Wood Ape/Bigfoot Habitat Suitability Index
"An HSI is a numerical index that represents the capacity of a given habitat to support a selected species. [HSI] models are based on hypothesized species-habitat relationships rather than statements of proven cause and effect relationships. HSI model results represent the interactions of the habitat characteristics and how each habitat relates to a given species...The value is to serve as a basis for improved decision making and increased understanding of species-habitat relationships...The HSI describes the suitability of a given habitat by combining the interactions of all key environmental variables on a species vital rates and ultimately, survival.", The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,The model presented herein is a hypothesis of wood ape (aka bigfoot or sasquatch) species-habitat relationships and not a statement of proven cause and effect relationships. This model may demonstrate reliability in specific situations and may prove unreliable in others. For this reason, feedback is encouraged from users of this model concerning improvements and other suggestions that may increase the utility and effectiveness of this calculator.
The model synthesizes environmental variables into a framework that produces a scaled index (HSI) value between 1 (unsuitable habitat) and 100 (optimum habitat).
A scale of reference might be considered thusly:
| 91-100 | Highly favorable HSI |
| 76-90 | Favorable HSI |
| 60-75 | Moderately favorable HSI |
| 40-59 | Low HSI |
| 1-39 | Unfavorable HSI |
The following HSI Calculator was developed by the colaboration of the NAWAC membership. Feel free to use the tool to calculate the HSI for your local area.
HSI Calculator
1. General Climate Classification:
Polar: Cool summers & very cold winters, treeless tundras, glaciers.
Continental: Significant annual variation in temperature. Generally in middle of the continent. Winters are cold with snow. Precipitation is moderate in summer.
Dry: Deserts and steppes comprise these regions. Arid and semiarid areas with very low precipitation, high evaporation rates.
Temperate: Average yearly temperatures are not extreme. These regions have four seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring.
Tropical: A non-arid region. All 12 months are warmer than 18°C (64°F). Often only two seasons: a wet season and a dry season.
4. Type of Forest:
The general type of forest at the location.
Monoculture: Trees producing a single crop, aka "reprod."
Largely Coniferous: Mostly evergreen trees having usually needle-shaped leaves and cones bearing seeds.
New Growth Deciduous: Trees that lose their leaves each year. New growth is a forest that has been harvested and replanted.
Old Growth Deciduous: Deciduous trees that have never been harvested, virgin trees.
5. Density of Forest in Range:
Very Dense Forest: All lands with tree canopy (TC) density of 70% and above. (TC ≥ 70%)
Moderately Dense Forest: All lands with tree canopy density of 40% and more, but less than 70%. (40% ≤ TC < 70%)
Open Forest: All lands with tree canopy density of 10% and more, but less than 40%. (10% ≤ TC < 40%)
Scrub: Degraded forest lands with canopy density less than 10%. (TC < 10%)
Non-forest: Lands not included in any of the above classes.
6. Forest Continuity:
Island: No ingress or egress throughout the fragmentation.
Severe Bottlenecks: Approaching an "Island" with severe bottlenecks throughout.
Major impediments: Highways, roadways, and human development around the area.
Moderate Continuity: Some roads and minor development, but main passages remain open.
Mostly Continuous: Mostly Continuous Forest with minor roadways and virtually no development.
Virtually Continuous: A continuous forest with virtually no fragmentation, no roadways, and no human development.
8. Population of the nearest town/city:
decrease scale increase scale
9. Credible sightings:
The number of previously documented credible sightings near the area within the last 20 years.
10. General Water Source Type(s):
Lake: Any relatively large body of slowly moving or standing fresh water that occupies an inland basin of appreciable size.
River: A large volume of fresh water flowing continuously year around.
Creek: A small stream of water, often a shallow or intermittent tributary to a river.
Branch: A small watercourse that feeds a creek that keeps the ground moist and may also have intermentent pools of water along its course.
Seasonal draw: A small watercourse (or draw) that fills with water during seasonal rain storms, then quickly dries up after the storm.
11. Water Source Distribution:
The average distance between general water source types (in miles).
12. Remoteness of Area:
The remoteness measures how many humans visit the area, whether on foot or by vehicle.
Very Many Humans: A large number of humans (200+) visit this area weekly.
Many Humans: A vast number of humans (20 to 200) visit this area weekly.
Humans Frequently: A moderate number of humans (3 to 20) visit this area weekly.
Humans Occasionally: A small number of humans (1 to 2) visit this area weekly.
Very Few Humans: A small number of humans (1 to 2) visit this area monthly.
