The importance of accurate landuse/landcover maps for assessing habitat suitability for black bear (Ursus americanus) in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.

Landcover/landuse layers can be used to map species’ distributions as a potential indicator of habitat selection. We used this approach to assess habitat selection by a small population of black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Trans-Pecos of Texas. We compared the accuracy of the Gap Analysis Program (GAP) landcover/landuse layer and a second derived landcover/landuse layer (derived) from LANDSAT images. We then determined habitat selection using sighting data collected from 1901-2003 for both landcover/landuse layers. The derived landcover/landuse layer was 40% more accurate than the GAP layer and there was only 44% agreement between the classifications from the two layers. The discrepancy resulted in different landocover/landuse selections and different predictions of black bear occurrence depending on which layer was used. We recommend managers use derived landcover/landuse layers along with sighting databases to aid management of population when little data on species distribution and habitat use are available.