Abstract: Turkey Vulture potential habitat was predicted using habitat relationships derived from an extensive literature search, range limits derived from a literature search and observed occurrences of the species, and a habitat map based upon remotely sensed data. In a geographic information system (GIS) these layers and ancillary information were merged to generate the final predicted distribution.
Purpose: Conservation efforts have concentrated upon rescuing species from the brink of extinction. These programs were reactionary, usually expensive, and sometimes disruptive. In the mid-1980s, the gap analysis method was propsed and tested, to address conservation of all species, not just those currently rare. The gap analysis process provides an overview of the distribution and conservation status of several components of biodiversity. In Maine, specific components of biodiversity include amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and woody plants. The spatial habitat map this document describes was overlaid upon conservation areas, for example (Krohn et al. 1998) to quantify its conservation status and species-rich areas. Gap Analysis, by focusing on all species, is likely to be both cheaper and more likely to succeed than conservation programs focused upon single species or populations.

Progress: Complete
Update Frequency: Unknown. Updates are not scheduled.

Theme Keywords: None, Potential habitat, Habitat, Habitat matrix, Vertebrate, Potential occurrence, Presence/absence
Place Keywords: Maine, New England, New Hampshire, Quebec, Canada, New Bruswick, Canada

Access Constraints: none
Usage Constraints: These data may not be appropriate at map scales finer than 1:100,000 scale.