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Habitat fragmentation and loss of landscape connectivity have resulted in the degradation of natural ecosystem services. Identifying international transboundary ecological network is an integrated approach to maintain regional ecological sustainability. In this study, taking Altai Mountains as a case study area, we suggested a set of procedures to construct an ecological network. First, we identified ecological patches by evaluating the values of the protected area. Second, we generated resistance surfaces based on the land cover characteristics. Third, we integrated habitat patches and resistance surfaces to identify potential corridors using the least-cost path analysis. The ecological network we introduced consists of 22 patches, 65 potential ecological corridors, and 5 stepping-stones. Furthermore, 26 ecological fragmentation points were marked. We proposed to carry out efficient and effective international cooperation between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. In addition, the installation of road-crossing structures should be taken into consideration to minimize the negative impacts of the road-related disturbances.

The construction of highways leads to several environmental and landscape impacts, including the fragmentation of natural habitats for many animal species. Highway projects are therefore generally accompanied by mobilisations from the inhabitants of the areas concerned and environmental associations. This work aims to model the potential impacts of a highway project in France on ecological networks and to study the reception of the results by the opponents of this project. We have adopted a three-step approach. First, a land-cover map of the study area was produced at a fine scale of 10 m resolution. Second, we developed a multi-species approach by defining fifteen species groups representative of different habitats of our study area. Third, the design of landscape graphs and the resulting calculation of connectivity metrics allowed mapping the impact of the highway on multi-species ecological connectivity. Reflexive feedback from comments on these results by the public during a mobilisation day against the highway project allows assessment of the relevance of such a modelling approach in this context.

The development of road networks over the years has caused serious damage to biodiversity. However, few studies have explored the impact of different road grades on ecological network connectivity, especially at multiple levels and at different dispersal distances. Here, we propose an analytical framework based on the integrated graph theory and the circuit theory method, in order to model the ecological network of virtual species, to evaluate connectivity at the landscape, patch, and corridor levels, and to identify the key patches and key corridors that contribute the most to the maintenance of connectivity. The empirical analysis in this study was performed on six scenarios, which were designed by successively integrating different road grades into the landscape. On this basis, the impact of different road grades on the connectivity, key patches, and key corridors in Wuhan, China, were explored. The results showed that: (1) High-grade roads have a significant impact on landscape-patch-corridor connectivity, while medium-grade roads have a similar degree of impact on patch-level connectivity as high-grade roads do. (2) Species with long dispersal ability (25 km) are susceptible to roads at the landscape and corridor levels; species with low and medium dispersal abilities (10, 15 and 20 km) are vulnerable to roads at the patch levels. (3) The importance of key patches and the resistance of key corridors are significantly increased by the influence of roads, while their spatial distribution changes slightly. This integrated framework contributes to an evaluation of the impacts of different grades road on ecological processes, so as to better provide targeted suggestions for biodiversity conservation and transportation planning.

Abstract Cities worldwide are expanding in area and human population, posing multiple challenges to amphibian populations, including habitat loss from removal of wetlands and terrestrial upland habitat, habitat fragmentation due to roads and the built environment, and habitat degradation from pollutants, extensive human use and introduced species. We developed an eight‐step urban amphibian conservation framework based on established monitoring, analytical methods and community engagement to enable amphibian conservation in a large urban centre. The framework outlines a process used to conserve biodiversity in a complex landuse and decision‐making environment supported by a series of successive complementary modelling techniques to measure amphibian presence, priority habitat and functional connectivity. We applied the framework in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to illustrate its potential. Here, urbanization has reduced wetlands by 90% and ecological knowledge on amphibians was poor. We improved knowledge on amphibian diversity and distribution, identified core wetlands and movement pathways for amphibian species and identified barriers in the wetland network where construction or restoration measures could re‐establish amphibians or increase their densities. This knowledge was shared with ecologists and city planners for implementation through appropriate policies and plans. Our framework provides a series of stepwise products to improve an urban municipality's ability to restore or conserve priority habitat and movement pathways necessary for amphibian survival under pressure from multiple land uses. The framework provides a platform to identify city plans, policy and or programmes and to derive necessary information to support amphibian conservation.

To understand colonization success of an invasive species we need to know the origin of the founders, where and when they were introduced, and how they spread from the introduction site(s) through the landscape. Admixture of different genetic lineages from multiple introductions is generally hypothesized to be beneficial to invasive species thanks to adaptive variation and heterozygosity-fitness correlations. In this study, population genetic and landscape data was gathered for Roesel’s bush-cricket, Roeseliana roeselii a small bush-cricket common in central and eastern Europe that currently is expanding its range in northern Europe. We examined how colonization history and landscape structure affect the spread of the species and its population genetic structure, as a consequence of multiple introductions. Using comprehensive information of the species ecology and dispersal, together with genetic structure inferred from samples from 29 locations in central Sweden (we employed data published by Preuss et al., 2015), we found that two parapatric founding lineages have coexisted with very little gene flow during a long time span. An isolation-by-distance pattern and a decrease of genetic diversity toward marginal areas were more pronounced in the lineage situated in forest dominated landscapes. Our findings are in strong contrast to the hypothesis that different genetic lineages will admix when introduced to the same area. The presence of the separate lineages decades after introduction and without physical barriers for gene flow shows that some mechanism prevents them from admixture. One possibility is that the lineages with different genetic setups have adapted independently to local conditions and their admixture resulted in loss of locally adapted genotypes and hybrid offspring, less viable than the respective ancestral genotypes. However, an alternative post-mating reproductive barrier and hybrid breakdown phenomenon should also be considered. Our data indicate that besides landscape characteristics, human transportation of agricultural goods may play an important role for the overall spatial genetic pattern of the species in the study area by aiding the spread of the species.

Because of implementation of ecological projects, the restoration of vegetation not only changes the typological composition and spatial structure of the landscape, but also improves the regional ecosystem function. The present study considered the effects of natural-anthropogenic factors and landscape connectivity on vegetation restoration. It also explored the impact and underlying mechanisms by which structural changes in landscape connectivity affect vegetation coverage in the karst region of Guizhou Province and provided a novel perspective for the maintenance of regional ecological security. We used morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs (InVEST) and circuit theory to identify ecological networks and explore the changes in landscape structure. We performed a Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and a Mann-Kendall (MK) trend test to determine spatiotemporal variations in vegetation coverage. We conducted a coupling analysis to discover correlations between the average cumulative current density (CCD) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in various karst landform counties. We also implemented a geographical detector to detect the factors affecting the NDVI trend and disclose interactions among factors. The results showed that (1) Though the total area of forests and core areas was reduced, the ecological networks and landscape connectivity steadily improved. (2) Areas with improved vegetation coverage accounted for 77.77% of the total. By contrast, the degraded areas covered 14.28% while the remaining 7.95% was stable. (3) The relationships between the average CCD and the NDVI were inconsistent among various geomorphological counties. The counties with the highest proportions of karst landforms presented with negative correlations between the average CCD and the NDVI in 2005 and positive correlations between these parameters in 2018. (4) The NDVI trend was influenced by several factors. Of these, anthropogenic activity played a dominant role. Nevertheless, changes in landscape connectivity was also implicated. Attention should be paid to the impact of landscape connectivity on ecological restoration. The foregoing results indicated that the rocky desertification projects effectively improved landscape connectivity and vegetation coverage and provided a reference for developing policies establishing and maintaining ecological security of the karst ecosystem and coordinating sustainable development in this region.

