Name: NMSU_Desert_Tortoise_Core_Habitat

Display Field: habitat_category

Type: Feature Layer

Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon

Description: Core habitat areas for desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in Death Valley National Park. This layer identifies concentrated zones of moderate and optimal habitat quality based on a multi-variable habitat suitability index (HSI) model. Core areas represent locations where suitable habitat is spatially concentrated rather than scattered or fragmented, indicating higher-quality habitat zones for tortoise populations. The layer was derived through focal density analysis of classified habitat suitability rasters, using a 450-meter radius neighborhood (approximately 64 hectares) to identify areas where at least 40% of the surrounding landscape consists of moderate or optimal habitat. This density-based approach distinguishes between core habitat areas (concentrated suitable conditions) and edge/marginal areas (isolated or scattered suitable pixels), providing a more ecologically meaningful representation of tortoise habitat than simple pixel-based classification. Core habitat categories: - Moderate Core: Areas with concentrated moderate-quality habitat (HSI scores 2.00-2.49) - Optimal Core: Areas with concentrated optimal-quality habitat (HSI scores 2.50-3.00) The underlying HSI model integrates eight environmental variables weighted according to published desert tortoise habitat research: soil depth to bedrock (20%), winter precipitation (15%), summer precipitation (10%), elevation (18%), slope (8%), aspect (7%), surficial geology (12%), and vegetation community type (10%). The model is based on Nussear et al. (2009) methodology adapted for Death Valley conditions.

Service Item Id: 68bc1f4abbed4aa1abe48b1c16b22afb

Copyright Text: Created by Jamie Weleber (NEPA & GIS Specialist, Death Valley National Park) using habitat suitability modeling methodology adapted from Nussear et al. (2009). Input data sources: USGS surficial geology, PRISM climate data, USGS 3DEP elevation, NPS Vegetation Mapping Inventory (Cogan 2024).

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Supported Query Formats: JSON, geoJSON, PBF

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Can Modify Layer: true

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Extent:

XMin: -118.00599526299999
YMin: 35.58706319100003
XMax: -116.27166775599994
YMax: 37.35261172200006
Spatial Reference: 4269  (4269)

Drawing Info:

Renderer:
Unique Value Renderer:
Field 1: habitat_category
Field 2: N/A
Field 3: N/A
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UniqueValueInfos:
• Value: Moderate Core
  Label: Moderate Core
  Description: Moderate Core
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• Value: Optimal Core
  Label: Optimal Core
  Description: Optimal Core
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Labeling Info:

Feature Draw Order:

N/A

Advanced Query Capabilities:

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Type ID Field: N/A

Fields:

• OBJECTID ( nullable: false, alias: OBJECTID, type: esriFieldTypeOID )
• habitat_category ( nullable: true, length: 50, alias: Habitat Designation, type: esriFieldTypeString )
• description ( nullable: true, length: 500, alias: Description, type: esriFieldTypeString )
• acres ( nullable: true, alias: ACRES, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• hectares ( nullable: true, alias: HECTARES, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• id ( nullable: true, alias: Id, type: esriFieldTypeInteger )
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• Shape_Area ( nullable: true, alias: Shape_Area, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )

Supported Operations:   Query   Query Attachments   Query Analytic   Generate Renderer   Return Updates

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