A programmable information system for management and analysis of aquatic species range data in California, Nicholas R. Santos, Jacob V.E. Katz, Peter B. Moyle, Joshua H Viers
I found this peer reviewed article via the UWF library resources. I found it interesting and pertinent because my school district just passed a resolution of support for the establishment of a Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program.
The research described in the article is the creation of a GIS dependent database and software program whose outputs can be used to map or tabulate freshwater species information in California. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service (FS) is California's largest land holder, accounting for approximately 20% of the state's land surface. The FS is responsible for identifying and monitoring aquatic species. Prior to the research discussed in this article the FS relied on maps created with early GIS technology that were created using expert knowledge rather than verifiable data. The previous maps also could not be readily updated with new information.
The decision support software system, called PISCES, "uses Python 2.6, ArcGIS and a MS Access geodatabase for data processing and storage." This enabled their product to work on a standalone, portable computing device, made it easy to import new data and provide updated maps as available. Additionally, new functions or configurations could be customized to accommodate future needs.
The researchers methodology "is designed to aggregate and convert diverse spatial data for California native fish species" to U.S. Geological Survey subwatersheds as their areal units (http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/regions.html). Their mapping code within PISCES was designed to be flexible, allowing for user created maps provided by specifying general parameters. The species database was seeded with some empirical data, but very little exists, most was captured from expert knowledge based and was reviewed by species experts.
The PISCES software and subsequent output provided maps and information that was much more useful than the previous GIS maps, especially "at regional and watershed-level scales." The new system also enabled FS management to be capable of providing revisions and regional analysis. Multiple sources could now verify a species' presence.
One of the limitations of using the USGS Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC12) as the areal unit was that some species were limited to one lake or stream, making it difficult to convey that a species reach was found only in this limited range.
Researchers tried to control or understand the sources for errors with the most difficult being the expert judgement required for non-empirical data in their database. A system such as that designed by the creators of PISCES is an excellent management tool to aid conservationists in capturing and reporting native species ranges and information. Although this system was designed specifically to solve management issues in California's FS lands (range maps for 67 of California's 129 native fish species were produced), the basic framework could be adapted to meet the needs of other environmentalists and wildlife management officials.
More information about National Estuary Programs can be found at:
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