Graduation Date
Spring 2024
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Biology
Committee Chair Name
Sharyn Marks
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Ho Yi Wan
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
James Graham
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Fourth Committee Member Name
Daniel Barton
Fourth Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Habitat suitability modeling, Guided surveys, Dunn's salamander, Plethodon dunni, MaxEnt, GLM
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
Habitat suitability models were utilized to direct survey efforts for Plethodon dunni in Northern California. Two models were created, one using traditional statistical methods (GLM or Generalized Linear Modeling) and the other using a machine learning method (MaxEnt or Maximum Entropy modeling). Plots were selected from areas of agreement and disagreement between the models to carry out presence surveys. The MaxEnt model yielded better predictions than the GLM model. The two models had three variables in common (annual temperature range, precipitation of driest month, and precipitation seasonality) and predicted suitable habitat within the known range of P. dunni. The surveys confirmed the models' predictions by detecting the presence of P. dunni at 13 out of 20 plots. Plethodon dunni was detected at historical locations along Rowdy Creek Road and North Bank Road, north of the Smith River in Del Norte County, California. This study also filled a gap in the record of P. dunni observations between the Oregon-California border and Rowdy Creek Road. In conclusion, habitat suitability models are a valuable tool for selecting suitable habitat locations and directing survey efforts, and in this study, they were successfully applied to P. dunni.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Mackey, Mary A., "Using habitat modeling to locate new populations of Dunn's Salamander (Plethodon dunni) near its southern geographic range limit" (2024). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 733.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/733