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Using Geospatial Analysis to Model For The Cryptic Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) in Tennessee

The Southeastern United States retains some of the highest salamander diversity on Earth, with a high degree of endemism. However, this region has also experienced consistent declines across recent decades. The seasonality and complex life-history of salamander populations leads to data gaps and detection difficulties. As a consequence, researchers have begun using citizen-science and museum data as a means of projecting current distributions. Habitat specialists like, Hemidactylium scutatum (Four-toed Salamander), have experienced habitat loss and subsequent populations declines. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has listed it as a species of “Greatest Conservation Need”. To mitigate data gaps, geospatial models are generated using various existing data sources. Landscape metrics that are used to populate the model include land cover type, elevation, slope, soil type, and hydrology. Using geospatial tools, we will be better able to elucidate the current habitat suitability for this cryptic species and these results will be useful to resource managers who require tested models using occupancy and habitat data. Models created in ArcGIS will be cross-validated using data collected in the field from predicted occupancy. The anticipated sampling for this project will begin in March 2020 and this poster presents preliminary models to be field tested.