Despite the rising awareness of the mutual benefits of pollination, agricultural production, and biodiversity, Greek planning has scarcely moved toward patterns of pollinator-friendly farm design models. This paper presents data from preliminary research analysis that defined generic landscape design models that can enhance the symbiotic associations between farming production and beekeeping in Greece. The main objective is to determine tailor-made landscape models that can contribute to a portfolio of actions easily apprehensible by non-technical audiences in the farming sector who want to introduce biodiversity enhancements to monoculture farming, fostering a safer, poisonous-free environment for introduced honeybees, simultaneously helping to augment their production yields. A preliminary study was conducted in four agricultural farming estates in Thessaly and the Peloponnese involving apple farming, citrus orchards, and hemp cultivation. It combined the analysis and assessment of land cover classes with regard to the provision of foraging habitat, assessment of foraging suitability, description of connectivity characteristics, and emerging spatial patterns of natural corridors, patches, and edges at an observation perimeter around each farm. Assessment of these data informed design models for planting enrichment and integration of natural patches, such as meadows and shrub corridors. Pilot installations of hives in study areas that combined characteristics of the landscape models presented resulted in the production of 8% to 12% bigger fruits and 30% to 50% increase in the total yield. We conclude that landscape design models for biodiversity enhancement are an important attribute of ecosystem services and require an understanding of specific geographical and landscape parameters to render models operational for bee farming and pollination.

