MODELING SPECIES-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONS (SER):  KEY ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS AND KEY ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES OF TERRESTRIAL SPECIES OF THE INTERIOR COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

MARCOT, BRUCE G.
USDA Forest Service
1221 SW Yamhill St., Suite 200
POB 3890
Portland OR, 97208-3890
503/808-2010 phone
503/808-2020 fax
brucem@SpiritOne.com

Poster presentation

Abstract:
This poster displays a classification system for key environmental correlates and key ecological functions of plants and animals of the interior Columbia Basin; depictions of correlates and functions in Paradox relational databases, as a species-environment relations (SER) model; and use of the SER database to guide and evaluate ecosystem planning for the Columbia Basin.  The SER approach is a significant extension to the traditional wildlife-habitat relationships programs and models.  Some of the management questions answerable by the SER database include:  what species are influenced by manipulating environmental factors?  What are the collective ecological functions of a set of species, such as those influenced by management activities?  Are there any "threatened ecological functions" deserving special attention, and what environmental conditions are necessary to manage for the species providing these functions?  Some lessons learned from the SER approach include:  maintaining species' ecological functions can be an explicit part of ecosystem management guidelines; and testable hypotheses regarding the ecological role of wildlife in their ecosystems can be articulated and related to management effects.