Mission Massasauga: A GIS Multi-Criteria Evaluation

DeSanto, Julia

Mission Massasauga: A GIS Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10456/59212

Author(s)

DeSanto, Julia

Date Issued

March 31, 2025

Abstract

The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is a federally threatened species and a Pennsylvania state endangered species. Snakes provide a wide array of important ecosystem services, such as rodent population control and being umbrella species for sensitive habitats. Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes face a wide array of challenges, including habitat destruction and degradation, habitat fragmentation, disease, and negative human interactions. Due to this, species population numbers have been steadily declining. The PA Fish and Boat Commission set out to create a species action plan for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake in order to prevent the species from becoming extant from the state. Said plan seeks to eventually reintroduce a population of rattlesnakes somewhere within the species historic range. This analysis focuses on finding suitable areas within that range large enough to house a population of 10 individuals. GIS fuzzy logic analysis was completed based on Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake habitat preferences and human-centered habitat constraints. From this, regions large enough to accommodate a robust population were identified. The study region spanned across 8 counties located in western Pennsylvania. The model identified 10 highly suitable regions large enough to support a new population, mostly concentrated in the Northeastern portion of the study region. Across the study region, only 8.9% of the area exhibited above average suitability. High levels of development and fragmentation highlight challenges in traveling to and from overwintering habitat and regular habitat. This habitat suitability model can be used in the conservation planning of this species within other regions of North America.

Major

Environmental Science and Sustainability

Honors

Environmental Science and Sustainability, 2025

First Reader(s)

Shaffer, Christopher