Question: Habitat isolation is a major driver of biodiversity because it affects dispersal among local communities, especially for plants. Corridors are supposed to facilitate the movement of organisms and hence their effective dispersal, thereby increasing biodiversity. Hedgerows provide favorable habitats for forest plant establishment, but their role in dispersal among forest patches is still unknown. In addition, seeds can be more predated within hedgerows because animal movement is also encouraged by these corridors. We aimed to answer the question: Are plant dispersal and seed removal by animals in connected hedgerows compared with unconnected hedgerows promoted for forest plant species? Location: Long‐term ecological site “Zone Atelier Armorique”, western France (ca. 150 km2). Methods: We analyzed seed dispersal along two pathways in 16 woodlots: connected (least‐cost pathways, i.e., optimal corridors); and unconnected high cost pathways (absence of corridor). Using a trap study, we first quantified seed rain and analyzed seed composition after trapped seeds were germinated in the greenhouse. At the same sampling points, we then analyzed the rate at which two different sized seeds were removed from seed baits by animals. Results: Our results revealed no difference in the number of trapped seeds in connected and unconnected pathways, but did reveal a difference in the number and richness of viable seeds, with corridors having a positive impact. In the predation experiment, the rate of removal of small seeds was higher in connected pathways than in unconnected pathways. Conclusion: Connectivity enhanced the dispersal of viable forest plant species but also the predation of small seeds, which possibly played a role in their subsequent dispersal. This work highlighted the effect of connectivity on seed dynamics within hedgerows and improves our understanding of the role of hedgerows as stepping‐stones for seed dispersal among forest patches.Landscape connectivity influenced seed dynamics within hedgerows. It enhanced the dispersal of viable forest plant species in hedgerows but also increased the predation of small seeds, which possibly played a role in their subsequent dispersal. This work highlighted the role of hedgerows as stepping stones for seed dispersal among forest patches.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Connections among ecosystems and their components are critical to maintaining ecological functions and benefits in human-modified landscapes, including urban areas. However, the literature on connectivity and ecosystem services has been limited by inconsistent terminology and methods, and largely omits human access to nature and its benefits as a form of connectivity. Objectives: In this paper, we build upon previous research and theory to define distinct categories of connectivity, considering both ecological and social dimensions, and identify ecosystem services that are supported by them. Methods: We reviewed the literature to determine socio–ecological benefits that depend on the categories of connectivity. Results: We identified four distinct but interrelated categories of connectivity: landscape, habitat, geophysical, and eco-social connectivity. Each connectivity category directly or indirectly supports many ecosystem services. There are overlaps, conflicts, and synergies among connectivity categories and their associated services and disservices. Conclusions: Identifying the services that arise from these four categories of connectivity, and how they interact, can help build a common understanding of the value of connectivity to maximize its benefits, improve understanding of complex socio–ecological systems across disciplines, and develop more holistic, socially equitable decision-making processes, especially in urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of the Pest des petits ruminants (PPR) over the past ten years in Iran has resulted in devastating effects on the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and mouflon (Ovis gmelini) populations, as well as small domestic ruminants. The aim of this study was to identify areas with high risk of PPR outbreak, determine the environmental and landscape factors affecting the spread of the disease, and identify the transmission corridors of the disease through the wild hosts of PPR virus in Markazi province. The risk of occurrence of PPR was mapped once in livestock and wildlife separately and also jointly for both groups using maximum entropy model. An electrical circuit model was used to identify migration corridors and evaluate the transmission of disease through the wild hosts of the PPR virus. The model performance index was calculated 0.727 for livestock, 0.997 for wild ruminants, and 0.849 for both groups. The results showed that precipitation of the wettest month was the most important variable affecting the prevalence of PPR. Potential migration corridors of wild sheep matched the areas where the risk of PPR occurrence was high. The results of the present study can be operative in developing effective methods to prevent the spread of this fatal disease in the country's wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The ongoing global change makes landscape planning and management of ecological corridors crucial to preserve biodiversity. We propose a workflow optimizing the use of different data sources to convert ecological niche models (ENMs) into landscape‐focused species distribution models (SDMs), using these latter to compute ecological corridors. We infer corridors connecting present occurrence localities to future climatic refugia as well as to localities where extinct populations occurred. Also, a continuous connectivity change index is proposed to assess current–future differences. Finally, we discuss possible applications of our workflow to conservation, assessing the capability of established protected areas to preserve ecological corridors. Location: Europe. Methods: As case study to illustrate our framework, we use a database comprising occurrence localities of Vipera ursinii, one of the most endangered European reptiles. We obtain weighted SDMs for each of the four V. ursinii subspecies by coupling climate‐based ENMs with standardized occurrence frequencies along land use and altitude gradients through weighted averaging in GIS. We calculate current and future landscape connectivity for each subspecies based on the corresponding weighted SDM. We compare predictive performance of "traditional" ENMs, including climate, land use and topography as predictors and weighted SDMs. Results: Weighted SDMs outperform ENMs, according to Boyce index. SDMs are used to infer connectivity, predicted to decrease in all future scenarios for V. ursinii, and assess where connections may favour movements of individuals to, for example, future suitable areas. Generally, protected areas are predicted to cover low‐connectivity territories. Main conclusions: The proposed "couple‐and‐weigh" approach could represent a helpful tool to investigate biogeography, conservation and landscape planning topics, as it permits to capitalize on occurrence records and accessible environmental predictors by narrowing the target species' potential distribution, estimated within "traditional" ENMs, to the realized one through post‐modelling GIS analyses, which in turn improves estimation of friction maps used to infer connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has increasingly emphasized the importance of spatial alignment between ecosystems and the institutions that govern them, known as social-ecological fit. Social network analysis (SNA) has been recognized as a valuable tool capable of integrating social and ecological network data for empirical assessments of social-ecological fit. Few studies have integrated SNA with more complex spatial models, and assessments of social-ecological fit have rarely been conducted from the perspective of "fit" for wildlife conservation. We examined the spatial fit of the institutional network of heterogeneous conservation actors (both governmental and nongovernmental) working to conserve the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) across the Colombian Andes. Our analysis was based upon social network and qualitative data derived from 67 semi-structured interviews with Colombian conservation practitioners along with a model of Andean bear connectivity. In Colombia, the known range of the Andean bear crosses the jurisdictional boundaries of 22 different "autonomous regional corporations" (corporaciones autonomas regionales or CARs), the primary entities responsible for implementing conservation policy in the country. We found that 53 pairs of CARs shared habitat along their jurisdictional borders that was identified as important to Andean bear connectivity, but only 16 pairs of CARs (30% of pairwise matches) communicated with one another about Andean bear research and conservation strategies. CARs were more likely to communicate with entities of Colombia's National Natural Park Service or with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). These other entities were often located within the social network structure as intermediaries between otherwise disconnected CARs. These actors could use such strategic positions to facilitate coordination between CARs that share habitat important for Andean bear connectivity and, in so doing, improve social-ecological fit for the conservation of this species. Indeed, during interviews, Colombian NGOs often expressed concern over the lack of coordination among the CARs and several were working to amend the situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization is a worldwide problem affecting wildlife negatively. Cities cause habitat suppression, fragmentation, among other disease spreading, suitable conditions for exotic species, and direct animal kills—consequently, local native species might be extinct. Still, urban areas can also provide biodiversity maintenance because some species can be adapted to the urban environment. Here, we assess how the urban environment influences the displacement of native turquoise-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva). We created a map of environmental suitability to modeling A. aestiva displacement routes among three protected areas in Brasilia, Brazil. We tested (1) if the modeled corridors tend to be near to the areas where A. aestiva occurs and (2) how landscape spatial heterogeneity influences those modeled routes. We expected to observe oriented routes in homogeneous areas (few pixels with high-frequency selection), and the opposite in heterogeneous areas. To test our hypotheses, we recorded A. aestiva and correlated its presence/absence with the modeled corridors and correlated the landscape spatial heterogeneity with different metrics of the modeled corridors. Our results indicate that at least one of the modeled routes was near to the points with parrots. In general, potential dispersal routes with little spatial variation occurred in homogeneous areas. In the urban matrix, potential routes were less oriented with more spatial variation. Our results suggest the adoption of different strategies to manage the natural environment in an urban matrix. By managing the spatial heterogeneity, it is possible to direct how the species use the space, promoting the displacement to desired areas, avoiding the more urbanized ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural connectivity can be inferred by several landscape metrics that appear to be relevant for characterizing how landscapes constrain or favor the presence and movement of animal species at the level of the regional landscape. Trends of change can be estimated trough spatial time-series analysis. The use of historical maps increases the time span of analysis of the landscape dynamic, relative to the use of remote sensing-related information. Supported by GIS, in this study, a framework for the analyses of the long-term trends of change in the connectivity of the Algarve regional landscape was used to seize the possibility of expanding the span of the spatial time series by integrating an unpublished agricultural and forest map from the turn of the 19th to the 20th century with another historical map and two recent maps. The total area covered by cork and holm oak-related community patches and their connectivity increased over the 20th century and stabilized in the 21st century. A reflection on Portuguese contemporary land-cover policies is urged, to face the sustainable planning and management challenges concerning biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Biofuel production in Sub-Saharan Africa is an important part of local low-income countries. Among many plant species, Jatropha curcas gained popularity in this area, as it can be grown even where crops of agricultural interest cannot. A natural African pest of J. curcas is the Aphthona cookei species group, for which future climatic suitability is predicted to favor areas of co-occurrence. In this research, we identify the possible climatic corridors in which the colonization of J. curcas crops may occur through a circuit theory-based landscape connectivity software at a country scale. Additionally, we use the standardized connectivity change index to predict possible variations in future scenarios. Starting from ecological niche models calibrated on current and 2050 conditions (two different RCP scenarios), we found several countries currently showing high connectivity. Ghana, Zambia and Ivory Coast host both high connectivity and a high number of J. curcas cultivations, which is also predicted to increase in the future. On the other side, Burundi and Rwanda reported a future increase of connectivity, possibly acting as "connectivity bridges" among neighboring countries. Considering the economic relevance of the topic analyzed, our spatially explicit predictions can support stakeholders and policymakers at a country scale in informed territorial management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Dispersal is a crucial process for species persistence under natural and disturbed landscapes. The effectiveness of stepping stones as a connectivity strategy for increasing dispersal success depends on landscape structure and animal behaviour, such as the perceptual range. Objectives: We quantify the relative contribution of stepping stones (small fragments and scattered trees) to dispersal success considering interactions with perceptual range, habitat amount and configuration. Methods: We develop an individual-based model (IBM) to simulate the dispersal movement of small mammals. The model is parametrized using empirical estimates of perceptual range and movement properties (turning angles and steps length). Simulations are implemented in landscapes with varying gradients of habitat amount and clumpiness, with and without the presence of stepping stones. Results: Small patches and scattered trees combined, or only scattered trees, have a positive effect on dispersal. Meanwhile, the presence of only small patches has negative effects on dispersal. Habitat amount positively influences dispersal, which decreases abruptly when the habitat amount is less than 20%. This threshold disappears in the presence of stepping stones. In landscapes with intermediate levels of habitat amount, landscape fragmentation (low clumpiness) has a positive effect on dispersal success. Conclusions: Stepping stones, especially scattered trees, are a fundamental connectivity strategy for the conservation of small non-flying vertebrates in human-modified landscapes, particularly landscapes with less than 20% of habitat amount. However, small patches stepping stones may act as ecological traps leading the individuals to dead-ends. Their effectiveness in improving dispersal depends on both landscape structure and perceptual range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Conserving or restoring connectivity is a common objective of landscape-scale conservation initiatives. However, precise species occurrence or movement data to inform or validate spatial models are often lacking. Objectives: Our objectives were to (1) produce the first approximation of country-wide connectivity for Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in Colombia and (2) demonstrate a novel approach for model validation which uses publicly available web and social media records of a flagship species. Methods: We used general knowledge about Andean bear habitat associations and indices of ecological integrity to construct a resistance surface across the Colombian Andes. We used this resistance surface to model omnidirectional connectivity using circuit theory. We validated our model with coarse location data acquired from local news stories and social media posts. Results: Our model was most sensitive to changes in the resistance values of agricultural landcover and the mid-elevational zone, but uncertainty analysis demonstrated these changes had little impact on our conclusions regarding the municipalities most conducive to Andean bear movement. Just over one-third of those areas most conducive to Andean bear movement were within protected areas, while 8% coincided with agricultural landcover. Conclusions: We constructed a model of connectivity that did not rely on independent, empirically derived location data. Our model is coarse (1 km resolution) but can still provide useful information to practitioners in Colombia who are working with scarce ecological data. More information about how Andean bears move through agricultural landscapes would help improve our understanding of connectivity for this species in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Land use change, habitat loss and fragmentation are the major threats to jaguar conservation in Latin America. Here, we integrate the information of jaguar's distribution to identify priority areas for its conservation. Objective: We evaluated the effect of topographic, anthropogenic and landscape variables on habitat suitability to evaluate potential core areas and biological corridors for jaguar conservation across Mexico. Methods: We compiled a database of jaguar occurrence records, geospatial data-set of all Natural Protected Areas and using the expert criterion of the Mexican jaguar specialists to define Jaguar Geographic Regions; i.e. well-defined large units with similar ecological characteristics across the geographic range of jaguars in Mexico. We then conducted analyses of ecological niche models to identify Jaguar Conservation Units; i.e. core units with jaguar populations of 15 or more individuals. We used Least Cost Path and Circuit Theory analyses to define the Biological Corridors; i.e. regions with enough habitat to allow for jaguar dispersal along their geographic range, but putting emphasis in connecting Jaguar Conservation Units. Results: We identified 5 Jaguar Geographic Regions (JGRs), 10 Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs), and 13 Biological Corridors to maintain the connectivity of jaguar's populations across their whole geographic range in Mexico. Our results showed that JGRs cover 25% of the country but only 21% of those regions are currently protected in nature reserves. So, our study illustrates the importance of the creation of new protected areas or the implementation of other schemes of conservation to protect larger extensions of the jaguars' habitat in Mexico. It also indicates that despite the reduction of jaguar range in Mexico, there are still relatively large and well conserved areas capable of maintaining jaguar populations. Conclusions: Our results are a fundamental tool to guide the conservation and management of jaguars in Mexico. Our findings indicate that public jaguar conservation policy to protect the remaining jaguar habitat in Mexico should include the following actions: i) Strengthen established protected areas, ii) Create new protected areas, iii) Implement sustainable development programs to stimulate land owners to protect their lands, and iv) Develop mitigation measures for infrastructure. Although the window of opportunity is closing, our results indicate that there is still time to save jaguars and the plethora of species that share their habitat in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoning protected areas is essential for ecological protection and environmental management. However, the protected areas generated via bottom-up processes depend highly on the attitudes of local authorities. Moreover, the performance of protected areas will inevitably be weakened by human activities if there exists an inconsistency between protection and land development. To reveal and solve these problems through top-down approaches, a novel framework for the improvement of protected areas (ERL) is presented in this study. First, the ecological conditions of both the previously-established ERL and land use status quo were assessed through morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and a set of graph-based indicators (e.g., connectivity indices). Second, the low-quality parts of the ERL were improved based on a comparison with the observed land use condition. The results indicated that the ecologically important areas that were excluded from the previously-established ERL can be effectively identified by the combination of MSPA and graph-based indicators. The percentages of high-quality components moderately increased after the improvement. Specifically, low-level core patches can be upgraded by incorporating the ecologically important pixels that were previously neglected. Moreover, many low-quality small islets can be enhanced to better serve the function of temporary habitats. In summary, these results are expected to provide practical guidance for ecological conservation planning and management. More importantly, our proposed zoning framework can be further generalized to the analysis in many other fast-growing regions.

