Analyzing changes in the spatial distribution of saguaros (Carnegiea gigantean) in Saguaro National Park
MacEwen RA. 2013. Analyzing changes in the spatial distribution of saguaros (Carnegiea gigantean) in Saguaro National Park. The University of Arizona
Data collected from both 1975 and the 2010 Saguaro Census, along with 22 environmental variables (temperature, elevation, etc.), were input into MaxEnt to determine the potential suitable habitat for the saguaro cactus, and then analyze the changes in distribution on a spatial level for the species as a whole and by height class. Though data from the saguaro census showed an overall increase in saguaro population, especially in height class 1, the plots deterred from those results by showing increased suitability with decreased population. Overall, MaxEnt proved to be a useful tool for visualizing changes in saguaro populations and their potentially suitable habitat.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- MacEwen, Rebecca
- Date of Issue
- 2013
- Publisher
- The University of Arizona
- Units
- SAGU
- Keywords
- carnegiea gigantean, GIS, spatial, thesis