Quantifying Landscape Ruggedness for Animal Habitat Analysis: A Case Study Using Bighorn Sheep in the Mojave Desert

Sappington, J. Mark; Longshore, Kathleen M.; Thompson, Daniel

doi:10.2193/2005-723

Cited by 693 publications

(534 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…I converted aspect from degrees into a categori¬ cal variable covering the 8 cardinal directions. I cre¬ ated 2 terrain ruggedness coverages, 1 at a relatively fine scale (180 m cell-size) and the other at a relatively coarse scale (1 km cell-size), using a Vector Ruggedness Measure (VRM) developed by Sappington et al (2007). This measure incorporates variability in both the aspect and gradient components of slope so that steep, broken terrain can be distinguished from steep, even terrain (Sappington et al, 2007).…”

Section: Data Acquisition and Derivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling influences on winter distribution of caribou in northwestern Alaska through use of satellite telemetry

Joly

2011

Ran

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I hypothesize that the distribution of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) is affected by multiple, interrelated factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, terrain and snow characteristics as well as predation pressure and habitat. To test this hypothesis, I attributed caribou locations derived from satellite telemetry over a 6 year period with terrain (elevation, slope, aspect, and ruggedness), habitat characteristics, and moose density -potentially an index of wolf predation pressure. These locations were compared to random locations, attributed using the same data layers, using logistic regression techniques to develop resource selection functions (RSFs). I found that caribou moved significantly less during mid-winter than early-or late-winter and that cows moved significantly more in April than bulls due to their earlier departure on their spring migration. Distribution was different between cows and bulls. Terrain variables were important factors but were scale-dependent. Cows avoided forested areas, highlighting the importance of tundra habitats, and selected for dwarf shrub, with relatively high lichen cover, and sedge habitat types. Bulls selected for dryas, coniferous forest and dwarf shrub habitats but against lowland sedge, upland shrub and burned tundra. Cow distribution was negatively correlated with moose density at the scale of the Seward Peninsula. My results support the hypothesis that caribou distribution during winter in northwest Alaska is affected by multiple, interrelated factors. These results may be useful for researchers to track and/or model changes in future patterns of range use over winter.

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Section: Data Acquisition and Derivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling influences on winter distribution of caribou in northwestern Alaska through use of satellite telemetry

Joly

2011

Ran

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“…Ruggedness (Sappington et al, 2007) is a slope angle independent measure for terrain roughness. Very rough terrain such as ridges and gullies prevent a widespread, connected weak layer and therefore the release of avalanches (Schweizer et al, 2003).…”

Section: Input Datasetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Automated snow avalanche release area delineation – validation of existing algorithms and proposition of a new object-based approach for large scale hazard indication mapping

Bühler¹,

Rickenbach²,

Stoffel³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Abstract. Snow avalanche hazard is threatening people and infrastructure in all alpine regions with seasonal or permanent snow cover around the globe. Coping with this hazard is a big challenge and during the past centuries, different strategies were 10 developed. Today, in Switzerland, experienced avalanche engineers produce hazard maps with a very high reliability based on avalanche cadastre information, terrain analysis, climatological datasets and numerical modelling of the flow dynamics for selected avalanche tracks that might affect settlements. However, for regions outside the considered settlement areas such areawide hazard maps are not available mainly because of the too high cost, in Switzerland and in most mountain regions around the world. Therefore, hazard indication maps, even though they are less reliable and less detailed, are often the only spatial 15 planning tool available. To produce meaningful and cost-effective avalanche hazard indication maps over large regions (regional to national scale), automated release area delineation has to be combined with volume estimations and state-of-theart numerical avalanche simulations.In this paper we validate existing potential release area (PRA) delineation algorithms, published in peer-reviewed journals, 20 that are based on digital terrain models and their derivatives such as slope angle, aspect, roughness and curvature. For validation, we apply avalanche cadastre data from three different ski resorts in the vicinity of Davos, Switzerland, where experienced ski-patrol staff mapped most avalanches in detail since many years. After calculating the best fit input parameters for every tested algorithm, we compare their performance based on the reference datasets. Because all tested algorithms do not provide meaningful delineation between individual potential release areas (PRA), we propose a new algorithm based on object-25 based image analysis (OBIA). In combination with an automatic procedure to estimate the average release depth (d0), defining the avalanche release volume, this algorithm enables the numerical simulation of thousands of avalanches over large regions applying the well-established avalanche dynamics model RAMMS. We demonstrate this for the region of Davos for two hazard scenarios, frequent (10 -30 years return period) and extreme (100 -300 years return period). This approach opens the door for large scale avalanche hazard indication mapping in all regions where high quality and resolution digital terrain models and 30 snow data are available.Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi

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“…(Table 1). * Area numbering is the same as in Figure 1 The other places (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) are located in a strip of uplands. Sites 11-14 belong to Silesian-Cracow Upland, which is the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic monocline with rocks of varying resistance that form the characteristic structural relief [43].…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Next Nellemann and Fry [11] and Riley et al [1] worked on Terrain Ruggedness Index (TRI), which quantifies the total elevation change across a given area. Based on a Hobson method [12] developed for measuring surface roughness in geomorphology Sappington et al [13] created a Vector Ruggedness Measure (VRM) to be used in a GIS that incorporates the heterogeneity of both slope and aspect. Other methods were proposed by Jenness [10], who quantifies ruggedness as the ratio of 3-dimensional surface area to planar surface area, or Grohmann et al [14] -surface roughness as an expression of the variability of a topographic surface at a given scale, where the scale of analysis is determined by the size of the landforms or geomorphic features of interest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative studies of the morphology of the south Poland using Relief Index (RI)

Szypuła

2017

Open Geosciences

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Abstract:The aim of this study was to introduce a new morphometric index named Relief Index (RI). RI is the ratio of the total length of the contour lines and the surface area at which they occur. This easily calculated index provides an objective quantitative measure of relief variability as an important feature in geomorphological studies. To achieve this goal, a highly detailed morphometric analysis was carried out using a high-resolution (1m×1m) DEM. Twenty one sample areas in southern Poland were examined. These analyses showed RI, as a good tool for rapidly evaluating topography heterogeneity in division into relief classes. I distinguished 4 classes of the Relief Index that classify earth surface considering the variability of the relief. Results of the calculations demonstrated that there is a significant correlation between RI and the local relief and slopes, but there is no correlation between RI and planar curvatures and TWI. The relief of the sample areas were analysed using geomorphometric parameters (slopes, local relief, planar curvatures). Moreover the influence of the DEM resolution on Relief Index values was examined.

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Quantifying Landscape Ruggedness for Animal Habitat Analysis: A Case Study Using Bighorn Sheep in the Mojave Desert

Cited by 693 publications

References 11 publications

Modeling influences on winter distribution of caribou in northwestern Alaska through use of satellite telemetry

Modeling influences on winter distribution of caribou in northwestern Alaska through use of satellite telemetry

Automated snow avalanche release area delineation – validation of existing algorithms and proposition of a new object-based approach for large scale hazard indication mapping

Quantitative studies of the morphology of the south Poland using Relief Index (RI)

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