Habitat availability assessment for the Gulf Coast kangaroo rat (Dipodomys compactus) in south-central Texas

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dc.contributor.advisorVeech, Joseph A.
dc.contributor.authorBliss, Laura M.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCastro-Arellano, Ivan
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSimpson, Thomas R.
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-06T16:35:41Z
dc.date.available2017-01-06T16:35:41Z
dc.date.issued2016-12
dc.description.abstractAs the human population increases worldwide, urbanization, habitat destruction, and habitat modification also increase. Recently the urbanization rate in Central Texas has become one of the highest in the nation. The consequential loss of natural habitat could jeopardize native wildlife species that are already somewhat limited in their distribution. Based on specialized life-history traits that limit large-scale mobility, kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) have been found to be especially sensitive to urbanization-induced habitat modification and fragmentation. Dipodomys compactus is one of five kangaroo rat species found in Texas; this species has narrow, specific habitat requirements. Using a geographic information system (GIS)-based habitat suitability model, I determined that due to isolation among suitable habitat patches, actual D. compactus range in south-central Texas is highly fragmented, and the particular population in south-central Texas may be more isolated than currently thought. The assessment strategy of GIS habitat mapping can be broadly applied to other vulnerable species with similarly narrow habitat parameters to predict current and future management requirements.
dc.description.departmentBiology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent60 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationBliss, L. M. (2016). <i>Habitat availability assessment for the Gulf Coast kangaroo rat (Dipodomys compactus) in south-central Texas</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/6400
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectGIS
dc.subjectConservation ecology
dc.subjectConservation assessment
dc.subjectMetapopulation
dc.subjectHabitat model
dc.subject.lcshKangaroo rats--Texasen_US
dc.subject.lcshHabitat selectionen_US
dc.subject.lcshAnimal population densityen_US
dc.titleHabitat availability assessment for the Gulf Coast kangaroo rat (Dipodomys compactus) in south-central Texas
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.departmentBiology
thesis.degree.disciplineWildlife Ecology
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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