Arcgis Habitat Model for the Indiana Bat (Myotis Sodalis) in Terms
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ARCGIS HABITAT MODEL FOR THE INDIANA BAT (MYOTIS SODALIS) IN TERMS OF POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT IN MADISON AND DELAWARE COUNTIES, INDIANA. A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE BY KIMBERLY RICHARDSON DR. JOSHUA GRUVER – ADVISOR BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, INDIANA December 2017 1 Acknowledgements This research project has been a challenging and humbling experience, but I have learned so much along the way. First I would like to thank the DNR wildlife biologist Andrew King for providing the historic presence data used in the creation of the GIS habitat model for multiple counties within Indiana. I would also like to thank Mr. Kianre Eouanzoui for his help with the Poisson Regression analysis. He was able to lead me in the correct direction in terms of the statistical methods needed to validate my GIS model. I would also like to thank my committee members. Dr. Timothy Carter helped with the overall idea of creating a habitat model to answer my research question as well as gave invaluable advice in terms of habitat requirements of the Indiana bat. I would like to thank Dr. Jessi Ghezzi for her continued support throughout the process as well as helping with formatting and revisions. Next, I would like to thank Dr. Joshua Gruver, my thesis advisor. He was always willing to listen and provide insight into my thesis as well as provide outside resources to help answer any and all questions I had. His continued support has been invaluable and I have learned so much from him during this process. I would like to thank the entire Natural Resources and Environmental Management Department as a whole for their support through the process. Their understanding and expertise in the area of natural resource management was so important in the completion of this project. Finally, I want to thank my wonderful husband, Travis Richardson. Without his continued support, encouragement and help with our beautiful daughter, Gracelynd, none of this would be possible. He has believed in my scholastic achievements even at times when I have doubted myself. Thank you so much to my beautiful family. Graciously, Kimberly B Richardson 2 Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... i List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iii 1.1 Problem Statement ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Background ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Purpose Statement ................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2: Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Indiana Bat Habitat Literature ............................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Diurnal Roosting Habitat ................................................................................................ 7 2.1.2 Nocturnal Foraging Habitat ............................................................................................ 8 2.2 Habitat Analysis Literature ................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 3: Methods and Procedures ............................................................................................. 15 3.1 Study Area ........................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 ArcGIS Habitat Model ........................................................................................................ 19 3.2.1 ArcGIS Habitat Model Variables ................................................................................. 20 3.2.2 Habitat Model Creation ................................................................................................ 24 3.3 Presence Only Verification ................................................................................................. 25 3.4 Habitat Model (Trial 1) ....................................................................................................... 26 3.5 Habitat Model (Trial 2) ....................................................................................................... 27 3.6 Statistical Analysis .............................................................................................................. 29 3.7 Habitat Model Verification using Rush and Henry Counties Presence Locations.............. 31 Chapter 4: Results ......................................................................................................................... 33 4.1 ArcGIS Habitat Model Creation, Randolph County ........................................................... 33 3 4.2 Statistical Analysis of Habitat Model, Randolph County ................................................... 36 4.3 Habitat Model Verification using Rush and Henry Counties.............................................. 39 4.4 Application to Madison and Delaware Counties, Indiana ................................................... 43 Chapter 5: Discussion ................................................................................................................... 48 5.1 Canopy Closure ................................................................................................................... 49 5.2 Distance from Water ........................................................................................................... 50 5.3 Distance from Impeding Road ............................................................................................ 51 5.4 Forest Height ....................................................................................................................... 53 5.5 Distance from Development ................................................................................................ 53 5.6 Application to Madison and Delaware Counties ................................................................. 54 Chapter 6: Conclusion................................................................................................................... 56 6.1 Implications of Research ..................................................................................................... 59 References ..................................................................................................................................... 62 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 69 4 List of Tables Table 1: The canopy closures of presence locations within Randolph County during Trial 1 of the habitat model creation ................................................................................................................... 26 Table 2: Habitat variables defined by model creation within Randolph County, Indiana for the Indiana bat based on historic presence data .................................................................................. 29 Table 3: Habitat variables that were applied to Henry and Rush Counties and the Geoprocessing Tools associated with the application ........................................................................................... 32 Table 4: Amount of each type of canopy closure within predicted habitat for the Indiana bat in Randolph County, Indiana ............................................................................................................ 35 Table 5: Deviance and AIC scores for the five multiple Poisson regression models conducted to analyze the validity of environmental variables used in habitat model creation for the Indiana bat in Randolph County, Indiana ........................................................................................................ 38 Table 6: Canopy Closures of predicted habitat within Rush and Henry Counties, Indiana for the Indiana bat ..................................................................................................................................... 41 Table 7: Average forest height of the predicted habitat within Rush and Henry Counties, Indiana for the Indiana bat ......................................................................................................................... 41 Table 8: Canopy closures for predicted habitat of the Indiana bat within Madison and Delaware Counties, Indiana .......................................................................................................................... 45 Table 9: Forest heights for the predicted habitat of the Indiana bat within Madison and Delaware Counties, Indiana .......................................................................................................................... 45 Table 10: Canopy closures within the predicted Indiana bat habitat for the Indiana bat within the proposed location of the Mounds Lake Reservoir ........................................................................ 46 Table 11: Forest heights within the predicted Indiana bat habitat for the Indiana bat within the proposed location of the Mounds Lake Reservoir .......................................................................