Floodplains are an important part of large‐river ecosystems; the frequency, timing, duration, and spatial extent of inundation drive habitat quality and determine the suitability of these habitats for both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Managers have traditionally had very limited information with which to evaluate and quantify the dynamics of large‐river floodplains. Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula use floodplains in the lower Mississippi River for spawning and have experienced declines in historic range that have been partly attributed to declines in spawning habitat availability. The Alligator Gar has therefore been identified by the American Fisheries Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many state agencies as a species of concern in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The goal of this study was to develop landscape‐level spatial data to determine the extent and quality of floodplain habitat that may be available for Alligator Gar spawning. Multi‐temporal analysis of remote sensing imagery was used to develop spatial data products that defined floodplain inundation extent, inundation frequency, and temperature. These products were combined with existing layers of physical habitat structure to define and quantify spawning habitat suitability throughout the entire area subject to direct inundation by the lower Mississippi River. Habitat suitability categories were defined based on meeting unique combinations of inundation, temperature, and physical structure so that the most suitable conservation measures can be applied to improve local conditions.

中文翻译：

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利用遥感评估密西西比河下游鳄鱼All的产卵适应性

洪泛区是大河生态系统的重要组成部分。淹没的频率，时间，持续时间和空间范围决定了栖息地的质量，并决定了这些栖息地对水生和陆生生物的适应性。传统上，管理人员只有非常有限的信息来评估和量化大河漫滩的动态。鳄雀鳝Atractosteus锅铲在密西西比河下游使用洪泛区产卵，历史范围有所减少，这部分归因于产卵栖息地可用性的下降。因此，短吻鳄被美国渔业协会，美国鱼类和野生动物服务局以及许多州机构确定为密西西比河冲积谷下游的关注物种。这项研究的目的是开发景观水平的空间数据，以确定可用于扬子鳄Gar产卵的洪泛区生境的范围和质量。利用多时相遥感影像分析来开发空间数据产品，这些产品定义了洪泛区的淹没程度，淹没频率和温度。这些产品与现有的物理栖息地结构层相结合，以定义和量化在密西西比河下游直接淹没的整个地区产卵栖息地的适宜性。根据满足淹没，温度和物理结构的独特组合来定义栖息地适宜性类别，以便可以采用最适合的养护措施来改善当地条件。