GAP ANALYSIS

A method for determining spatial relationships between areas of high biological diversity and the boundaries of National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges (NWR), and other preserves. The primary goal of Gap Analysis is to prevent additional species from being listed as threatened or endangered. Analyses are made and displayed using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Estimates of diversity are often derived from known or hypothesized relationships between mapped plant communities and animal populations. In addition to the National Biological Survey, which serves as the primary coordinating agency, there are over 200 collaborating organizations involved in performing Gap Analysis on a state-by-state basis, including businesses, universities, and state, local, and federal government entities. (The term Gap originated from an initial Biodiversity study in Hawaii which showed that for certain sensitive animal species there existed a physical (geographic) gap between the species and its habitat and wildlife preserves (national parks, forests, wildlife protection areas, etc.), indicating potential limitations of species and habitat protection.)