Species Distribution Models for Native Species in the Mojave Desert

Preserving native species diversity is fundamental to ecosystem conservation. Selecting appropriate native species for use in restoration is a critical component of project design and may emphasize species attributes such as life history, functional type, pollinator services, and nutritional value for wildlife. Determining which species are likely to establish and persist in a particular environment is a key consideration. Species distribution models (SDMs) characterize relationships between species occurrences and the physical environment (e.g., climate, soil, topographic relief) and provide a mechanism for assessing which species may successfully propagate at a restoration site. In conjunction with information on species attributes, SDMs facilitate holistic ecosystem restoration by enabling practitioners to identify diverse, resilient assemblages of native species. This project develops SDMs for native species of fundamental ecosystem importance in order to guide restoration of Mojave Desert landscapes. These data support the following publication: Shryock, D.F., DeFalco, L.A., and Esque, T.C., 2022, Seed Menus: an integrated decision-support framework for native plant restoration in the Mojave Desert. Accepted article. Ecology and Evolution.