Abstract

Developing a GIS-Based Habitat Suitability Model for the Spotted Turtle
Track: Parks and Natural Reserves
Author(s): Karl Korfmacher

The spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata, is a threatened species in the state of New York. As part of a reintroduction effort with the Seneca Park Zoo in Monroe County, NY, a habitat suitability model was developed to help prioritize areas for potential reintroduction of captive bred turtles. The model integrates parameters identified by literature review, such as soils, land cover, wetlands and hydrology, and human development, with parameter weights derived from expert survey responses, such as typical home ranges and optimal land cover composition. Areas identified by the model were compared to NY Department of Environmental Conservation records of historic turtle sightings for preliminary validation. Of the 27 historic sites identified by NYDEC, the model hit 24. Based on model parameters and constraints, 29-58 additional priority sites were identified by the model for further field investigations.

Karl Korfmacher
Rochester Institute of Technology
Department of Biological Sciences
Environmental Science Program
Rochester , New York 14623-5603
United States
Phone: 585-475-5554
Fax: 585-475-5000
E-mail: kfkscl@rit.edu