GAP Analysis

We will take advantage of the unparalleled access that we have in Pennsylvania to information about the occurrence, on a very fine scale (30m X 30m), of land cover features associated with the “primary” breeding habitat of selected difficult to detect species. Many of these species, such as Sedge Wren and Long-eared Owl, also are among those for which we have the greatest conservation interest and/or concern. So-called “GAP” habitat models were initially developed to help determine "gaps" in the protection of areas of high vertebrate diversity. The models are based on geographic information system (GIS) land cover attributes determined by remote satellite sensing, a digital elevation model, streams, wetlands and human disturbance and distribution. At the level of the Atlas block, these GIS landcover data, incorporated into species-specific GAP habitat models, will effectively put an “X” or “Xs” on Atlas block maps highlighting precise locations where the difficult to detect species should be looked closely for (i.e., where the species primary breeding habitat can be found according to the GAP models). While models exist for all species nesting in Pennsylvania, we will be specifically targetting 13 species of special concern that may be dificult to detect or rare.