Habitat fragmentation has become an important factor in the reduction of biodiversity. Identifying and optimizing ecological networks (ENs) can help alleviate the negative impact of habitat fragmentation and improve regional biodiversity. Taolai River Basin is an inland river basin in Northwest China. Due to the impact of climate change and human activities, there are many ecological problems such as grassland degradation and shortage of water resources. It is urgent that we identify and optimize the EN. This study comprehensively uses morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA), the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR), and circuit theory to identify ENs, evaluates ENs based on Spatial Syntax, and determines the protection priority of ENs, then diagnoses ecological “pinch points” and ecological obstacles by combining remote sensing and GIS spatial analysis methods. The results show that: (1) the ecological source area of the basin is 3061.63 km2, with uneven spatial distribution, mainly distributed in the Qilian Mountains in the south of the basin; (2) there are 106 ecological corridors in the basin, with a total length of 2267.30 km and an average length of 21.38 km, which is not conducive to species migration; (3) the optimum widths of ecological corridors in the south, middle, and north of the basin are 100 m, 60 m, and 300 m, respectively; (4) the key areas of watershed ecological restoration include the “pinch area” between the southern core area and the central core area and 108 ecological barrier points; and (5) combined with the spatial characteristics of various key areas of ecological protection and restoration, the spatial pattern of “one core–four rings–five belts” of watershed EN construction is obtained.

Ecological security pattern (ESP) can bridge the paradox between ecological conservation and socioeconomic development. Although various methods have been applied to establish ESP successfully, improving its scientificity and reliability for regional sustainability are still great challenges. Taking Harbin administrative region as the study area, this paper integrated the merits of the function-oriented method (assessing the importance of ecological services using the InVEST model) and the structure-oriented method (extracting the connectivity of landscapes based on the MSPA model) to improve the identification of ecological sources more scientifically. Night light data were used to modify the natural resistance surface to reveal the real natural and human disturbance for ES loss during species migration and ecological flows. Then, the ESP was established by combining the ecological nodes after extracting and grading the ecological corridors. The results showed that the individual ES performed with a high spatial heterogeneity and was highly correlated with land use patterns. The extremely important and slightly important were the dominant level types in the study area, and the proportion of extremely important declined greatly from 44.78% in 1980 to 30.14% in 2020. Core was the main landscape type with a proportion of 57.13% and mainly distributed in the Lesser Khingan Mountains and Zhangguangcai Mountains. More than 700 ecological corridors were extracted according to the MCR model and the important ecological corridors were selected based on the gravity model, with 86 ecological nodes obtained from the intersection points of ecological corridors. An ESP of “two zones, two barriers, one axis and one belt” was proposed, and relevant protection measures were put out for the sustainable development in the study area. The findings indicated that imposing ESP could form a stable secure frame for social economic development and ecological protection, avoiding irrational land use modes and excessive dispersion of landscapes. This study could provide valuable references for land use planning and the formulation of related ecological protection policies and regional sustainable development strategies.

Rapid urbanization has led to landscape fragmentation and habitat loss. As an organic structure integrating green space, an urban ecological network can effectively reduce ecological risks and protect biodiversity if its landscape connectivity is maintained. Chaoyang District in Beijing is facing the challenge of transformational development due to excessive urbanization. Taking this district as the study area, this study assessed the environmental impact of different development scenarios on landscape connectivity indices and explored the most relevant strategies for important green space patches by combining ecological network modeling (Graphab) and scenario simulation techniques (FLUS model). The results show that under the urban expansion scenario, the probability of connectivity (PC) decreases by 59.7%, while under the master plan scenario, it increases by 102.1%. Even under the ideal ecological scenario, the ecological network structure of the region faces structural problems. Patches and corridors with high delta probabilities of connectivity (dPC) are concentrated in the north, with no effective connection between the north and south. Finally, planning strategies and priorities for important patches under different urban development goals are proposed through a strategy matrix. Overall, this study proposes a framework for decision-makers to solve planning conflicts between urban expansion and biodiversity conservation, especially for cities in transition.

The rice terrace agroecosystems in mountainous regions occupy an important position in regional sustainable development and cultural diversity; some of them are included in the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). Despite the considerable progress made in protecting these unique agroecosystems, the research for planners to limit properly protected areas systematically, considering both their aesthetic and ecological values, is insufficient. In this study, an overall protecting framework was developed at the spatial planning level by optimizing the landscape pattern. We considered Jiache Valley, the core area of Congjiang’s Rice-Fish-Duck System rated in the GIAHS in 2011, as an example. Based on the indicators of visual sensitivity and ecological stability, we determined the protection scope of the core terrace area and performed a morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) to identify the core area of forest patches and corridor buffer zones. Then, an ecological network corridor was constructed with the minimum cumulative resistance model; finally, the landscape optimization pattern of Jiache Valley was determined. The proposed plan not only highlights the terrace patches individually, but it also systematically protects the components of the agroecosystem including water, forests, and fields, thereby making them sustainable and exert overall ecological effects. By optimizing the patches of different spatial types and developing land management strategies within variable protection levels, the sustainable development of Jiache Valley could be promoted. The method has high significance in the optimization of landscape planning and management of rice terrace agroecosystems; it can also serve as a reference for other types of agroecosystems.

Saltmarsh is a coastal ecosystem providing crucial ecosystem services, and its continued degradation and fragmentation has drawn increasing attention. However, how to effectively restore the connectivity between fragmented saltmarsh patches remains an open challenge. In this study, we developed a metric and modelling framework that prioritised saltmarsh patches for restoration. To demonstrate our approach, we simulated spatially explicit restoration schedules for Suaeda salsa patches at the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, China, using three strategies: increasing-patch-area, increasing-number-of-patches and a benchmark unrestrictive prioritization strategy. We prioritised patches for restoration based on a number of widely used graph-theoretic landscape connectivity and metapopulation capacity metrics. Our simulation results suggested the rank connectivity-importance of extant patches was correlated within the group of graph-theoretic connectivity metrics or metapopulation capacity metrics, but unrelated across group. The unrestrictive prioritization strategy clearly outperformed the strategies of increasing-patch-area and increasing-number-of-patches which returned comparable connectivity restoration outcomes. For the more effective unrestrictive prioritization strategy, there were substantial differences in the simulated priority patches between metrics that considered stepping stone effects and those did not. While the former resulted in corridor-building priority patches that led to a more connected landscape throughout the region, the latter led to local clustering. We recommend use of the total probability of connectivity (PC) among the metrics we tested due to similarity of results to other metrics and its simulation efficiency. The proposed framework is readily applicable to prioritise areas for connectivity conservation and restoration in any monospecific ecosystem at the regional scale.

