New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Predicting the distribution of raptors using remote sensing
techniques and Geographic Information Systems: a case study with the
Eastern New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae)
Renaud Mathieu
School of Surveying
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
renaud.mathieu@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Philip Seddon
Jamie Leiendecker
Department of Zoology
University of Otago
Abstract Remote sensing and Geographic Information
System techniques were used to predict the distribution of nest site
habitats of Eastern New Zealand falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae)
in Otago. Satellite imagery (SPOT 4) was used to produce a vegetation
map, which was integrated into a GIS database with contour, stream,
road, and house data extracted from digital topographical maps. Habitat
selection criteria were analysed comparing habitat features in the
vicinity of nest sites with those available within the study area.
Habitat selection criteria, including vegetation type, aspect,
elevation, slope, terrain steepness, distance to water and human
influence, were combined to build a model predicting the potential
distribution of falcon nests. Our evaluation of the model showed that
Eastern New Zealand falcons do select nesting territories in areas
predicted by the model to be suitable breeding habitat. This technique
has the potential to facilitate the location of falcon breeding sites,
to allow more accurate estimates of the distribution, extent, and
status of nesting habitat of New Zealand falcons, and could help to
estimate the total population size and thereby enable more rigorous
evaluation of the threat status of the species.
Keywords Eastern New Zealand falcon; nest site
habitat; population estimation; spatial distribution; Geographic
Information System
Z05001; Received 17 January 2005; accepted 17 August 2005; Online
publication date 24 February 2006
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2006, Vol. 33: 73–84
0301–4223/06/3301–0073 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2006
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