Draft Text edits/additions to LM Tools Page

linkage-mapper-tools.md

@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@ Centrality of Linkages and Habitat Concentration Areas (HCAs) for white-tailed j
 
 ### **Linkage Priority Tool** (New in v2.0)
 
-The Linkage Priority Tool was implemented to help quantify the relative conservation priority of each linkage in a landscape. Linkage Priority Tool is based on weighted combinations of many factors (Diagram 1). The lower set of factors in the diagram estimate the relative value of the two cores at either end of a linkage. Core priority is is evaluated on the shape, mean resistance value, size, and expert opinion. Users can also include climate by giving a higher value to cores with higher potential to serve as climate refugia. The Tool calculates relative value for every core, and the average value of the two cores associated with each linkage. This then becomes one of the factors determining linkage priority. Hence, a linkage which connects two really important core areas is a higher conservation priority than one that connects two marginal core areas.   The average core area value of the two cores of a linkage is then combined with the other higher level factors ([Figure 2](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-mC_aDD_eX2CW1h2x8oD9dDaWdkOZzP4T27k4Sq4TjI/edit#fig_ConceptualDiagram) top row) that relate directly to linkage priority, including the permeability of each linkage (i.e., the mean resistance values along the least cost path), the proximity of the two cores, the centrality, and expert opinion if available. Users can also include climate signature difference between two cores, giving higher priority to linkages that span a climate gradient, facilitating species range shifts. The tool provides the option of using the difference between the current climate signature of the cooler core, and the future climate signature of the hotter core, to simulate the climate gradient that slow moving species will encounter. A detailed user guide is provided online [(Gallo & Greene 2018)](https://paperpile.com/c/f97yev/fPPHe). Additional details will be presented at the North American Congress of Conservation Biology (2018). Reports are in revision.  Prototype applications of various beta versions of the Linkage Priority Tool have been performed in six regions in California -Sierra Nevada mountains, Sonoma County, Santa Barbara County, West Mojave, Sacramento Valley, and Modoc Plateau - with reports and publications in preparation.  In the last three of these studies, climate was considered in three ways in determining priority: (1) quantifying which linkages best facilitated long-term species range shifts, (2) which core areas provided more projected climate stability, and (3) which core areas contained more climate micro-refugia for withstanding climate change.![img](img/lm6.png)Diagram 1: Conceptual diagram of the Linkage Priority Tool. Optional climate wise features have a dashed line.   ![img](img/lm7.png)Linkage Priority output combined with Linkage Pathways and Pinchpoint Mapper outputs.  This provides an estimate of connectivity conservation priorities for American badger (Taxidea taxus), in the Sacramento Valley. Core areas are in grey, with relative core area value mapped. [Link here for the Interactive Map.](https://databasin.org/maps/a79bb15434a24871ba70bdf68e5c7249/active) [![American badger on the move](img/lm8.jpg)](img/lm8.jpg)An American badger on the move (photo by James Maughn)
+The Linkage Priority Tool was implemented to help quantify the relative conservation priority of each linkage in a landscape. Linkage Priority Tool is based on weighted combinations of many factors (Diagram 1). The lower set of factors in the diagram estimate the relative value of the two cores at either end of a linkage. Core priority is is evaluated on the shape, mean resistance value, size, and expert opinion. Users can also include climate by giving a higher value to cores with higher potential to serve as climate refugia. The Tool calculates relative value for every core, and the average value of the two cores associated with each linkage. This then becomes one of the factors determining linkage priority. Hence, a linkage which connects two really important core areas is a higher conservation priority than one that connects two marginal core areas.   The average core area value of the two cores of a linkage is then combined with the other higher level factors  that relate directly to linkage priority, including the permeability of each linkage (i.e., the mean resistance values along the least cost path), the proximity of the two cores, the centrality, and expert opinion if available. Users can also include climate signature difference between two cores, giving higher priority to linkages that span a climate gradient, facilitating species range shifts. The tool provides the option of using the difference between the current climate signature of the cooler core, and the future climate signature of the hotter core, to simulate the climate gradient that slow moving species will encounter. (See below figure). A detailed user guide is provided online [(Gallo & Greene 2018)](https://paperpile.com/c/f97yev/fPPHe). Additional details will be presented at the North American Congress of Conservation Biology (2018). ![img](img/lm6.png)Diagram 1: Conceptual diagram of the Linkage Priority Tool. Optional climate wise features have a dashed line.   
+
+### **Synthesis of Tool Outputs**
+
+The Linkage Priority Tool has been applied in eight regions, and in each case, combined with several other Linkage Mapper tool outputs to create synthesis products. Three of these regions are reported on in Gallo et al. (2019) and several are in reports in review. They synthesised the products for focal species, for structural connectivity, and also perfomred a metasyntheis of focal species and structural connectivity syntheses. The American Badger example is shown below. ![img](img/lm7.png)Linkage Priority output combined with Linkage Pathways and Pinchpoint Mapper outputs.  This provides an estimate of connectivity conservation priorities for American badger (Taxidea taxus), in the Sacramento Valley. Core areas are in grey, with relative core area value mapped (Gallo et al. 2019). [Link here for the Interactive Map.](https://databasin.org/maps/a79bb15434a24871ba70bdf68e5c7249/active) In this report, climate was considered in three ways in determining priority: (1) quantifying which linkages best facilitated long-term species range shifts, (2) which core areas provided more projected climate stability, and (3) which core areas contained more climate micro-refugia for withstanding climate change. In a report under review, Barrier Mapper output is combined with outputs from Linkage Priority, Pinchpoint Mapper, and Linkage Pathways to map the connectivity restoration priorities of a region. [![American badger on the move](img/lm8.jpg)](img/lm8.jpg)An American badger on the move (photo by James Maughn)
 
 ### **References**
 
@@ -44,6 +48,7 @@ Dutta T, Sharma S, McRae BH, Roy PS, DeFries R. 2015. [Connecting the dots: mapp
 Gallo JA, Greene R. 2018. Connectivity Analysis Software for Estimating Linkage Priority. Conservation Biology Institute, Corvallis, OR. <http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5673715>
 
 
+Gallo, JA, J. Strittholt, G. Joseph, H. Rustigian-Romsos, R. Degagne, J. Brice, and A. Prisbrey.2019. Mapping Habitat Connectivity Priority Areas that are Climate-wise and Multi-scale,for Three Regions of California. Conservation Biology Institute. March. <https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7477532>
 
 Jones, A. 2015. [Mapping Habitat Connectivity for Greater Sage-Grouse in Oregon’s Sage-Grouse
 Conservation Partnership (SageCon) Assessment Area.](https://databasin.org/documents/documents/914b7516f6b042fab105117d318eb702/download/) Produced by The Nature Conservancy (Portland OR) in