Variation in landscape features plays an important role in shaping the distribution of species in natural populations. These can influence population connectivity, gene flow, genetic drift, and ultimately the genetic structure and diversity of isolated populations. In this study, we aimed to identify the impact of landscape heterogeneity on the dispersal patterns of the threatened Kaiser's mountain newt, Neurergus kaiseri. We integrated population genetics and geospatial data to predict the rates and patterns of genetic differentiation as well as to identify potential movement corridors among populations. For this purpose, we used two mitochondrial DNA markers and combined data on genetic subdivision (θST) and least‐cost path (LCP) analyses from 15 fragmented highland streams and spring‐ponds representing the entire species distribution area. Five possible dispersal routes used in this study were straight‐line, stepping‐stone, least cost slope, stream likelihood and combination least cost slope/stream likelihood. Genetic and LCP analyses indicated that two clades in the northern and southern distribution range have experienced two differing dispersal routes. The newts identified through the northern populations with high genetic diversity have dispersed with stepping‐stone movements. In contrast, the southern populations are more isolated and dispersal might be facilitated by aquatic corridors in the least cost slope. We suggest that this study allows new implications for the conservation priorities of N. kaiseri by estimating the potential dispersal activity of the species in the face of climate change and ongoing habitat destruction relating to human activities in the southern Zagros mountains of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has essential effects on patterns of population persistence, connectivity, and divergence. We used mtDNA sequences and species distribution modeling to assess the impact of climatic changes in the past (Last Glacial Maximum [LGM: 21 Kya] and Mid‐Holocene [6 Kya]), recent (1970–2000), and future (2070) on the phylogeography and spatial distribution of populations of the Hyrcanian wood frog, Rana pseudodalmatina, in northern Iran. Based on two mitochondrial genes (cytochromeb and 16S ribosomal RNA), we found evidence for two regional patterns that diverged in the Pleistocene (1.6 Mya) and are distributed in the eastern and western sections of the current species range. Biogeographic analyses support the hypothesis that both vicariance (an increase in the Caspian Sea water levels) and dispersal events have been involved in shaping the species' genetic structure. Reconstruction of the ancestral distribution of R. pseudodalmatina suggests the species' range contracted in two independent eastern and western glacial refugia during the LGM, expanding from the Mid‐Holocene to the present to occupy Hyrcanian forests continuously. According to future climate projections, the species' range shows a tendency to shift to higher altitudes. Landscape connectivity analyses support higher population continuity in the central part of the current range, with isolated populations in the easternmost and westernmost extremes. Our integrative study of R. pseudodalmatina provides support for the "refugia‐within‐refugia" scenario in the Hyrcanian forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Seasonal migration is a common phenomenon in animals and connects geographically distant ecosystems. Considerable variation has been documented in this behaviour and migratory divides (contact zones between populations that use different routes to navigate around ecological barriers) are an example of this. Migratory divides could have important implications for ecological speciation as hybrids in divides take intermediate routes and it has been predicted that these routes will be ecologically inferior as they bring hybrids over barriers that parental forms avoid. We provide the first test of this prediction here using a well‐characterized divide between coastal and inland subspecies of Swainson's thrushes. Location: North, Central and South America. Time period: 2006–2013. Major taxa studied: Birds. Methods: We used ecological niche models and analyses of landscape connectivity to predict suitable habitat for coastal and inland thrushes on migration and identify optimal migratory routes. We compared estimates of habitat suitability and landscape connectivity along the actual migratory routes of birds tracked with light‐level geolocators. Results: Consistent with predictions for migratory divides, niche models estimated lower habitat suitability in the intermediate range between the migratory ranges of parental forms. Furthermore, our models of landscape connectivity predicted optimal routes that circumvent this intermediate area. Birds taking intermediate routes used stopover sites of lower predicted habitat suitability than birds migrating on either side of the divide and overlapped less with optimal paths. Main conclusions: Our results support the prediction that intermediate routes of hybrids in migratory divides are ecologically inferior to those of parental forms. This finding suggests ecological differences are helping to maintain divides and could have broad implications, with divides shaping the distribution and maintenance of species boundaries globally and across many taxonomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization alters the distribution and characteristics of waterbodies, potentially affecting both the habitat availability and connectivity for aquatic wildlife. We used Landsat satellite imagery to observe temporal and spatial changes in open-water habitats in Zhengzhou, a rapidly growing city in central China. We classified open water into six categories: perennial rivers, seasonal rivers and streams, canals, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. From 1990 to 2020, in 5-year intervals, we identified, counted, and measured the area of each kind of waterbody, and we used a model selection approach with linear regressions to ask which climate and anthropogenic drivers were associated with these changes. We also used Conefor software to examine how these changes affected the landscape connectivity for waterfowl. Over the study period, lakes and canals were the only waterbody types to show statistically significant changes in surface area, increasing by 712% and 236%, respectively. Changes in lakes and canals were positively correlated with the length of water pipeline in the city. The connectivity of waterbodies fluctuated over the same period, mirroring fluctuations in the perennial Yellow River. Ponds contributed very little to landscape connectivity, and the importance of reservoirs decreased over time. Conversely, canals played an increasingly important role in landscape connectivity over time. Counterintuitively, the connectivity of waterbodies increased in the built-up part of the city. Our results show that urbanization can have unexpected effects—both positive and negative—on the connectivity and area of open-water habitats. These effects are likely to be important for waterfowl and other aquatic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dramatic land use and cover change (LUCC) is one of the major threats to biological conservation as landscape connectivity decreases and necessary ecological process is broken in rapidly urbanized regions. Although most ecological conservation plans aim to restore connectivity based on modeled data or empirical field investigation, few evaluate the changes of landscape connectivity quantitatively, especially from the perspective of regional LUCC analysis and simulation of potential ecological process. We took rapidly urbanized Nanjing in eastern China as the case, simulated potential ecological processes and mapped landscape corridors with minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model. We then calculated the cumulative resistance values (CRVs) of the indicated corridors to reflect the quantitative changes of landscape connectivity. The potential least-cost paths (LCPs) of MCR model indicated the directions of the landscape corridors and they mostly followed the continuous rivers. Although most LCPs showed similar directions in 2000 and 2015, some significantly changed, especially those to the suburban targets where dramatic LUCCs formed barriers and caused obvious landscape fragmentation. The quantitative results of CRVs on the 2000's LCPs showed a great increase from 2000 to 2015, indicating the decrease of landscape connectivity related with significant LUCCs from non-construction to construction lands. However, the CRVs of the 2015's LCPs were mostly lower and did not change too much in 2000 and 2015. From the perspective of LUCCs, most inner buffers of the LCPs were dominated by waters and showed fewer changes comparing with outer buffers, especially those of the 2015's LCPs. Therefore, it is concluded the 2015's LCPs can maintain higher and more stable landscape connectivity as more ecologically suitable lands exist there in 2000 and 2015. To be specific, it is of lower cost to design the landscape corridors at the 0–50 m buffers, where limited land use adjustments are required in some new towns or industrial parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape connectivity has widely been recognized as one of the key objectives in studies of forest landscape management, ecological conservation and construction. Protecting virgin forests and afforesting marginal cropland are two long-term ecological projects in China. However, along with rapid urbanization and industrialization in China, the relationship between landscape connectivity and forest landscape restoration (FLR) has not been fully explored. The emergent question concerns whether the connectivity of a restored forest landscape could benefit the local flora and fauna. We evaluated the status of FLR in the Yi River watershed based on remote sensing images during 2015-2020. The forest landscape connectivity (FLC) was investigated using landscape connectivity indicators, applying the theory of landscape connectivity. We also examined the variations of FLC under different landform types (hills and low mountains) according to distance threshold values ranging from 100 m to 20,000 m. The most appropriate distance thresholds for analyzing FLC in hills and low mountains are 500 m and 100 m, respectively. The results showed that in this period, the FLC in low mountains was increased, whereas that of hills was decreased. The contributions for reforested patches on the improvement of the FLC were evaluated. In hills, patches that made "very high" and "high" contributions to improve the FLC occupied 15.6% of the total reforested area, whereas the proportion in low mountains was 25.5%. The results indicated that although rainfed cropland patches have been converted to forest patches, some of them have made small contributions to the FLC. Through this case study, we hope to have confirmed that landscape connectivity analysis could be used as a criterion for selecting important patches in the planning of FLR. Moreover, we have introduced this implementable method for future ecological restoration management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Hedgerows have been shown to improve forest connectivity, leading to an increased probability of species tracking the shifting bioclimatic envelopes. However, it is still unknown how species in hedgerows respond to temperature changes, and whether effects differ compared with those in nearby forests. We aimed to elucidate how ongoing changes in the climate system will affect the efficiency of hedgerows in supporting forest plant persistence and migration in agricultural landscapes. Methods Here we report results from the first warming experiment in hedgerows. We combined reciprocal transplantation of plants along an 860-km latitudinal transect with experimental warming to assess the effects of temperature on vegetative growth and reproduction of two common forest herbs (Anemone nemorosa and Geum urbanum) in hedgerows versus forests. Key Results Both species grew taller and produced more biomass in forests than in hedgerows, most likely due to higher competition with ruderals and graminoids in hedgerows. Adult plant performance of both species generally benefitted from experimental warming, despite lower survival of A. nemorosa in heated plots. Transplantation affected the species differently: A. nemorosa plants grew taller, produced more biomass and showed higher survival when transplanted at their home site, indicating local adaptation, while individuals of G. urbanum showed greater height, biomass, reproductive output and survival when transplanted northwards, likely owing to the higher light availability associated with increasing photoperiod during the growing season. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that some forest herbs can show phenotypic plasticity to warming temperatures, potentially increasing their ability to benefit from hedgerows as ecological corridors. Our study thus provides novel insights into the impacts of climate change on understorey plant community dynamics in hedgerows, and how rising temperature can influence the efficiency of these corridors to assist forest species' persistence and colonization within and beyond their current distribution range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic changes pose a significant threat to global biodiversity, especially in reptiles. Mexico, renowned for its diverse reptile population, is experiencing habitat disturbance and fragmentation, endangering rattlesnakes in particular due to their specific habitat requirements and limited mobility. The loss of structural connectivity further increases the risk of extinction for reptiles. Our study focuses on predicting the distribution and connectivity of nine Crotalus species in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB), using environmental modeling. We used climate models (CNRM-CM5 and MPI-ESM-LR) for the year 2050 and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 85) alongside changes in vegetation cover and land use. The Maxent modeling method in ENMeval helped assess distribution patterns and to identify key environmental variables influencing these species' distributions and niche overlap. We also conducted an analysis of the structural connectivity of the different Crotalus species. Our findings indicate reductions in suitable habitats due to changes in agriculture, urbanization, and forest cover. The Maxent models showed high accuracy in predicting species distributions. The most influential variables varied among species and included forest types and climatic factors. We observed limited connectivity among small Crotalus species, although some species exhibited greater connectivity than others. Future models suggest potential distribution reductions for all species, with C. armstrongi facing the greatest reduction (78%) according to the cn85 global climate model. Protected areas do not encompass the majority of potential distribution for these small rattlesnake species. These findings highlight the urgency of conservation efforts and the need to mitigate the impacts of future environmental changes on reptile populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of biodiversity conservation initiatives depends on their ability to maintain and restore the integrity and connectivity of ecological systems. Payments for environmental services (PES) can encourage farmers to set aside land for conservation, but landscape connectivity requires coordination among land users. Fairness in the distribution of payoffs has been shown to affect conservation efforts in response to PES, but the sources of inequality in payment allocation mechanisms can be manifold. Here we focus on the performance of conservation incentives under alternative payment modalities and levels of inequality in land ownership. We applied lab-in-the-field experiment with 384 Tanzanian farmers from two ecological corridors. Groups of participants were endowed with either equal or unequal amounts of hypothetical farmland and subsequently exposed to two treatments, namely a fixed individual payment and a fixed payment with an agglomeration bonus. Both payment modalities had positive effects on conservation, but we find no strong evidence for impact of asymmetries in landownership on conservation decisions. Overall, our results suggest that conditional payments can be effective even when land with high conservation value is unequally distributed in ecological corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of achieving the dual goal of nature-positive and climate-neutral, there are more or less weaknesses in linking ecological networks (ENs) and carbon-related factors in both research and practice. Considering the widely recognized multifunctionality of ENs across ecological, economic, social, and aesthetic aspects, we propose to integrate spatial carbon emission as a proxy of human activity intensity into the ecological resistance system, and further to improve the design of the ecological nodes and corridors. Here, the spatial pattern of carbon emissions was studied in the Hohhot–Baotou–Ordos–Yulin (HBOY) city cluster, a large energy-intensive area in northern China. And then, by overlying with the primary landscape patterns, 23 ecological nodes and 67 artificial corridors were added to the primary EN, improving network closure, line point rate, and network connectivity by 92%, 30.48%, and 27.45%, respectively. Importantly, the potential capacity of carbon sink would be increased by 28.61%. It is found, the improved EN may help deal with the challenge of carbon reduction and ecological degradation in a manner of multi-objective synergy. • It is meaningful to enrich multifunctionality of the ENs by considering carbon factors. • A new perspective is raised to link spatial carbon factors with EN construction. • Spatial carbon emissions are incorporated into the ecological resistance index. • 23 Ecological nodes are identified by overlapping with spatial carbon characters. • The revised network may enhance both connectivity and carbon sink potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the unbalanced development and overexploitation of the countrychr('39')s watersheds, land fragmentation has become a major concern for the conservation of ecosystem services and land health. For this purpose, the present study was planned to evaluate and compare the landscape connectivity indices of KoozehTopraghi Watershed as one of the ecologically susceptible watersheds located in Ardabil Province. To this end, the landscape connectivity was investigated according to both structural and functional viewpoints, based on the green patches (rangelands and orchard) distributed at 36 sub-watershed areas. The mentioned indices were first calculated using the Fragstats Software and graph theory at each sub-watershed; then, they were standardized according to interval standardization between zero and one in order to consider the scale effect and draw a comparison in the same variation range. Therefore, the landscape connectivity was calculated, classified and mapped for each studied sub-watershed and the whole watershed. Structural connectivity results showed the high level of landscape connectivity between green patches in all studied sub-watersheds. In addition, the results showed that the landscape connectivity was obtained with the mean and standard deviation of 0.50 ± 0.52, being varied from 0.50 to 0.97. The results also proved that out of the 36 sub-watersheds located in the KoozehTopraghi, only 15 sub-watersheds had natural lands (orchard and rangelands). Also, the sub-watershed 27, with the highest value of landscape connectivity (0.97), had the highest priority.

