## Information document concerning the results of threat analysis This document provides additional information to better understand and use the threat data produced as part of the integrated recovery approach. This data highlights the sectors where the impacts of threats on occurrences listed by the [Quebec Natural Heritage Data Center (CDPNQ)] (https://www.quebec.ca/gouvernement/gouvernement-ouvert/transparence-performance/indicateurs-statistiques/donnees-especes-situation-precaire) are the most important. # #Quelles data included in the analyses? The analyses focus on the following 67 elements (wildlife species): * Amphibians: swamp frog, boreal chorus frog, western chorus frog, purple salamander, Adirondack and Appalachian pop., mountain dusky salamander, mountain dusky salamander, Appalachian pop., Appalachian pop., northern dusky salamander,, four-toed salamander * Insects: Atlantic tawny * Mammals: pygmy weasel, rock vole, forest vole, Scots vole, Cooper's vole-lemming, northern bat, eastern pygmy bat, Gaspé shrew, Long-billed Shrew, Little Squirrel, Great Lakes Plains Pop., Great Lakes Plains Pop., Little Brown Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle * Birds: Golden Eagle, Harlequin Dipper, Eastern Pop., Eastern Pop., Pratensis Bunting, Grasshopper Pratensis,, Pratensis, Grasshopper Sparrow, Pratensis, Bicknell's Thrush, Horned Grebe, Black Tern, Short-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Shore Swallow, Shore Swallow, Shore Swallow, Shore Swallow, Shore Swallow, Bank Swallow, Chimney Swift, White-headed Plover, Atlantic Pop. yellow, Roseate tern * Fish: savory shad, mesh pike, vermiculated pike, vermiculated pike, madcat, copper redhorse, river knight, spring cisco, northern crapet, northern sunfish, sand stinger, sand stinger, sand stinger, yellow sturgeon, lake sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, black sturgeon, black sturgeon, rock rainbow, pop. from the south of the St. Lawrence Estuary * Reptiles: brown snake, northern watersnake, northern ribbonsnake, spotted snake, green snake, northern collared snake, northern collared snake, wood turtle, turtle geographic, Blanding's turtle, musky turtle, spiny softshell turtle Other species, including floristic species, could be added to the analyses. Threats: Threats are activities that, by their location, intensity, or time in which they occur, generate stress (see next section) that affects elements of biodiversity. In total, the available data concern 16 threats: * Future conversion risk: Development of residential, industrial and commercial areas; * Development of residential, industrial and commercial areas; * Future conversion risk: Annual agriculture (field crops); * Perennial agriculture; * Quarries and sandpits; * Quarries and sandpits; * Roads; * Roads; * Roads; * Roads; * Total withdrawal of forest cover; * Partial withdrawal of forest cover; * Partial removal of forest cover; * Educational treatments; * Motorized vehicles; * Boating; * Boating; * Drainage in agricultural environments; * Phragmites australis; * Rhamnus cathartica; * Increase in predation by mesopredators; * Nutrient load. # #Méthode for calculating the impact score * The method used to calculate the impact score is presented in the document Integrated Recovery Approach for Threatened or Vulnerable Species — Development of a New Tool for Conservation Planning. * The results are presented using a cartographic grid in which each 10 km x 10 km plot shows the cumulative impact of a threat on the occurrences present in this portion of territory. The cumulative impact is obtained by adding up the impact ratings of all the occurrences present within the plot. This accumulation makes it possible to identify, using a color code, the “hot spots” of a threat on occurrences. The absence of color indicates the absence of calculated or listed impacts on occurrences. The color gradient illustrates the variation in the cumulative impact of this threat on all occurrences in the plot, from the lowest score (yellow) to the highest (red). * Each threat is presented on a separate layer, while an additional layer called “Threat Compilation” shows the sum of threats across all occurrences in a plot. # #Quelle is standardized classification used for analysis? The threats analyzed were defined according to the document Standardized Classification of Threats Affecting Biodiversity — Definitions for the Quebec Conservation Data Center (CDC) v1.0, published in 2021.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

This layer represents all the flora and fauna occurrences (1) in a precarious situation in the [Quebec Natural Heritage Data Center (CDPNQ)] (https://www.quebec.ca/gouvernement/gouvernement-ouvert/transparence-performance/indicateurs-statistiques/donnees-especes-situation-precaire). The purpose of publishing these data is to improve their accessibility for customers, to promote the consideration of species in land use projects and, finally, to facilitate the exchange of information with users. # #Des data adapted to the sensitivity of species to promote their protection In order to prevent the dissemination of data from causing harm to certain species or their habitat, the CDPNQ has chosen to hide information. This choice is based on an analysis of the sensitivity of species to the dissemination of information concerning them. Generalized occurrences, i.e. those whose information is hidden, make it possible, despite the absence of precise information, to distinguish the territories for which the CDPNQ holds data on these species from those where it does not. It should also be noted that the absence of occurrences does not mean the absence of species in a precarious situation on a territory. # #Des valuable data for the conservation of biodiversity The CDPNQ disseminates data relating to species in a precarious situation for scientific, conservation or management purposes. This data is important for: * Evaluate conservation priorities in order to make designation recommendations under the Act Respecting Threatened or Vulnerable Species or to apply protection measures for species in a precarious situation; * Develop or analyze conservation and land use projects carried out by municipalities, developers or various conservation stakeholders; * Document or analyze requests for ministerial authorizations and environmental impact studies; * Target threats and conservation measures useful to inform the preparation of recovery plans for species in a precarious situation; * Contribute to conservation research projects; * Revise laws and regulations; * Ensure sustainable planning of land use and development of Quebec territory, whether forest, agricultural, municipal or other; * Contribute to the monitoring of the state of biodiversity and support reflections leading to the development of government guidelines in this area. The data is kept up to date thanks to field surveys, carried out in particular by the provincial and federal governments and several of their partners, but also thanks to the contribution of citizens. (1) An occurrence refers to a territory that harbours or has sheltered an element of biodiversity. When talking about a species, the occurrence generally corresponds to the habitat occupied by a local population of the species in question.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

This habitat quality model shows the probability of the presence of short-eared owls in southern Quebec during the nesting season. It is based on species presence data and a modeling of several environmental variables of interest to the species during the nesting period. The model is based on 64 ha analysis units, i.e. cells with a side length of 800 meters. For more details, for example on the study area, the data used and the modeling carried out, consult the following report [“Habitat quality model for the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) in southern Quebec”] (https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/faune/documents/habitats/modele-qualite-habitat-hibou-marais.pdf). ### What is an MQH? A habitat quality model (HQM) is a “rough representation” of the preferred habitat of a wildlife species. For general information, consult the [“Habitat Quality Assessment”] page (https://www.quebec.ca/agriculture-environnement-et-ressources-naturelles/faune/gestion-faune-habitats-fauniques/habitats-fauniques/evaluation-qualite-habitats). ### WARNING The MQH was developed primarily in order to determine the sectors with the best potential to shelter the target species, in order to prioritize inventories. The models developed have limitations and therefore cannot be used to confirm the absence of a species at a given location. Consult the [“The benefits and limitations of habitat quality models”] section (https://www.quebec.ca/agriculture-environnement-et-ressources-naturelles/faune/gestion-faune-habitats-fauniques/habitats-fauniques/evaluation-qualite-habitats#c159177) on the “Habitat Quality Assessment” page for general information or the [report] (https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/faune/documents/habitats/RA_modele-qualite-habitat_hibou_marais.pdf) for information specific to the short-eared owl MQH.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**