New Features in RAMAS GIS 2.0

Also See: New Features in RAMAS GIS 3.0

Landscape data subprogram:

• Allows input maps with up to 5000 rows and 5000 columns (limited by available expanded memory).
• Calculates landscape indices such as edge length, edge:size ratio, shape index, fractal index, patch area, core area (for each patch and for the landscape as a whole).
• Calculates carrying capacities with any user-defined function of total or average habitat suitability, or patch area (ver 1.1 assumes linear function of total habitat suitability).
• Calculates initial population sizes, maximum growth rates (Rmax), and vital rates (fecundity and survival) for each patch with any user-defined function of total or average habitat suitability, patch area, patch perimeter (edge), or average values of input map layers for the patch.
• Imports default metapopulation model parameters (such as stage structure, catastrophes, etc.) from a user-specified input file.

New subprogram: Habitat dynamics

• Combines a time series of habitat structures to assess the effects of habitat changes (such as forest growth, timber harvest, fires, etc.) on the viability of the species.
• Inputs a time series of patch structures identified by the Landscape data subprogram.
• Outputs a metapopulation model that may incorporate temporal trends (or other changes) in carrying capacity, average fecundity and average survival in each patch.

Metapopulation model subprogram:

• Allows up to 100 different stage matrices, each of which can be assigned to any number of populations. Stage matrices can be specified manually (as in version 1.1), or automatically (by multiplying elements of the default matrix with constants).
• Incorporates any temporal change in average carrying capacity, average fecundity or average survival for each population. Temporal changes are specified as ASCII files that contain a time series of the parameter for a specific population. These files can be created by the user, or by the new Habitat Dynamics subprogram (see above) based on series of patch structures.
• Summarizes the characteristics of each stage matrix, including:
  • Finite rate of increase (i.e, the eigenvalue),
  • Stable stage/age distribution (both numerical and graphical),
  • Stage-specific reproductive values (both numerical and graphical),
  • Sensitivity and elasticity matrices,
  • Average residence times in each stage.

These summaries can be displayed on screen, printed or saved to a disk file.

• Can combine stage structure from one model with spatial structure from another model.
• Calculates "local occupancy" for any threshold level. The abundance above which a patch is defined as "occupied" (called local threshold) can be specified by the user for each population; the default is 0.
• Has three options for tallying individuals below the local threshold in a population: count them in the total metapopulation abundance (but count the population as "unoccupied"), don't count them in the total (but keep them), or assume that they are dead (set population abundance to zero).
• Outputs a new type of result: Local extinction duration, which is the maximum number of consecutive time steps during which a population remained unoccupied (below local threshold defined by user).

All subprograms:

• Support a large variety of printers, including Postscript, PaintJet and DeskJet.
• Can print in landscape or portrait mode, with low, medium or high resolution.
• Support ports LPT1 through LPT4, and COM1 through COM4.
• Allow printing the plots to a file, instead of directly to the printer. The file can then be printed outside the program. This allows transferring files to other computers, and getting around network restrictions.
• Save plots as graphics files, in formats such as PCX (PC Paintbrush), BMP (Windows Bitmap), IMG (GEM Paint), TIF (Tagged Image), CGM (Metafile), DXF (AutoCad), WMF (Windows metafile), and WPG (Word Perfect). This allows exporting plots and maps to applications such as Freelance or Hijaak.