Abstract Background Habitat fragmentation is a primary driver of wildlife loss, and the establishment of biological corridors is a conservation strategy to mitigate this problem. Identifying areas with high potential functional connectivity typically relies on the assessment of landscape resistance to movement. Many modeling approaches exist to estimate resistance surfaces but to date only a handful of studies compared the outputs resulting from different methods. Moreover, as many species are threatened by fragmentation, effective biodiversity conservation requires that corridors simultaneously meet the needs of multiple species. While many corridor planning initiatives focus on single species, we here used a combination of data types and analytical approaches to identify and compare corridors for several large mammal species within the Panama portion of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Methods We divided a large mammal assemblage into two groups depending on the species sensitivity to habitat disturbance. We subsequently used cost-distance methods to produce multi-species corridors which were modeled on the basis of (i) occupancy of nine species derived from camera trapping data collected across Panama, and (ii) step selection functions based on GPS telemetry data from white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari, puma Puma concolor, and ocelot Leopardus pardalis. In addition to different data sources and species groups, we also used different transformation curves to convert occupancy and step-selection results into landscape resistance values. Results Corridors modeled differed between sensitive and tolerant species, between the data sets, and between the transformation curves. There were more corridors identified for tolerant species than for sensitive species. For tolerant species, several corridors developed with occupancy data overlapped with corridors produced with step selection functions, but this was not the case for sensitive species. Conclusion Our study represents the first comparison of multispecies corridors parametrized with step selection functions versus occupancy models. Given the wide variability in output corridors, our findings underscore the need to consider the ecological requirements of several species. Our results also suggest that occupancy models can be used for estimating connectivity of generalist species. Finally, this effort allowed to identify important corridors within the MBC (i) at a country scale and (ii) for several species simultaneously to accurately inform the local authorities in conservation planning. The approach we present is reproducible in other sites and/or for other species.

