Western Spadefoot Survey Data in Northern and Central California (2019)

Species distributions are governed by processes occurring at multiple spatial scales. For species with complex life cycles, the needs of all life stages must be met within the dispersal limitations of the species. Multi-scale processes can be particularly important for these species, where small-scale patterns in specific habitat components can affect the distribution of one life stage, whereas large-scale patterns in land cover might better explain the distribution of other life stages. Using a conditional multi-scale model, we evaluated which aspects of the landscape and local environment are most strongly related to occupancy patterns of western spadefoots (Spea hammondii). These data describe the survey, pool, and landscape characteristics associated with surveys conducted in the spring of 2019 for western spadefoots and used to estimate the parameters of the model. Considering the processes that affect species distributions at multiple scales is an important component of effective conservation.

This data supports the following publication:
Halstead, B.J., Rose, J.P., Clark, D., Kleeman, P.M. and Fisher, R.N., 2022. Multi-scale patterns in the occurrence of an ephemeral pool-breeding amphibian. Ecosphere, 13(3), p.e3960. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3960.