Philip Leitner 2008 vector digital data https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/BIOS https://filelib.wildlife.ca.gov/Public/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/500_599/ds557.zip The Mohave ground squirrel (Spermophilus mohavensis) is found only in the western Mojave Desert of California. Although it is listed as Threatened by the State of California, there is little published information regarding its current distribution and status. This dataset shows the potential habitat corridors that may provide connectivity between identified core areas and other known Mohave ground squirrel populations. It will be an important conservation goal to ensure sufficient connectivity between these areas to allow gene flow. To display potential habitat corridors between the Mohave ground squirrel core areas and known populations. *The paper supporting this dataset can be accessed at: http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=15148 The potential corridor between the Coso/Olancha core area and Little Dixie Wash follows a narrow strip of public land between the Sierra escarpment and the boundary of China Lake NAWS. It is not clear that this corridor is effective because of its minimal width (1-4 km) and because there is no firm evidence that it is currently occupied. There may well be an alternative corridor through China Lake NAWS, but the U.S. Navy cannot guarantee permanent protection and, again, there is no proof that continuous Mohave ground squirrel populations exist here. Connectivity between the Little Dixie Wash core area and Edwards Air Force Base is most likely to be achieved by protection of a north-south habitat corridor along US Highway 395. This linkage appears to provide the highest quality habitat connection between these 2 core areas. It would also help to provide connectivity among other known populations in the Ridgecrest area, the DTNA, Pilot Knob, and the Boron region. There are no recent Mohave ground squirrel records along much of this corridor, so it is not clear that it is currently occupied. The most effective corridor linking the Coolgardie Mesa/Superior Valley core area with other populations is probably thorough the Pilot Knob region. This connection is relatively short and crosses apparently good quality habitat. Although the most direct route is across a corner of the China Lake NAWS, public lands just to the south could also provide connectivity. An alternative linkage would be to the southwest toward Edwards Air Force Base across the broad valley centered on Harper Dry Lake. However, this route is lower in elevation, receives less rainfall, and habitat here is of lesser quality. The lack of data concerning the existence or status of Mohave ground squirrel populations in these potential corridors is a serious problem. While these routes may seem geographically appropriate in providing linkages between populations, it will be important to conduct field studies to determine whether or not they are actually occupied. 2008 publication date In work Unknown -117.992971 -116.970489 36.050846 34.887127 None Mohave ground squirrel Spermophilus mohavensis core areas known populations corridors ISO 19115 Topic Category environment biota boundaries None California Mojave Desert This data may not be distributed. Data requests may be sent to Kristina White at kwhite@dfg.ca.gov. Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.This information represents one person's best assessment as of 2008 and will undoubtedly change as we learn more. This is not CDFG official data, but was supplied by a private individual, who's ultimately responsible for the accuracy. California State University - Stanislaus Philip Leitner pleitner@esrp.csustan.edu Microsoft Windows Vista Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.4095 Dataset reprojected to Albers NAD83. Created metadata from the "Current Status of the Mohave Ground Squirrel" document. 20080827 California Department of Fish and Game Kristina White kwhite@dfg.ca.gov Vector String 12 NAD 1983 California Teale Albers 34.0 40.5 -120.0 0.0 0.0 -4000000.0 coordinate pair 0.0001 0.0001 meter D North American 1983 GRS 1980 6378137.0 298.257222101 ds557 OBJECTID Internal feature number. Esri Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Shape Feature geometry. ESRI Coordinates defining the features. Id Shape_Length Length of feature in internal units. Esri Positive real numbers that are automatically generated. 20210621 California Department of Fish and Game Kristina White kwhite@dfg.ca.gov FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998 local time