Habitat Characterization
Service: Analyze ecological requirements and habitat suitability for native and
nonnative plants and animals.
The Technique: Habitat is the natural environment where a particular plant or
animal is able to thrive. Habitat characterization requires comprehensive
understanding of the physical conditions and biological needs of the organism of
interest. For plants this can include microclimate conditions (temperature,
precipitation, solar radiation, etc.), soil, nutrient levels, water availability, and
interactions with other organisms (competition, herbivory, pollination, etc.).
Similarly, for animals this can include microclimate conditions, food, water, shelter,
and interactions with other organisms (competitors, predators, pathogens, etc.).
Our Contribution: We characterize habitat in diverse terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems, specializing in assessing biological needs and resource availability,
microclimate measurement and modeling, analysis of community interactions that
influence habitat suitability, and predicting changes in habitat under alternative
management scenarios.
More Information:
• Wikipedia Habitat article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat
Service: Analyze ecological requirements and habitat suitability for native and
nonnative plants and animals.
The Technique: Habitat is the natural environment where a particular plant or
animal is able to thrive. Habitat characterization requires comprehensive
understanding of the physical conditions and biological needs of the organism of
interest. For plants this can include microclimate conditions (temperature,
precipitation, solar radiation, etc.), soil, nutrient levels, water availability, and
interactions with other organisms (competition, herbivory, pollination, etc.).
Similarly, for animals this can include microclimate conditions, food, water, shelter,
and interactions with other organisms (competitors, predators, pathogens, etc.).
Our Contribution: We characterize habitat in diverse terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems, specializing in assessing biological needs and resource availability,
microclimate measurement and modeling, analysis of community interactions that
influence habitat suitability, and predicting changes in habitat under alternative
management scenarios.
More Information:
• Wikipedia Habitat article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat
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Creekside Center
for Earth Observation
for Earth Observation
Selected Publications
Clark, D.B., D.A. Clark, and P.M. Rich. 1993. Comparative analysis of microhabitat
utilization by saplings of nine tree species in neotropical rain forest. Biotropica 25:
397–407. pdf
Rich, P.M. and P. Fu. 2000. Topoclimatic habitat models. Fourth International
Conference on Integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and
Environmental Modeling. pdf
Rich, P.M. and S.B. Weiss. 1991. Spatial models of microclimate and habitat
suitability: lessons from threatened species. Eleventh Annual ESRI User
Conference.
Weiss, S.B., P.M. Rich, and A.E. Launer. 2008. San Francisquito Creek Habitat
Monitoring Project: Stream Temperature Characterization. San Francisquito
Watershed Council Report. pdf
Weiss, S.B., et al. 2005. Topoclimate and microclimate in the Monarch Butterfly
Biosphere Reserve (Mexico). World Wildlife Fund Report. pdf pdf (text only)
Weiss, S.B., and D.C. Luth. 2002. Assessment of overwintering monarch butterfly
habitat at Cooper Grove (Andrew Molera State Park, Monterey County, CA) using
hemispherical photography. Creekside Center for Earth Observation Report, Menlo
Park, CA. pdf
Yao, J., R.D. Holt, P.M. Rich, and W.S. Marshall. 1999. Woody plant colonization in
an experimentally fragmented habitat. Ecography 22:715-728.
Clark, D.B., D.A. Clark, and P.M. Rich. 1993. Comparative analysis of microhabitat
utilization by saplings of nine tree species in neotropical rain forest. Biotropica 25:
397–407. pdf
Rich, P.M. and P. Fu. 2000. Topoclimatic habitat models. Fourth International
Conference on Integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and
Environmental Modeling. pdf
Rich, P.M. and S.B. Weiss. 1991. Spatial models of microclimate and habitat
suitability: lessons from threatened species. Eleventh Annual ESRI User
Conference.
Weiss, S.B., P.M. Rich, and A.E. Launer. 2008. San Francisquito Creek Habitat
Monitoring Project: Stream Temperature Characterization. San Francisquito
Watershed Council Report. pdf
Weiss, S.B., et al. 2005. Topoclimate and microclimate in the Monarch Butterfly
Biosphere Reserve (Mexico). World Wildlife Fund Report. pdf pdf (text only)
Weiss, S.B., and D.C. Luth. 2002. Assessment of overwintering monarch butterfly
habitat at Cooper Grove (Andrew Molera State Park, Monterey County, CA) using
hemispherical photography. Creekside Center for Earth Observation Report, Menlo
Park, CA. pdf
Yao, J., R.D. Holt, P.M. Rich, and W.S. Marshall. 1999. Woody plant colonization in
an experimentally fragmented habitat. Ecography 22:715-728.
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