Habitat Suitability Analysis for Puma concolor coryi
Research Question:
Where are critical areas of protection, restoration, expansion, or reintroduction for Florida Panthers?
Reclassification Table
| Factors | 5 Highly Suitable | 4 Suitable | 3 Moderately Suitable | 2 Marginally Suitable | 1 Not Suitable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Cover | Natural Forests | Wetlands | Emergent Wetlands | Agriculture | Urban / Developed |
| VCI | > 0.85 | 0.70–0.85 | 0.5–0.7 | 0.35–0.50 | < 0.35 |
| Distance to Roadways (meters) | > 5,000 | 2,500–5,000 | 1,000–2,500 | 500–1,000 | < 500 |
| Storm Surge | No Flooding / Cat 5 | Cat 4 | Cat 3 | Cat 2 | Cat 1 |
Weights
- Land Cover- 35%
- Distance to Roadways- 30%
- Vegetation Condition- 20%
- Storm Surge Risk- 15%
Transformed Maps for Suitability Modeler
Suitability Model
Tools Used
- Euclidean Distance
- Clip Raster
- Reclassify Raster
- Suitability Modeler
- Raster Calculator
- Polygon to Raster Calculator
Data Sources:
Florida Department of Transportation
USDA Farm Services Agency
National Land Cover Database
NOAA Hurricane Center