Journal
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
Volume 36, Issue 7, Pages 2077-2093Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10980-020-01159-6
Keywords
Landscape resistance; Circuit theory; Least-cost path; Natterjack toad; Green infrastructure; Urban planning; Nature conservation
Funding
- Fragments, Functions and Flows in Urban Ecosystem Services (F3UES) project as part of the larger Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Sustainability (BESS) framework [NE/J015067/1]
- UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) as part of the UK's Living with Environmental Change (LWEC) programme
- NERC
- BESS programme
- NERC [NE/J015067/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Ecological networks are crucial for supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services in anthropogenic landscapes. Efficient models and metrics are necessary for assessing connectivity in order to preserve and improve these networks. By combining least cost and circuit models, this study identified priority corridors for species conservation and human recreation in an urban setting, demonstrating the importance of connectivity for nature conservation and urban planning.
Context Ecological networks are systems of interconnected components that support biodiversity, ecological processes and ecosystem services. Such structures play a crucial role for nature conservation and people well-being in anthropogenic landscapes. Assessing connectivity by using efficient models and metrics is a sine qua non condition to preserve and improve appropriately these ecological networks. Objectives This study aims to present a novel methodological approach to assess and model connectivity for species conservation (Bufo calamita; the natterjack toad) and human recreation in the city. Methods The study used a combination least cost and circuit models to identify priority corridors in the City of Liege, Belgium. Green areas, habitats and relevant movement parameters were derived based on existing studies around (i) the occurrence, ecology and biology of the natterjack toad and (ii) human behavioural studies on urban pedestrians. Combining the two models allowed the assessment of connectivity for both species via two different metrics visualised using priority corridors on maps. Results The connectivity assessments identified lack of connectivity as the potential route to extinction of natterjack toads at one of the source sites. Conclusions This study provides examples of how combining least cost and circuit models can contribute to the improvement of urban ecological networks and demonstrates the usefulness of such models for nature conservation and urban planning.
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