Abstract
 Generating Conservation Scenarios for Puerto Rico Track: Ecology and Conservation Author(s): Michael Tuffly, Patrick Comer Multiple biodiversity conservation scenarios were generating using the spatial optimization tools. Some 15,000 100-hectare hexagons were used for the sample units. Biodiversity was represented with maps of freshwater habitats, near-shore marine habitats, terrestrial ecological systems, coastal marine species densities, and globally rare-imperiled flora and fauna. Two conservation cost surfaces were computed using a series of weighting factors applied to land use data. One cost surface was used for all the marine areas and the terrestrial ecological systems. The other cost surface was develop using a flow accumulation model and applied to the freshwater habitats only. Representation goals varied by biodiversity element and goal levels used for terrestrial ecological systems. Spatial optimization uses iterative scenario generation to achieve representation goals in areas of lowest conservation cost. Scenarios included 26 percent and 48 percent of the study area to achieve the stated representation goals. Michael Tuffly NatureServe Ecology 2400 Spruce Street Suite 201 Boulder , CO 80301 US Phone: (303) 541-0331 E-mail: mike_tuffly@natureserve.org Patrick Comer NatureServe Ecology 2400 Spruce Street Suite 201 Boulder , CO 80301 US Phone: 303 541-0352 E-mail: pat_comer@natureserve.org |
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