Species Habitat Suitability Models and Condition Assessment for Culturally Significant Plants in Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Muldavin E and Gonzalez C. 2024. Species Habitat Suitability Models and Condition Assessment for Culturally Significant Plants in Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico. National Park Service
This report presents a comprehensive assessment of the distribution and condition of culturally significant plant species within Bandelier National Monument (BAND) and its surrounding areas. The study addresses the park’s obligations to support plant collection by designated tribes, especially in the context of recent decades marked by severe wildfires, flooding, and the expansion of exotic plant species. To inform management and sustainability efforts, the authors developed habitat suitability models (HSMs) for ten priority plant species—Douglas-fir, limber pine, banana yucca, chokecherry, common hoptree, Gambel’s oak, alderleaf mountain mahogany, Indian ricegrass, common yarrow, and amaranth—using ensemble machine-learning approaches based on environmental predictors and fire history. The models integrate species occurrence data, environmental variables, and fire severity maps to identify areas of highest probability for each species. Results indicate good-to-excellent model accuracy and provide detailed spatial distributions to guide resource collection and conservation. The study highlights the importance of ongoing field surveys and monitoring to validate model predictions, especially given the dynamic landscape changes caused by fire and climate change. The findings offer first-order guidance for sustainable management of culturally important plants, supporting both tribal collection and broader conservation objectives within BAND.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Muldavin, Esteban; Gonzalez, Corrie
- Date of Issue
- 2024-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- BAND
- Keywords
- alderleaf mountain mahogany, amaranth, banana yucca, chokecherry, common hoptree, common yarrow, Douglas-fir, Gambel’s oak, Habitat Suitability Models, Indian ricegrass, limber pine, New Mexico
See also
- Species Distribution Modeling and Condition Assessment for Culturally Significant Plant Species
- Habitat Models for Culturally Significant Plants in Bandelier National Monument