Science Seminar: Modeling shorebird habitat with iPlover data

Title - Refugia from a rising tide: preliminary steps in modeling the effects of sea-level rise on shorebird habitat

Presenter - Sara Zeigler, U.S. Geological Survey

Description - Effective conservation is more likely when scientists and managers communicate and when empirical and experiential evidence from a variety of sources are used for conservation planning. Here, we describe a data collection and analysis approach that relies on strong collaborative relationships between scientists and managers and is used to better understand a species’ habitat needs over broad spatial scales, with direct relevance to management.

In this talk, we will describe data collection with a smartphone application, iPlover. We then demonstrate an example of how these data can be used within a Bayesian network to map site-wide habitat suitability for our focal species, piping plovers (Charadrius melodus). We conclude by illustrating how this model will be integrated with other Bayesian networks of barrier island geomorphology and shoreline change to make future predictions of shorebird habitat availability given climate-driven changes in storm regimes and sea-level rise.

Webinar details -

WebEx meeting

Link to view the webinar: https://mmancusa.webex.com/mmancusa/j.php?MTID=m902ddd6d14b1b77240085c9e4b6e6139

Meeting number: 816 742 498

Meeting password: 5PxVuks*

Tele-conference line

Call-in number: 1-866-832-8172

Attendee access code: 495 184 7