Currently, conservation planning based on the future distribution of species is among the most important adaptive conservation approaches to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on species. In this study, by adapting an ensemble modelling approach, scenarios of RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 and five global circulation models, the distribution of Goitered gazelle (Gazellea subgutturosa) under climate change was predicted in the central Iran (Isfahan, Semnan, Markazi, Fars and Yazd provinces). In addition, by comparing the current and future distributions, suitable habitats that would remain so in the future with the potential to function as climatic refugia were identified. The results revealed that by 2070, Goitered gazelle will have lost 46% and 70% of its habitats based on RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5, respectively. Across central Iran, only proportions of habitats in Isfahan and Semnan at higher latitudes were predicted to function as the climatic refugia. Based on RCP 8.5, however, all refugia in Isfahan, except for those in Mooteh Wildlife Refuge, were projected to disappear. According to the findings of this study, expanding the protected network and increasing connectivity in the areas where refugia are distributed, and enhancing the protection status of key no-hunting areas and wildlife refugees are recommended as the management approaches for the effective conservation of this species against climate change.

The Baluchistan Black Bear (BBB), a critically endangered subspecies (CR), is distributed in the southeastern Iran. Modelling of landscape connectivity of the BBBs among habitat patches can be insightful for the conservation managers working in Iran. Our study was designed to identify the potential corridors among 31 habitat patches of the BBBs in Iran using the circuit theory method. Habitat suitability map was generated in MaxEnt using 101 presence points and nine environmental variables, which were later inversed and used in corridor modeling. By using the circuit theory method, areas of high migration density were compared with four clusters determined in a previous study based on the least-cost model. Three main clusters with the high migration density of BBB were detected. Moreover, we identified eight insular habitat patches of the species that required urgent management actions to connect with other patches in the southeastern Iran. Circuit theory method clearly confirmed the main clusters introduced for the conservation of the BBBs in the southeastern Iran. Results of this study could be, therefore, used as a suitable pattern for the conservation priorities of BBBs habitats in this part of Iran.

With the new round of western development being pushed forward and territorial spatial planning being put into place, northwest China’s urbanization rate has sped up. Urbanization will inevitably affect the city’s general landscape pattern and features, aggravating the landscape’s fragmentation and destroying the urban ecological environment. That threatens the well-being of the residents and the city’s biodiversity. Urban green space provides a habitat for the creatures in the city, and its connectivity provides corridors. Researchers and planners have developed green space networks to protect urban biodiversity and satisfy urban residents’ needs for recreation and ecologically friendly open space. This study uses RS, GIS, SeNtinel Application Platform (SNAP), and Conefor Sensinode. Applying the landscape connectivity index, least-cost path model, and corridor curvature analysis to identify potential recreation and biodiversity conservation corridors with a reasonable width, identifies good quality green space patches and corridors, or which ones need improvement. The results show that: (1) The patches selected by the possible connectivity index (PC) calculated with a threshold of 100 m in the urban area of Kashgar have higher recreational attributes. (2) There are 24 effective recreational corridors in Kashgar, with a total length of 43.44 km, and 53 effective biodiversity conservation corridors, a total of 78.23 km. Suppose recreational and ecological functions are considered to build a comprehensive green space network. The 50 m recreational corridor is mainly distributed in the center, and the 30 m biodiversity conservation corridor is primarily distributed on edge. (3) We can determine the location of the new green space suitable for protection or development by analyzing the corridor curvature. Through the constructed green space network, we can find that green space planning has severe fragmentation, unfair distribution, and other problems. Based on these issues, optimizing urban green space can promote the connectivity of urban green space. Furthermore, studying the width of corridors suitable for dense urban areas is conducive to protecting urban biodiversity and resident well-being.

Habitat fragmentation hinders the dispersal of species and reduces the range of suitable habitat, thereby threatening the conservation of biodiversity. Even in protected areas, an assessment of the landscape connectivity of suitable habitat for species is still essential. In this paper, we investigated the overall forest connectivity, and determined patch characteristics and their role in species dispersion for species with different dispersal abilities in the World Natural Heritage Site of Bogda, Xinjiang, China. In our study site, the overall landscape connectivity was low for species with short- and medium-distance (≤500 m) dispersal, but high for species with long-distance (>500 m) dispersal abilities. We ranked the importance of patches according to their role in maintaining overall connectivity. Two patches were identified as being the most important: one mainly provided habitat area and fluxes (i.e., the flow of species into and out of the area) for species, while the other acted as a ‘stepping-stone’ for dispersal and provided fluxes. All species could use smaller patches (≤50 ha) as stepping-stones, and some of these patches could provide special environmental conditions for endemic species with short- and medium-distance dispersal abilities. Our study offers a way to prioritize the conservation of patches in a forest network for biodiversity and ecosystem health.

The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is a biodiversity hotspot, yet its diverse ecosystems and species are becoming increasingly threatened by habitat loss and extreme habitat fragmentation. Most habitat patches of Atlantic Forest are dispersed across agricultural landscapes (e.g., grazing and cropping) in relatively small and isolated fragments (80% < 50 ha). Forest fragments < 1 ha, scattered trees in pastures, tree lines on trenches and fences, and remnant riparian forest, collectively called here Small Landscape Elements (SLEs), are very common in this context. While these SLEs make up much of the Atlantic Forests footprint, very little is known about their role or impact on the persistence and conservation of species. In this study, we investigate the role of SLEs on landscape configuration, particularly their contribution toward landscape connectivity of individual species and the genetic flow of species between larger forest fragments. We randomly selected 20 buffers of 707 hectares within a 411,670 hectare area of the Atlantic Forest that was completely covered by forest in the past located in the south of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The forest cover randomly varied between these buffers. We used graph theory to measure landscape connectivity as the probability of connectivity for different disperser movement types between landscape knots (habitat patches). We used three estimated dispersal distances in the models: pollen disperser insect (50 m), low-mobility seed disperser bird (100 m) and high-mobility seed disperser bird (760 m). The SLEs together increased the probability of connection by roughly 50%, for all model dispersers, if compared to a theoretical baseline landscape containing no SLEs. Of all SLEs, riparian forests contribute the most toward enhancing landscape connectivity. In these highly fragmented landscapes, such as the Atlantic Forest (>70%), the position of SLEs within the landscapes was more important than their respective areas for connectivity. Although the landscapes were deeply fragmented, we showed that the presence of SLEs can increase connectivity and reduce further biodiversity loss in the Atlantic Forest.

