A Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara) on the Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota, USA

• Published in: Ecological indicators Vol. 57; pp. 536 - 545
• Main Authors: Knudson, Michael D., VanLooy, Jeffrey A., Hill, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2015
• Subjects: altitude; biodiversity; Elevation; Grasslands; grazing; Groundwater; Habitat; Habitats; Indicators; landscape position; Landscapes; livestock; Moisture; monitoring; North Dakota; Orchid; Orchidaceae; Platanthera praeclara; Position indicators; Position measurement; recreation; Threatened species; Topography; water table; Wetlands; USA, North Dakota; USA, Southeast; North Dakota; Orchid; Grasslands; Elevation; Threatened species; Groundwater; Topography; Habitat; Wetlands

•Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was constructed from landform and groundwater data.•An HSI of 0.73 and greater captured 81.7% of observed orchid locations.•Analysis shows orchids occur 0.98±0.39 (2σ)m above the water table.•A similar index based on groundwater and landforms could be used in other l...