Vegetation Mapping and Wildlife Monitoring in Redlands' Open Space Reserves Andrew Sheble & Brighton Okamoto • Dr. Jim Blauth • University of Redlands, Department of Biology • Summer 2021 Abstract: It is possible to visually represent correlations between human activity, wildlife activity, and land cover using various mapping techniques. This was precisely the aim of much of our research during the summer of 2021. We sought to understand the distribution of plants, animals, and humans in Redlands' Hergnt ‘Aki’ Preserve, using various surveying and mapping techniques. A vegetation/land cover map (including 12 broad land cover types) was created on ArcGIS using aerial imagery and ground truthing methods. Game cameras and tracking stations were used to collect data concerning wildlife and human activity. The data was then processed via spatial interpolation, whereby the distribution patterns of humans and animals were predicted throughout the preserve. It was determined that the distribution of most wildlife is inversely related to that of humans. Land cover also has some bearing on wildlife distribution.
Methods (Continued):
Discussion:
Below are examples of the methodologies used to map vegetation and monitor wildlife in STNS and HAP. Note that drone imagery (Figure 2) was only available for HAP, and not for STNS. For this reason, ground truthing (Figure 3), and ArcGIS imagery basemaps were used to digitize land cover in STNS. Ground truthing served to identify land cover in areas that were not easily identifiable on the basemaps. Also note that game cameras and tracking stations (Figure 4) were used to monitor wildlife populations/human activity in both HAP and STNS. Motion-detecting game cameras were placed in the field for one week at a time, collected, and camera data (i.e. photos) were sorted to determine Where wildlife populations occur in the reserves.
As can be observed in the maps under the 'Results' section, human activity and wildlife distribution in HAP appear to be somewhat correlated. Human activity is particularly concentrated in the northwestern part of the preserve, around a popular trailhead. Bobcats, coyotes, and cottontails, on the other hand, appear to be most common in the eastern parts of the preserve. This, perhaps, goes to show that wildlife populations in HAP are avoiding areas that are highly traversed by humans. There also appear to be some wildlife distribution patterns with regard to land cover type. Coyotes, for example, appear to avoid 'Mixed Chaparral', perhaps because vegetation in these areas is too dense for them to move through. Cottontails, meanwhile, seem to prefer areas with mixed chaparral, possibly because they utilize dense foliage as shelter. Note that human activity will, in theory, be confined to trails, but for the purpose of comparison human distribution has been displayed as a continous surface.
Background: Since 2011, Dr. James Blauth has been collaborating with the Redlands Conservancy, a non-profit organization which aims to preserve Redlands’ cultural heritage and natural resources. His research provides the Redlands Conservancy with accurate data regarding wildlife population dynamics, land cover and plant distribution, and human activity in Redlands open space reserves, namely the San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary (STNS) and the Herngt ‘Aki’ Preserve (HAP). HAP (∼340-acres) and STNS (∼200-acres) are multi-use open space reserves in south Redlands (Redlands Conservancy 2021). Both reserves are maintained by the Redlands Conservancy, which states that "[HAP] has significant conservation values, including wildlife corridors, wildlife habitat, signature ridges, scenic vistas, oak groves, passive recreational trails, and cultural/historical importance" (Redlands Conservancy 2021).
Figure 1. Map of Herngt 'Aki' Preserve (HAP) & San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary (STNS)
Figure 2. HAP drone imagery, collected by University of Redlands Center for Spatial Studies faculty.
Figure 3. Ground truthing data points, verified in the field at STNS.
Figure 4. Hergnt ’Aki’ Preserve game camera and tracking station locations since 2017.
Conclusion: Results: The maps below display land cover and human/wildlife distributions in the Hergnt ‘Aki’ Preserve. The land cover map includes 12 classes of plant communities/land cover. The human/wildlife distribution maps, constructed using a spatial interpolation process, display the distributions of humans, des ert cottontail rabbits, coyotes, and bobcats (as these species were most commonly sighted by game cameras in the preserve). Figure 6. Hergnt ‘Aki’ Preserve human distribution map.
Figure 8. Hergnt ‘Aki’ Preserve coyote distribution map.
STNS
HAP
Figure 5. Hergnt ‘Aki’ Preserve vegetation/land cover map.
Methods: The project had two major components: vegetation mapping and wildlife monitoring. Methodologies for both aspects of the project follow...
Vegetation Mapping: Land cover in STNS and HAP was divided into 12 broad classes, based on the dominant plant community or land cover type present, and mapped on ArcGIS using satellite and drone aerial imagery. To verify certain areas of vegetation, ground truthing was performed using the ArcGIS Collector and Survey123 apps.
Wildlife Monitoring: Wildlife data was collected using game camera and tracking station records from past years and this year. The data was organized on an Excel spreadsheet, then imported to ArcGIS for interpolation to determine the frequency of animal and human sightings. Human and animal distribution patterns were compared to identify correlations.
Figure 7. Hergnt ‘Aki’ Preserve desert cottontail rabbit distribution map.
Figure 8. Hergnt ‘Aki’ Preserve bobcat distribution map.
Vegetation maps for both the San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary and Herngt ‘Aki’ Preserve allow for plant communities can be monitored, particularly in the event of fires and floods. Understanding land cover patterns also helps identify desireable areas for native grassland restoration projects in reserves, one of which Dr. Blauth is currently conducting. The interpolation maps display wildlife behavior for the first time in Dr. Blauth’s research. Future research entails continuing interpolation analysis for more species and updating the maps each year to identify trends in human and wildlife activity.
Sources: Redlands Conservancy. (2021). Herngt ‘Aki’ Preserve. Redlands Conservancy. https://redlandsconservancy.org/live-oakcanyon/. Redlands Conservancy. (2021). San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary. Redlands Conservancy. https://redlandsconservanc y.org/san-timoteo-nature-sanctuarymanagement-2/
Acknowledgements: University of Redlands Summer Undergraduate Science Research Program • Redlands Conservancy • Larry & Rita Seratt King, and other donors to the Summer Undergraduate Science Research Program