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Maps of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands forest functional groups, biomass, height, and species counts (2001-2008) and satellite image composites (1980-2000)

dataset
posted on 2024-09-12, 20:15 authored by Eileen H. Helmer, Thomas S. Ruzycki, Barry T. Wilson, Kirk R. Sherrill, Michael A. Lefsky, Humfredo Marcano-Vega, Thomas J. Brandeis, Heather E. Erickson, Bonnie Reufenacht
This data publication contains 49 ERDAS IMAGINE (IMG) raster images representing modeled distributions using Cubist, PGNN or both, of native, endemic and introduced tree species counts, relative basal areas of functional groups, species basal areas, and forest biomass from forest inventory data, satellite imagery and environmental data for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mapped outputs represent the years 2001-2008 (dates of inventory). Also included are raster data of generalized geology digitized from paper maps. Imagery include time series (1980-2000) of Landsat composites and SPOT panchromatic, and scene extents for the composites.
Until global wall-to-wall remote sensing data from more specialized sensors are available, maps from multispectral image time series and predictor data should help with running ecosystem models and as sustainable development indicators. Our purpose here is to paint a picture for the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (PRVI), of the outcome for tropical forests of large-scale clearing and regrowth given variable climate, topography, soil substrates and disturbance history; of colonization by several exotic species; and of protected areas established at different times. Towards that goal, we first assemble a database of tree species functional traits and other characteristics. Secondly, we apply two approaches to modeling and mapping several attributes of forests including: a) counts and relative basal areas of introduced, native and endemic tree species; b) relative basal areas of selected functional groups; c) forest structure and biomass; and d) individual tree species distributions. Helmer et al. (2018) briefly discusses the relative advantages of the two modeling methods. Our purpose was also to evaluate spatial patterns of disturbance history, protection, climate, geology and topography and address the implications of these and related results for Earth System Models (ESMs) and forest sustainability, specifically, forest-related aspects of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 15, particularly Target 15.2, Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management.
For more information about these data, see Helmer et al. (2018). These data were published on 07/25/2023. On 11/13/2023 we removed "modeled" from the title to eliminate potential confusion that maps were simpled modeled data. Maps were generated using field data and remote sensing together with statistical models.

Funding

USDA-FS

History

Data contact name

Eileen H. Helmer

Data contact email

eileen.helmer@usda.gov

Publisher

Forest Service Research Data Archive

Use limitations

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation: Helmer, Eileen H.; Ruzycki, Thomas S.; Wilson, Barry T.; Sherrill, Kirk R.; Lefsky, Michael A.; Marcano-Vega, Humfredo; Brandeis, Thomas J.; Erickson, Heather E.; Reufenacht, Bonnie. 2023. Maps of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands forest functional groups, biomass, height, and species counts (2001-2008) and satellite image composites (1980-2000). Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2023-0045

Temporal Extent Start Date

1980-01-01

Temporal Extent End Date

2008-12-31

Theme

  • Not specified

Geographic Coverage

{"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [{"type": "Feature", "geometry": {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-68.05747, 18.99021], [-68.05747, 17.57938], [-64.20806, 17.57938], [-64.20806, 18.99021], [-68.05747, 18.99021]]]}, "properties": {}}]}

Geographic location - description

The study area is a collection of Caribbean islands encompassing Puerto Rico, including Vieques, Culebra and Mona and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. The climate is tropical, under the defini...

ISO Topic Category

  • climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
  • planningCadastre
  • biota
  • imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
  • environment

National Agricultural Library Thesaurus terms

Forestry, Wildland Management

OMB Bureau Code

  • 005:96 - Forest Service

OMB Program Code

  • 005:059 - Management Activities

Pending citation

  • No

Public Access Level

  • Public

Identifier

RDS-2023-0045