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GIS
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Application of Satellite Imagery and GIS to Wildlife Habitat Suitability Mapping
Result and discussions
Landuse, slope and geology maps generating from into PWS are illustrated in figure 2 (a), 2(b) and 2(c) respectively. The habitat suitability map of 7 wildlife species resulting form the spatial overlay of thematic layers in the PWS is presented in fig 3. the corresponding area for each wildlife species is show in table 2.
Table 2 Habitat Suitability area for each wildlife species ( in percent of total area of the PWS).
| Suitability |
Wild Boar |
Barking Deer |
Common Palm civet |
Rhesus Macaque |
Golden jackal |
Sunda Pangolin |
Sandstone Gecko |
High
Moderate
Marginal |
4.08
1.48
94.44 |
3.36
1.12
95.52 |
13.16
34.17
52.67 |
74.33
8.16
44.51 |
17.73
6.65
75.62 |
34.17
13.16
52.67 |
2.00
0.98
97.02 |
| Total |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
The information obtained provides an approach ot identify habitat suitability for wildlife species. The theme layers to be used in the modeling differ from species to species . the result revealed that the extensive area of the PWS is highly suitable for Rhesus macaque , Sunda Pangolin and Golden Jackal . in the PWS endangered species i.e sandastone outcrop and far from human activities.
This study method identifies the current ability of anta area to provide individual wildlife species with environmental conditions needs for food cover and space. This would reflect existing vegetation cover as influenced by natural and man-caused disturbance .
Fig.2 (a) Landuse 1997, Phusitan Wildlife Sanctury, North-east Thailand
Fig.2 (b) Slope, Phusitan Wildlife Sanctury, North-east Thailand
Fig.2 (c) Geology, Phusitan Wildlife Sanctury, North-east Thailand
Fig.3 Wildlife habitat suitability map, Phusitan Wildlife Sanctuary, North-east Thailand.
(a) Wild Boar (b) Barking Deer
(c) Common Palm Civet (d) Rhesus Macaque (e) Golden Jackal (f) Sunda Pangolin (g) Sandstone Gecko
Ground investigation was used t assessed the rreliablility of he model developed . three wildlife species (Rhesus Macaque , sunda Pangolin and Sandstone Gecko) could be directly observed in the field , the rest species were found only their tracts.
In conclusion , for many wildlife species it is possible to evaluation habitat with identification of life requisite and vegetation cover . it is difficult to estimate actual population because animal population fluctuate substantially through time and space . many species are very difficult to observe directly and reliably through survey sample technique . computer based GIS provide the means to model the spatial habitat suitability effectively . accuracy of the model then relies on the knowledge based on wildlife and ecology relationships.
References
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