Methodology and Interpretation

Mean wetland connectivity (Probability of neighboring wetland)
Probability of a wetland cell having a neighboring wetland cell is calculated using a moving 270 meter square window (9 pixels x 9 pixels) across the land cover. The boundaries between all pixel pairs where at least one pixel is wetland are examined in the window. The metric is the number of boundaries where both pixels are wetland, divided by the total number of wetland boundaries (regardless of neighbor land cover type). This metric gives a measure of how well the wetland is connected within the window sample area, with high values being better connected than low values.

Natural Breaks: Classes are based on natural groupings of data values. Natural break points are identified by looking for groupings and patterns inherent in the data. The features are divided into classes whose boundaries are set where there are relatively large jumps in the distribution of data values.

Metric input GIS data:

• United States Hydrologic Units (8-digit HUCs) - Metadata

• United States Coastal Change Analysis Program (CCAP) - Metadata

• Canada Hydrologic Units (Subsubdivisions) - Metadata

• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Data Set - Metadata