Overview of Project

[JackRicho]

Environmental Niche Modelling attempts to predict the possible distribution of a species based on environmental factors and/or occurrence data.

Aim (First iteration):

• To use the R package ENMTools to create a Species Distribution Model (SDM) of platypus, and then create an R function to allow users to easily map and find likely nearby places to observe platypus

Data will be obtained and then filtered from the Atlas of Living Australia, as well as relevant climate, geospatial, and water data from relevant and compatible (most likely government) data sources

Rough Timeline:

• [x] Choose a modeling system, experiment with R by following tutorials
• [x] Choose a species to model
• [x] Source and clean Species data
• [x] ENM
• [x] Source and clean Water data
• [x] Load water data into R
• [x] Code to find nearest water sources from location
• [x] #10
• [ ] Clean up Bioclim Response Plots
• [x] Write up the interesting bits
• [x] Create a function that takes input of current location then outputs locations and likelihood of platypus occurrence
• [ ] Export Data and Tables
• [x] Create Poster
• [ ] Clean Up final submission folder

Things to look into

• Github hosted website to create interactive map, rather than function. (More accessible to the public but outside scope of brief?)
• Why not do both Platypus and Rakali? Demonstrates the versatility of R and ENM, Gives love to (neglected) native rodent.
• Are platypus present in urban and peri-urban environments?
• Does dam presence have an effect on platypus presence?
• Does land erosion have an effect on platypus?
• What are the best time of day and year to see platypus?

[JackRicho]

What if I cannot get the modelling to work?

• My focus will remain on platypus and where to find them, but I will shift the scope of my assignment to finding the optimal conditions and times to see platypus based on ALA sightings data
• Include locations, times of day, time of year, possibly attempting to find clusters
• The assignment will still integrate water data, and I would like to keep the goal of creating a function to find nearby water sightings as well as focusing more on the additional questions proposed above

[JackRicho]

Extra To Do List

• [x] Read Through this paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340965531_General_Theory_and_Good_Practices_in_Ecological_Niche_Modeling_A_Basic_Guide
• [ ] Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjH9p6H41mg&list=PLw-jIvFxpgIBgNzIbfh52-TQyTEbcSvSH&index=17
• [ ] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380022003404