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STATUS

Species of Concern Potential SOC Under Review (Plants) No Status

PLANTS
Class / Order / Family

Monocotyledoneae Cyperales Cyperaceae Poaceae Orchidales Orchidaceae Dicotyledoneae Apiales Apiaceae Asterales Asteraceae Capparales Brassicaceae Capparaceae Caryophyllales Amaranthaceae Dipsacales Adoxaceae Fabales Fabaceae Fagales Fagaceae Gentianales Asclepiadaceae Gentianaceae Lamiales Boraginaceae Lamiaceae Malvales Malvaceae Myrtales Onagraceae Plantaginales Plantaginaceae Polygonales Polygonaceae Primulales Primulaceae Ranunculales Ranunculaceae Rosales Saxifragaceae Scrophulariales Orobanchaceae Phrymaceae Solanales Hydrophyllaceae Polemoniaceae Violales Loasaceae

ANIMALS
Class / Order / Family

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Contact Information

  • Model information for plants:
    Scott Mincemoyer
    (406) 444-2817, smincemoyer@mt.gov


  • Model information for non-game animals:
    Bryce Maxell
    (406) 444-3655, bmaxell@mt.gov


  • Model information for game animals:
    Adam Messer
    (406) 444-0095, amesser@mt.gov

Predicted Suitable Habitat Models for Selected
Montana Plant and Animal Species

This page provides access to predicted suitable habitat model outputs and associated metadata for animal species resident in Montana for at least a portion of each year and for select plant species, focusing on Species Of Concern in the state.

As more models become available for plant and animal species,
they will appear in the search boxes on the left.

Model Design

Animal models were constructed by the Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and plant models were constructed by MTNHP using statewide biotic and abiotic data layers and observation data housed at the Montana State Library. Observation data are updated on a regular basis and models may be updated as new distribution information becomes available for individual species or as new or improved biotic and abiotic data layers become available. Please check the date associated with the model for a particular species to make sure that you have the latest model for that species.

Model Outputs

Models were constructed from presence-only data and up to 18 statewide biotic and abiotic layers using the maximum entropy algorithm employed in the Maxent program (http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~schapire/maxent/ Phillips et al. 2006, Ecological Modeling 190:231-259). Model outputs are in the form of a logistic value that ranges from 0-1 with lower values representing areas predicted to be less suitable habitat and higher values representing areas predicted to be more suitable habitat. Depending on the number of observations available to train and/or evaluate the models, we have reclassified map outputs into either binary (unsuitable or suitable) or various suitability classes (unsuitable, low suitability, moderate suitability, and high suitability). Detailed descriptions of the environmental layers and observations used for modeling, the modeling process, and cutoffs used to designate habitat suitability classes are included with the metadata for models of individual species.

Model outputs are provided as jpg images and as geo-referenced png image files available for download and viewable in ArcGIS. Predicted suitable habitat for those species whose habitat occurs across a large geographic area but in small scattered or linear patches may not always be readily visible on the jpg images and it is highly recommended that the PNG files be used to view areas of predicted suitable habitat for these species.

Model Limitations

Models are based on statewide biotic and abiotic variables originally mapped at various spatial scales and standardized to 90 x 90 meter raster pixels. As a result, model outputs may not be appropriate for use on smaller areas. Model outputs should not typically be used for planning efforts on land areas smaller than one quarter of a public land survey system (PLSS) section (<64 Hectares) and model outputs for some species may only be appropriate for broader regional level planning efforts. Evaluations of predictive accuracy and specific limitations are included with the metadata for models of individual species. Model outputs should not be used in place of on-the-ground surveys for species. Instead model outputs should be used in conjunction with habitat evaluations to determine the need for on-the-ground surveys for species.