Data from: Identifying critical vegetation types for biodiversity conservation in the Americas
Data files
Feb 21, 2024 version files 35.01 GB
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Critical_vegetation_types_Americas.tfw
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Critical_vegetation_types_Americas.tif
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Critical_vegetation_types_Americas.tif.aux.xml
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Critical_vegetation_types_Americas.tif.ovr
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Critical_vegetation_types_Americas.tif.vat.cpg
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Critical_vegetation_types_Americas.tif.vat.dbf
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README.md
Abstract
The Americas contain highly biodiverse yet vulnerable ecosystems, with many threatened species inadequately protected. Finer-scale, localized habitat assessments are crucial for effective conservation planning, but continental-scale high-resolution vegetation maps remain limited. This study addresses this gap by identifying critical vegetation types across the Americas using the standardized framework of the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) system at the macrogroup level, representing the finest vegetation classification available across the region, as well as the highest-resolution Area of Habitat (AOH) maps currently available for birds and mammals. By combining these high-resolution IVC macrogroup maps with detailed AOH maps, we highlight at-risk vegetation types based on 1) threatened and macrogroup-associated species (species that have at least 50% of their AOH in one macrogroup), 2) current protection levels, and 3) projected threats from land use changes, and 4) develop a conservation value index (CVI) that accounts for all these factors. The results highlighted the remarkable diversity of high conservation value macrogroups across the Americas, emphasizing their significance in regions such as the Andes, montane Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, Brazil's Cerrado, and the Atlantic Forest. Among the highest-scoring macrogroups, the Northern Andean Montane & Upper Montane Humid Forest emerged as critically important, harboring a high number of threatened and macrogroup-associated species. Other macrogroups of immediate conservation concern include the Brazilian Atlantic Montane Humid Forest, Pacific Mesoamerican Seasonal Dry Forest, Caribbean Lowland Humid Forest, and Central Midwest Oak Forest, Woodland and Savanna. However, the study revealed that nearly three-quarters of the over 300 macrogroups in the Americas fall below the global target of 30% protection. Notably, a fifth of all species were macrogroup-associated species, including over 40% of threatened species. Our findings emphasize the need for targeted conservation strategies that consider finer-scale habitat classifications and paired with high-quality species distribution data to guide conservation strategies for biodiversity across the Americas.
README: Data from: Identifying critical vegetation types for biodiversity conservation in the Americas
Description
This dataset provides geospatial information on critical vegetation types across the Americas, aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation planning. It includes a TIFF file representing the distribution of various vegetation types, with accompanying metadata and reference files.
Authors
Lea Schulte, Luise Quoss, Patrick J. Comer, Maria Lumbierres, Emmanuel Oceguera, Henrique Pereira, Jose Valdez
Publication Date
February 2024
Dataset Contents
- Critical vegetation types Americas.tif - Raster file representing critical vegetation types in the Americas.
- Critical vegetation types Americas.vat.dbf - Value Attribute Table file containing attribute data associated with the raster image.
- Critical vegetation types Americas.tfw - TIFF World File providing georeferencing information for the raster image.
- Critical vegetation types Americas.aux - Auxiliary file containing additional metadata for the raster image.
- Critical vegetation types Americas.ovr - Overview file for improved performance at different zoom levels.
- Critical vegetation types Americas.cpg - Code Page File specifying the character encoding used in the attribute table or other associated files.
