INHABIT species potential distribution for the globe
This is a dataset containing the potential distribution of 54 invasive terrestrial plant species. We developed habitat suitability models for invasive plant species selected by Department of Interior and USDA Forest Service land management agencies and other managers. We applied the modeling workflow described in Jarnevich et al. (2024: https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.96.134842), adapted to global data. We developed a global library of environmental variables known to physiologically limit plant distributions (Young et al. 2025 Table S1: 10.1002/eap.70010) and relied on human input based on natural history knowledge to narrow the variable set for each species before developing habitat suitability models. We developed models using five algorithms with VisTrails: Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (SAHM 2.2.2, Morisette et al., 2013). We constructed weighted ensembles using up to 5 model algorithms for each species. We also created an integrated map that combines three binary threshold maps that has converted the continuous values to suitable/unsuitable, ranging from inclusive to restrictive. This data bundle contains tabular outputs including a species metadata file, the merged data sets used to create models, response curve data, variable importance information, and model assessment metrics. There is a child item containing three raster files for each species representing the following:
1) Occurrence suitability - Continuous value ensemble
2) Restricted occurrence suitability - Continuous value ensemble with restricted environmental conditions*
3) Integrated binary map that reflects three thresholds:
a) 0.01 – first percentile threshold applied to continuous occurrence suitability
b) 0.05 – fifth percentile threshold applied to continuous occurrence suitability
c) 0.1 – tenth percentile threshold applied to continuous occurrence suitability
*Restricted environmental conditions = only display areas where environmental characteristics are inside the range of the values used to develop the model. For example, a location with a minimum winter temperature of 12 C would be outside the range of -10 to 10 C used in model development.
The bundle documentation files are:
1) 'INHABIT_global_V1_project_metadata.xml' (this file) which contains the project-level metadata.
2) Species_model_information.csv contains information on specific model changes of each species from tuning algorithm parameters to ensure model quality.
3) Merged_dataset.csv contains the merged data set used to create the models, including location and associated environmental data, for each species.
4) Response_curves.csv is the tabular information need to produce response curves for each predictor retained in each of the models produced for each species.
5) Variable_importance.csv is the tabular summaries indicating predictor importance for each of the models produced for each species.
6) Assessment_metrics.csv is the tabular summaries of assessment metrics for each model algorithm or model ensemble for each species.
7) Rcode.zip is a zipped file of the R scripts used to prep the data included in the merged dataset and code to make the derived raster output.
8) Child item with XX_YY.tif where XX is the species and YY is the raster type explained above.
These data will be integrated into the Invasive Species Habitat Tool (INHABIT), a web application displaying visual and statistical summaries of nationwide habitat suitability models for manager identified invasive plant species. These species include: Acacia mearnsii (black wattle), Acaena novae-zelandiae (biddy-biddy), Agave sisalana (Sisal hemp), Anchusa arvensis (Small bugloss), Brassica elongata (Elongated mustard), Bromus tectorum (Cheatgrass), Caragana arborescens (Siberian pea shrub), Carrichtera annua (Wards weed), Cecropia schreberiana ssp. antillarum (pumpwood), Cenchrus polystachios (Mission grass), Centaurea iberica (Iberian starthistle), Chloris divaricata (Spreading windmill-grass), Cirsium arvense (Creeping Thistle), Citrullus colocynthis (Gourd), Cotoneaster integerrimus (Cotoneaster), Crataegus laevigata (Smooth hawthorn), Crepis tectorum (Narrow leaf hawksbeard), Cynodon nlemfuensis (African bermudagrass), Distimake cissoides (Roadside woodrose), Echium plantagineum (Paterson's curse), Enneapogon cenchroides (Soft feather pappusgrass), Eragrostis echinochloidea (african lovegrass), Fallopia bohemica (Bohemian knotweed), Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed), Fallopia sachalinensis (Giant knotweed), Galega officinalis (goat's-rue), Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange hawkweed), Hiptage benghalensis (Hiptage), Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam), Jacobaea vulgaris (Tansy ragwort), Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye daisy), Lythrum virgatum (Wand loosestrife), Matthiola parviflora (stock), Melilotus albus (White sweet clover), Mikania micrantha (mile-a-minute weed), Nardus stricta (matgrass), Persicaria wallichii (Himalayan Knotweed), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed canarygrass), Phragmites australis (Phragmites), Pinus pinaster (cluster pine), Prunus padus (Bird cherry), Prunus virginiana (Choke cherry), Pseudosasa japonica (arrow bamboo), Pteris tripartita (Giant brake fern), Savignya parviflora (Small-flowered Savignya), Scleria microcarpa (tropical nutrush), Senecio linearifolius (fireweed groundsel), Sonchus arvensis (Perennial sow thistle), Sorbus aucuparia (European mountain ash), Spathodea campanulata (african tulip tree), Taraxacum officinale (Dandilion), Trifolium repens (White clover), Vicia cracca (Bird vetch), and Volutaria tubuliflora (desert knapweed).
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Title | INHABIT species potential distribution for the globe |
| DOI | 10.5066/P13AJ46S |
| Authors | Catherine S Jarnevich, Demetra (Contractor) A Williams, Keana (Contractor) S Shadwell, Peder S Engelstad, Ian S Pearse, Janet S Prevey, Linnea (Contractor) S Fraser, Shelby (Contractor) K Leclare, Rich D Inman, Cameron (Contractor) J Reimer |
| Product Type | Data Release |
| Record Source | USGS Asset Identifier Service (AIS) |
| USGS Organization | Fort Collins Science Center |
| Rights | This work is marked with CC0 1.0 Universal |