Combining Species Distribution Models and Value of Information Analysis for Spatial Allocation of Conservation Resources

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Creator: 

Raymond, Calla Victoria

Date: 

2018

Abstract: 

Managers often have incomplete information needed to make decisions about threatened species management, and do not have the time or funding needed to obtain complete information. Value of Information (VOI) analysis has the potential to assist managers in making the decision to monitor or manage, but it has not been applied to assessing spatial allocation of monitoring. I use data from SDMs to apply VOI across a landscape. I determine in which situations one should monitor before purchasing land for conservation, and when one should act based on current information. I found the optimal decision for management units was to act based on current information when survey accuracy was > 0.60. At accuracy > 0.60, it was most effective to monitor the majority of units. My results suggest that if managers can utilize VOI to more efficiently monitor, it can lead to protecting more threatened species occurrences.

Subject: 

Biology

Language: 

English

Publisher: 

Carleton University

Thesis Degree Name: 

Master of Science: 
M.Sc.

Thesis Degree Level: 

Master's

Thesis Degree Discipline: 

Biology

Parent Collection: 

Theses and Dissertations

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