GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies Part 8 ppt

Data Collection and Analysis 167

FIG. 13.2 Original point data collected for the white-faced capuchin (Cebus capuc￾inus)

the habitat map. This map was then overlaid with the wildlife data points to

derive wildlife habitat polygons.

An example of the process of converting point data to polygonal data is

provided in order to visualize the quality of wildlife data. An example of the

original point data collected for the white-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus) is

presented in figure 13.2. The 313 data points for the white-face capuchin were

overlaid with the habitat map, and all polygons containing data points were

“filled.” The resultant data file presented in figure 13.3 is the GIS file used in the

gap analysis for the white-faced capuchin discussed in detail in the next chapter.

An overlay of all four primate species is presented in figure 13.4. Since the

geographic range of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) is limited to the

southern region of Costa Rica, all four species are present only in that area. By

overlaying all four primate distributions, it is possible to identify numerous areas

utilized by one or two species. Likewise, one can see the few areas utilized by

three or more of the primate species.

The same procedure was employed for all twenty-one species distributions

(plate 3). Note the large area of the country where there were no species sighted.

These white polygons are either developed areas where wildlife is seldom seen

or remote areas where the humans who were interviewed had seldom been. No

FIG. 13.3 Polygonal habitat data for the white-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus)

FIG. 13.4 Overlay map of all four primate species