TY - JOUR TI - Composite datasets facilitate large scale conservation planning DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3TH8PV7 PY - 2016 AB - The abundance of existing ecological data allows for many opportunities of data synthesis and derivation of novel research. In wildlife management research, the compilation of data gathered by multiple sources throughout a species' range allows for more comprehensive assessments of species distribution than if individual datasets are used. We demonstrate the utility of using an aggregate occurrence dataset compiled from disparate sources to model the regional distribution of northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin), an imperiled species facing a suite of anthropogenic threats, across their northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S. range. The model results identified suitable habitat for nesting terrapins throughout the study area and provide a platform from which management questions can be addressed at multiple scales. We provide examples of model applications, including identifying areas for protection, assessing areas where terrapins are at high risk of road and crab pot mortality, and evaluating loss of habitat due to sea-level rise. The techniques and analyses utilized in this study can be readily applied to conservation planning for other wide-ranging species. KW - Ecology and Evolution KW - Ecology--Data processing KW - Diamondback terrapin KW - Wildlife conservation LA - eng ER -