Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System

Using Remote Sensing to Delineate Habitats
on Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area

by Jim Everett (USDA, Integrated Farming and Natural Resource Research Unit)
and Louis A. Harveson

Accurate ecosystem maps are a prerequisite to many ecological studies, including evaluation of land use patterns; identification of optimal habitat for endangered, threatened, or game species; and evaluation of relationships between plants and animal communities.

The goal of this study is to identify, map and describe native plant communities on Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Specific objectives include:

1. Delineating vegetation communities both visually and spectrally using a combination of image processing, photointerpretation, and ground measurements.
2. Assessing the accuracy of unsupervised and supervised classifications of SPOT (Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre) satellite imagery and black and white aerial photographs.

A SPOT scene was acquired of the study area on Oct. 7, 1998. Preliminary interpretation suggests that a minimum six vegetation communities can be delineated. Further analysis is pending.

Cooperative funding by USDA and Sul Ross State University.