocked. Medium blue indicates areas of high permeability and moderate flow; often highly natural settings were species movements are diffuse. Dark blue indicates areas of highly concentrated flow where movements will accumulate or be channeled. These scores are the continuous scores from circuitscape.
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Connectivity and Climate Flow (Categorical)
| Climate flow refers to the gradual movement of populations in response to changes in the climate. Over time, climate flow results in range shifts and the formation of novel communities. We measured climate flow using a continuous wall-to-wall model of landscape permeability based on anthropogenic resistance (resistance to movement caused by human modification) and climatic gradients (upslope, northward and riparian). These scores are categorized to allow for easier user interpretation.
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Geophysical Setting
| Geophysical settings are broad areas defined by their similar physical properties –geology, soil and elevation zones-that correspond to differences in the flora and fauna they support. Typically, the settings differ in both ecological character and in how they have been used by people. We used the geophysical settings as a stratification to ensure representation of all biological habitats. By only comparing resilience characteristics among sites of the same geophysical setting, we could identify the most resilient examples of each setting and ensure representations of all types of biodiversity.
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Landforms
| Landforms are used in this analysis as the base for estimating microclimate diversity (a.k.a. topoclimate diversity) because they subdivide landscapes into local topographic units with unique moisture and temperature profiles. The landform units reflect local variation in land position, slope, solar radiation, moisture availability, and susceptibility to wind and other disturbances. Landform-based climatic variation can be on par with, or greater than the climatic variation expected over the next century, and because species experience climate at a very local scale (inches to yards), high microclimate variation allows species to persist at sites even when the regional climate appears unsuitable.
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Landscape Diversity
| The landscape diversity metric, estimates the number and variety of micro-climates in a circular area around each point of land. We use this as a measure of local climate variation because it quantifies the number of distinct temperature-moisture combinations available to the resident species. Sites with many climate options are expected to maintain diversity and ecological functions longer than sites with few options, because the local microclimates buffer the site from changes in the regional climate. The resilience score is calculated from landscape diversity combined with local connectedness.
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Local Connectedness
| The local connectedness metric estimates how easily species can access their local neighborhoods based on the arrangement of roads, industrial agriculture, development, and other. human structures. The principle underlying this metric is that most anthropogenic structures (roads, buildings, etc) create resistance to movement and can make it difficult for populations to access microclimates and adjust to change. The resilience score is calculated from local connectedness combined with landscape diversity
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Terrestrial Resilience Score Only
| A site’s Resilience Score estimates its capacity to maintain species diversity and ecological function as the climate changes. It was determined by evaluating and quantifying physical characteristics that foster resilience, particularly the site’s landscape diversity and local connectedness. The score is calculated within ecoregions based on all cells of the same geophysical setting and is described on a relative basis as above or below the average.
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