Gap analysis (ecology)
Gap analysis (Gap = English for "gap") is a term from recent ecology . With the help of the gap analysis, the areas and ecosystems required to maintain biological diversity ( biodiversity ) are identified.
Gap analyzes are based on the knowledge that placing individual animal or plant species under protection is often not effective enough; Often only the identification and placing under protection of larger habitats can help to sustainably preserve biodiversity. The English term "gap" refers to the fact that gaps are identified between species-rich areas with high protection needs and actually existing protected areas. In the ideal case, the results can then be incorporated into future conservation area planning ( biotope network ).
The basis of the analysis is initially the survey of the occurrence (mapping) of certain animal and plant species or the biodiversity in the study area. Since this is often not entirely possible, of potential habitat (is from the mapping results Habitat ) of each species modeled (using other known factors such as climate, topography, land use, etc.). These results are then merged into maps showing the overall diversity of species. Geostatistical methods are often used in the individual analysis steps , mostly supported by geographic information systems (GIS).
literature
- J. Michael Scott et al. (1993): Gap Analysis: A Geographic Approach to Protection of Biological Diversity. No. 123, Gap Analysis: A Geographic Approach to Protection of Biological Diversity (Jan., 1993), pp. 3–41 https://www.jstor.org/stable/3830788