AbstractUsing ArcGIS to Analyze Utah's Mexican Spotted Owl HabitatsTrack: Ecology and Conservation Author We sought to compile a comprehensive database of Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) protected activity centers (PACs) within Utah, determine how well the PACs capture modeled owl habitat, and make PAC delineating recommendations to biologists. PAC boundaries were originally drawn by field biologists around confirmed owl locations and were meant to include the adjacent best available habitat likely utilized by the owls. In addition to compiling digitally-drawn PAC boundaries, we used ArcGIS to digitize PACs hand-drawn by field biologists on hardcopy maps. We then compared the PACs with a spatial model of best available habitat created in 1996 and a stricter model created in 2000 by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Results include comparisons between the 1996 and 2000 models. Both habitat models proved to be an effective resource for PAC delineation and guiding further owl surveys. Jason Carlisle Utah State University, Wildland Resources Department 1310 E 900 N Logan, Utah 84321 United States Phone: 801-710-9113 E-mail: jason.carlisle@aggiemail.usu.edu |