Mojave fringe-toed lizard - Species Distribution Model, DRECP

These data are species distribution model outputs for the Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Uma scoparia) for the DRECP. Frank Davis’ Biogeography Lab at UC Santa Barbara used Maxent to produce a continuous probability surface and a binary layer showing suitable habitat, derived using the equal training sensitivity and specificity threshold. 

Based on consultation with biologists and occurrence data, the Conservation Biology Institute modified the UCSB binary model to include sand/dune complexes with known MFTL populations. Playas (based on the National Hydrography Dataset) were excluded from suitable habitat, and suitable sand features were selected from the DRECP Sand and Dune Systems dataset and National Hydrography Dataset washes. Developed, disturbed and agricultural lands were excluded from suitable habitat, using the Land Cover/Natural Vegetation Communities dataset produced by Dr. Todd Keeler-Wolf, CDFG. 

Based on consultation with biologists, additional habitat with an area of 42.88 km2 was manually added to the south of I-10, just west of Blythe. In the same vicinity, predicted habitat located to the north of I-10 was determined not to be suitable habitat and was manually removed. These modifications were made on 6/25/13.

General Modeling Info:

The UCSB Biogeography Lab used Maxent to generate predictions of habitat occupancy for ~70 species for the CA Energy Commission’s project “Cumulative Biological Impacts Framework for Solar Energy in the CA Desert”, 500-10-021.

Species distribution models were produced at 270 m resolution using a subset of 22 environmental variables. Models were evaluated with 10-foldcross validated AUC scores.

For Uma scoparia, Max Sensitivity + Specificity threshold = 0.1479; best AUC = 0.9915; mean AUC = 0.9818.  

For more information on the environmental variables used, modeling process, and model diagnostics, please refer to the supporting document “Data Descriptions: UCSB DRECP Species Distribution Models, June 12, 2013" provided by Frank Davis.