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A Multiscale Spatial Analysis of Oak Openings Plant Diversity with Implications for Conservation and Management

Schetter, Timothy Andrew
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1334089503

Abstract Details

2012, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Oak savannas of the Midwestern U.S. are among the most imperiled North American plant communities. The 478-km2 Oak Openings region of Northwestern Ohio is one of the few landscape-scale savanna systems remaining in the Midwest. Despite conversion of large portions of the Oak Openings for human land uses, the region still supports high levels of floristic diversity. However, regional patterns of Oak Openings plant diversity within the modern landscape are not well understood. My research objectives were 1) to determine the current extent and distribution of Oak Openings plant communities, 2) to quantify multiscale patterns of plant species richness within the context of the surrounding landscape, and 3) to build predictive species distribution models of rare plants to evaluate regional patterns in habitat suitability. First, using multi-seasonal Landsat images, I determined that <3% of the Oak Openings remains covered by native savannas, prairies, and barrens, while three-fourths of the region has been converted for urban, residential, and agricultural uses. Second, using measures of spatial heterogeneity derived from field data and remote sensing, I developed models of native and exotic plant species richness at two spatial extents and at four ecological levels for the Oak Openings. These models consistently explained more variation in exotic richness (better explained at the larger spatial extent) than in native richness (better explained at the smaller spatial extent). At all ecological levels, percentage of human-modified land cover in the surrounding landscape (negatively correlated with native richness, positively correlated with exotic richness) was a strong predictor of species richness. Finally, I developed species distribution models for nine rare plant species within the Oak Openings region using the Maxent modeling algorithm. Proportional land cover surrounding species occurrences accounted for a large proportion of the predictive power of all models. As percentage of human development increased in the surrounding landscape, the relative habitat suitability for modeled species decreased. From these collective results, I conclude that human-caused disturbances exert a strong influence on Oak Openings species richness patterns. It is therefore important for resource managers to consider landscape context when implementing conservation actions for the Oak Openings region.
Karen V. Root, PhD (Advisor)
Enrique Gomezdelcampo, PhD (Committee Member)
Helen J. Michaels, PhD (Committee Member)
Jeffery G. Miner, PhD (Committee Member)
Robert K. Vincent, PhD (Committee Member)
137 p.
Biology; Ecology; Natural Resource Management
biodiversity; exotic species; habitat suitability; land cover mapping; Landsat; landscape metrics; Maxent; Midwest oak savanna; Oak Openings; plant species richness; spatial heterogeneity; spatial scale

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schetter, T. A. (2012). A Multiscale Spatial Analysis of Oak Openings Plant Diversity with Implications for Conservation and Management [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1334089503

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schetter, Timothy. A Multiscale Spatial Analysis of Oak Openings Plant Diversity with Implications for Conservation and Management. 2012. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1334089503.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schetter, Timothy. "A Multiscale Spatial Analysis of Oak Openings Plant Diversity with Implications for Conservation and Management." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1334089503

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.