Mapping the physiography of Michigan with GIS

Abstract: We present a new physiographic map of Michigan, that is also available interactively, online. Only four, small-scale physiographic maps of Michigan had been previously published. Our mapping project made use of a wide variety of spatial data, in a GIS environment, to visualize and delineate the physical landscape in more detail than has been done previously. We also examined many of the unit boundaries in the field, using a GIS running on a GPS-enabled laptop. Unlike previous physiographic maps, the online version of the map enables users to query the criteria used to define each of the 224 boundaries of its 10 major and 91 minor physiographic units. The interactive nature of the online version of the map is a unique enhancement to physiographic maps and mapping. Our study also provides data on the number and types of criteria used to define each of the 224 unit boundaries within the map. Most of our unit boundaries are based on data derived from 10-m raster elevation data and NRCS soils data, e.g., relief, soil wetness, escarpments, landscape fabric, and parent material characteristics. Data gleaned from NRCS SSURGO county-scale soil maps were a strength of the project

Assessing the Ecological Need for Prescribed Fire in Michigan Using GIS-Based Multicriteria Decision Analysis: Igniting Fire Gaps

In fire-suppressed landscapes, managers make difficult decisions about devoting limited resources for prescribed fire. Using GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis, we developed a model assessing ecological need for prescribed fire on Michigan’s state-owned lands, ranging from fire-dependent prairies, savannas, barrens, and oak and pine forests to fire-intolerant mesic forests, and including a diversity of wetlands. The model integrates fine-scale field-collected and broad-scale GIS data to identify where prescribed fire needs are greatest. We describe the model’s development and architecture, present results at multiple scales, introduce the concepts of “fire gaps” and “fire sink”, and rate the fire needs of more than 1.8 million hectares into one of six fire needs classes. Statewide, fire needs increase with decreasing latitude. The highest and lowest needs occur in southwestern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, respectively, but actual fire application rates for these regions are inverted. The model suggests burn rates should be increased 2.2 to 13.4 times to burn all lands with greater than high fire needs. The model identifies regional patterns; highlights specific sites; and illustrates the disparity of fire needs and fire application. The modeling framework is broadly applicable to other geographies and efforts to prioritize stewardship of biodiversity at multiple scales

Appendix A. A list of the names of the community types used in the selection of occurrences of highly ranked communities in Michigan, USA.

A list of the names of the community types used in the selection of occurrences of highly ranked communities in Michigan, USA

Appendix C. A map of Michigan's land cover ca. 1800.

A map of Michigan's land cover ca. 1800

Appendix B. A table of land and vegetation cover types used in creating geographic information system data layers of Michigan's land cover ca. 1800 and a coverage of unchanged vegetation.

A table of land and vegetation cover types used in creating geographic information system data layers of Michigan's land cover ca. 1800 and a coverage of unchanged vegetation

Appendix F. A table of results from a principal-components analysis of the number of occurrences of potential indicator species in 924 townships in Michigan.

A table of results from a principal-components analysis of the number of occurrences of potential indicator species in 924 townships in Michigan

Appendix E. A table showing the results of two correlation analyses of conservation value across 1900 Michigan townships, determined using the species richness and species occurrences in five groups of potential indicators.

A table showing the results of two correlation analyses of conservation value across 1900 Michigan townships, determined using the species richness and species occurrences in five groups of potential indicators

Supplement 1. Two geographic information system data layers showing Michigan's land cover ca. 1800 and unchanged land cover ca. 1980.

<h2>File List</h2><blockquote> <p><a href="supplement1.zip">supplement1.zip</a></p> <p> </p> </blockquote><h2>Description</h2><blockquote> <p>Supplement1.zip is the compressed archival file containing two GIS data sets, lu1800.e00 and unch_veg.e00. </p> <p> lu1800 is the land cover of Michigan as interpreted from the survey notes of the Government Land Office (GLO) surveys of the 1800s. Data format is an ESRI polygon coverage in interchange format. Geographic projection is Michigan Georef, NAD 83, meters. </p> <p> unch_veg.e00 is the current Michigan vegetation that is of a similar vegetation type as present in the same location during the GLO surveys of the 1800s. Data type is an ESRI polygon coverage in interchange format. Geographic projection is Michigan Georef, NAD 83, meters.</p> </blockquote

Appendix D. A map of Michigan's unchanged land cover ca. 1800.

A map of Michigan's unchanged land cover ca. 1800

Supplement 2. Five geographic information system layers specifying the size and location of areas of high conservation value that were used in this study.

<h2>File List</h2><blockquote> <p><a href="supplement2.zip">supplement2.zip</a> </p> </blockquote><h2>Description</h2><blockquote> <p>supplement2.zip<br> Compressed archive file containing five GIS datasets, unch_wetland.e00, unch_forest.e00, natareas24_p.e00, nat_comm.e00, all_areas.e00</p> <p>unch_wetland.e00<br> Contiguous wetlands in Michigan that are larger than 100 hectares and are of the same wetland type present in the Government Land Office surveys of the 1800s. Data format is ESRI polygon coverage in an ESRI interchange file. Geographic projection is Michigan Georef, NAD 83, meters.</p> <p>unch_forest.e00<br> Contiguous forests in Michigan that are larger than 100 hectares and are of the same forest type present in the Government Land Office surveys of the 1800s. Data format is ESRI polygon coverage in an ESRI interchange file. Geographic projection is Michigan Georef, NAD 83, meters.</p> <p>natareas24_p.e00<br> State of Michigan designated State Natural Areas. Data format is ESRI polygon coverage in an ESRI interchange file. Geographic projection is Michigan Georef, NAD 83, meters.</p> <p>nat_comm.e00<br> Natural communities from the Michigan Natural Features Inventory natural heritage database. Data format is ESRI polygon coverage in an ESRI interchange file. Geographic projection is Michigan Georef, NAD 83, meters. </p> <p>all_areas.e00<br> All preceding data sets, unch_wetland.e00, unch_forest.e00, natareas24_p.e00 and nat_comm.e00 merged into one data set. Data format is ESRI polygon coverage in an ESRI interchange file. Geographic projection is Michigan Georef, NAD 83, meters.</p> </blockquote