Abbreviations for the Attribute table
- VALUE = Unique identifier for each vegetation type
- MACROGROUP = Macrogroup vegetation type
- PERCENT PR = Percent Protected
- PERCENT LA = Percent Land use change 2030
- SIZE KM2 = Size in km2
- TOT ALL = Total All
- TOT SQKM = Total per sqkm
- TOT MAMMAL = Total Mammals
- TOT BIRDS = Total Birds
- TOT NON MI = Total Non-migratory Birds
- TOT MIGRAT = Total Migratory Birds
- THRT ALL = Threatened All
- THRT SQKM = Threatened per sqkm
- THRT MAMM = Threatened Mammals
- THRT BIRD = Threatened Birds
- THRT NON M = Threatened Non-migratory Birds
- THRT MIGRA = Threatened Migratory Birds
- MA ALL = Macrogroup-associated All
- MA SQKM = Macrogroup-associated per sqkm
- MA MAMMAL = Macrogroup-associated Mammals
- MA BIRD = Macrogroup-associated Birds
- MA NON MI = Macrogroup-associated Non-migratory Birds
- MA MIGRAT = Macrogroup-associated Migratory Birds
- THRMA ALL = Threatened Macrogroup-associated All
- THRMA SQKM = Threatened Macrogroup-associated per sqkm
- THRMA MAMM = Threatened Macrogroup-associated Mammals
- THRMA BIRD = Threatened Macrogroup-associated Birds
- THRMA NONM = Threatened Macrogroup-associated Non-migratory Birds
- THRMA MIGR = Threatened Macrogroup-associated Migratory Birds
- CVI = Conservation Value Index
Reference
Schulte, L., Quoss, L., Comer, P. J., Lumbierres, M., Oceguera Conchas, E., Pereira, H.M., & Valdez, J. W. (2024). Identifying Critical Vegetation Types for Biodiversity Conservation in the Americas. Global Ecology and Conservation, e02831. DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02831
Background Resources
- Comer, P. J., Hak, J. C., Dockter, D., & Smith, J. (2022). Integration of vegetation classification with land cover mapping: lessons from regional mapping efforts in the Americas. Vegetation Classification and Survey, 3, 29-43. DOI: 10.3897/VCS.67537
- Lumbierres, M., et al. (2022). Area of Habitat maps for the world’s terrestrial birds and mammals. Sci. Data, 9, 749. DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01838-w
- Chen, M., Vernon, C.R., Graham, N.T. et al. (2020). Global land use for 2015–2100 at 0.05° resolution under diverse socioeconomic and climate scenarios. Sci Data 7, 320. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00669-x
Contact
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Jose Valdez at jose.valdez@idiv.de.
Methods
Data Collection
Vegetation Types
The study utilized the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) system, focusing on the macrogroup level consisting of 321 natural vegetation types. This systematic approach enables a detailed vegetation analysis based on ecological criteria. The size of these macrogroups ranged significantly, with the vegetation map having a spatial resolution of 90 x 90 meters, reflecting vegetation as of 2010. All maps were resampled for consistent resolution.
Species Distribution
Area of Habitat (AOH) maps from Lumbierres et al. (2022) were used to assess terrestrial birds and mammals' habitat patterns in the Americas. The dataset included 6,204 species, with 1,868 mammals and 4,336 birds, offering a detailed 100 x 100-meter resolution. Migratory birds had separate AOH maps for different life stages, which were combined for analysis.
Protected Areas
Polygon data from the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA) was employed to evaluate the protection status of IVC macrogroups. The database includes 273,263 polygons across six protection classes, and all terrestrial areas and OECMs were considered.
Projected Land-use
Future anthropogenic land-use was projected using high-resolution models from Chen et al. (2020), covering various SSP and RCP scenarios. The SSP3-RCP4.5 scenario was specifically chosen for its moderate outlook. Land types were grouped, and the projected percentage of anthropogenic land use by 2030 was calculated to align with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
Data Processing
An overlay analysis of IVC macrogroup and AOH data determined species composition within each macrogroup. Migratory birds were handled separately, combining three AOH maps. Species were then filtered by threatened status using IUCN Red List categories. Macrogroup-associated species were defined as having at least half of their AOH within one macrogroup. Protected area coverage was assessed by overlaying macrogroup and protected area data. Future land use data was integrated to estimate land conversion probabilities by 2030. These steps were used to develop a Conservation Value Index (CVI).
Conservation Value Index
The CVI was calculated using a formula that equally weighs the number of threatened species, macrogroup-associated species, the percentage of macrogroup protection, and average land use within the macrogroup. The index offers a composite metric for assessing vegetation types for conservation, with adaptable parameters suitable for various contexts.