GL_Mackinac 2019 ESI: Terrestrial Mammal Distributions for Oil Spill Sensitivity

Vector polygons represent the distribution of bats, river otter, beaver, muskrat, and Canada lynx in the Great Lakes Straits of Mackinac area. This data set contains sensitive biological resource data designed to characterize wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. It was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as part of the 2019 Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) for the region.

Use Cases

• Modeling oil spill impact zones based on terrestrial mammal distribution polygons.
• Assessing seasonal wildlife vulnerability based on associated species abundance and seasonality tables.
• Planning coastal zone management and conservation efforts based on sensitive biological resource data.
• Integrating spatial data on mammal habitats with shoreline and human-use resources for environmental sensitivity analysis.

Strengths

• Data is part of a standardized Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) framework for oil spill response.
• Includes species-specific attributes like abundance, seasonality, and life history in associated tables.
• Covers a defined study area including the Straits of Mackinac and portions of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Primary file format is PDF, which may complicate direct geospatial analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Likely gathered through field surveys, biological assessments, and spatial modeling for the ESI.

Time Range

2019

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 22:27:17.357856; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Great Lakes - Straits of Mackinac study area, including nearby portions of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and adjacent lands and waters in northern Michigan.