Background: Connectivity is an important landscape attribute in ecological studies and conservation practices and is often expressed in terms of effective distance. If the cost of movement of an organism over a landscape is effectively represented by a raster surface, effective distances can be equated with the cost-weighted distance of least-cost paths. It is generally recognized that this measure is sensitive to the grid's cell size, but little is known if it is always sensitive in the same way and to the same degree and if not, what makes it more (or less) sensitive. We conducted computational experiments with both synthetic and real landscape data, in which we generated and analyzed large samples of effective distances measured on cost surfaces of varying cell sizes derived from those data. The particular focus was on the statistical behavior of the ratio—referred to as 'accuracy indicator'—of the effective distance measured on a lower-resolution cost surface to that measured on a higher-resolution cost surface. Results: In the experiment with synthetic cost surfaces, the sample values of the accuracy indicator were generally clustered around 1, but slightly greater with the absence of linear sequences (or barriers) of high-cost or inadmissible cells and smaller with the presence of such sequences. The latter tendency was more dominant, and both tendencies became more pronounced as the difference between the spatial resolutions of the associated cost surfaces increased. When two real satellite images (of different resolutions with fairly large discrepancies) were used as the basis of cost estimation, the variation of the accuracy indicator was found to be substantially large in the vicinity (1500 m) of the source but decreases quickly with an increase in distance from it. Conclusions: Effective distances measured on lower-resolution cost surfaces are generally highly correlated with—and useful predictors of—effective distances measured on higher-resolution cost surfaces. This relationship tends to be weakened when linear barriers to dispersal (e.g., roads and rivers) exist, but strengthened when moving away from sources of dispersal and/or when linear barriers (if any) are detected by other presumably more accessible and affordable sources such as vector line data. Thus, if benefits of high-resolution data are not likely to substantially outweigh their costs, the use of lower resolution data is worth considering as a cost-effective alternative in the application of least-cost path modeling to landscape connectivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By shaping where individuals move, habitat configuration can fundamentally structure animal populations. Yet, we currently lack a framework for generating quantitative predictions about the role of habitat configuration in modulating population outcomes. To address this gap, we propose a modelling framework inspired by studies using networks to characterize habitat connectivity. We first define animal habitat networks, explain how they can integrate information about the different configurational features of animal habitats, and highlight the need for a bottom–up generative model that can depict realistic variations in habitat potential connectivity. Second, we describe a model for simulating animal habitat networks (available in the R package AnimalHabitatNetwork), and demonstrate its ability to generate alternative habitat configurations based on empirical data, which forms the basis for exploring the consequences of alternative habitat structures. Finally, we lay out three key research questions and demonstrate how our framework can address them. By simulating the spread of a pathogen within a population, we show how transmission properties can be impacted by both local potential connectivity and landscape-level characteristics of habitats. Our study highlights the importance of considering the underlying habitat configuration in studies linking social structure with population-level outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Context: Regional ecological networks play an important role in biodiversity conservation and should be constructed and optimized for continued ecosystem functioning. Objectives: Taking a tropical region in Southwest China as the study area, we aimed to propose a new method for constructing ecological networks for Asian elephants affected by human disturbance by focusing on the importance of steppingstones for optimization. Methods: Source areas were extracted using a combination of morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and the importance of patches (PC) index. A network connecting source areas was then constructed using circuit theory. Steppingstones were added near the breaks in corridors to optimize the ecological network. Results: The quality of the southern key corridors in the study area has improved since 1990, but few corridors connect the southern with the central and northern regions. Compared with the ecological network in 2015, the average current density more than doubled, and the potential corridor area increased by approximately eight times from 8.07 to 65.05 km2 after optimization. The connectivity between the north and south was apparently enhanced, and the landscape connectivity of the entire region had improved. Conclusions: Source areas can be effectively determined through the integrated use of MSPA and the PC index. Our study also confirmed that small steppingstones, which were selected based on the corridor identification results, have a strong impact on improving landscape connectivity. This study provides a method for the selection of source areas and is an important reference for the planning and optimization of ecological networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving and managing large portions of land to connect wildlife reserves is an increasingly used strategy to maintain and restore connectivity among wildlife populations. Boundaries of such conservation areas are often determined based on expert opinion and socio‐political constraints, yet the extent to which they match species' movement corridors is rarely examined. This is mainly due to a lack of data, particularly on wide‐ranging movement behaviour such as dispersal. Nevertheless, empirically assessing the adequacy of protected areas is key for the implementation of targeted management actions and efficient use of limited conservation funds.Between 2011 and 2019, we collected high‐resolution GPS data on 16 dispersing African wild dog Lycaon pictus coalitions from a free‐ranging population in the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA‐TFCA). Spanning five countries and 520,000 km2, the KAZA‐TFCA is the world's largest transboundary conservation area and a prime example for international conservation efforts. We used integrated step selection analysis to estimate habitat selection of dispersers and to create a permeability surface for the KAZA‐TFCA. We compared landscape permeability across different regions within the KAZA‐TFCA as well as outside its boundaries. Lastly, we calculated least‐cost paths and corridors to verify that major movement routes were adequately encompassed within the KAZA‐TFCA.Permeability within the boundaries of the KAZA‐TFCA was more than double compared to areas outside it. Furthermore, we observed a fivefold permeability difference among the five KAZA‐TFCA countries. We also showed that major movement corridors of wild dogs ran within the KAZA‐TFCA, although some minor routes remained formally unprotected.Differences in permeability were mainly related to different degrees of human activities across regions, and to the presence or absence of rivers, swamps and open water. The relationship between permeability and other landscape features was less pronounced.Synthesis and applications. In this study, we showed how pertinent dispersal data of a highly mobile species can be used to empirically evaluate the adequacy of already existing or planned protected areas. Furthermore, we observed regional differences in landscape permeability that highlight the need for a coordinated effort towards maintaining or restoring connectivity, especially where transboundary dispersal occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Maintaining and improving ecological connectivity is an important component of wildlife conservation. Omnidirectional circuit theory algorithms model the flow of electric current across a resistance grid from all directions, making them particularly useful for modeling connectivity of multiple or widespread species, or when source and destination sites are not specified, such as in the case of continuously distributed species. Objectives: We compared three published omnidirectional connectivity methods—the point-based method, the wall-to-wall method, and the Omniscape method. Methods: We compared the three omnidirectional connectivity methods using ten simulated resistance grids, representing commonly encountered landscape features. We then used three Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) snow-track datasets from Ontario, Canada to validate the ability of each method to detect landscape use. Results: Current density maps generated by all three methods were highly correlated for most simulated landscapes, with the exception of uniform resistance grids. In uniform grids, without landscape features to guide current, each method revealed unique node-placement biases. All three methods produced similar connectivity maps for lynx, showing higher current at lynx presence locations compared to absence locations. The main differences between methods were not in their output, but in their implementation and use of computational resources. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that all three currently published omnidirectional connectivity models produce similar current density maps and can accurately map landscape connectivity. We provide guidelines for selecting a method based on factors such as computational resources, study area, and project goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]