Abstract
BackgroundHabitat fragmentation, associated with human population expansion, impedes dispersal, reduces gene flow and aggravates inbreeding in species on the brink of extinction. Both scientific and conservation communities increasingly realize that maintaining and restoring landscape connectivity is of vital importance in biodiversity conservation. Prior to any conservation initiatives, it is helpful to present conservation practitioners with a spatially explicit model of functional connectivity for the target species or landscape.Methodology/Principal FindingsUsing Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) as a model of endangered ungulate species in highly fragmented landscape, we present a model providing spatially explicit information to inform the long-term preservation of well-connected metapopulations. We employed a Geographic Information System (GIS) and expert-literature method to create a habitat suitability map, to identify potential habitats and to delineate a functional connectivity network (least-cost movement corridors and paths) for the gazelle. Results indicated that there were limited suitable habitats for the gazelle, mainly found to the north and northwest of the Qinghai Lake where four of five potential habitat patches were identified. Fifteen pairs of least-cost corridors and paths were mapped connecting eleven extant populations and two neighboring potential patches. The least-cost paths ranged from 0.2 km to 26.8 km in length (averaging 12.4 km) and were all longer than corresponding Euclidean distances.Conclusions/SignificanceThe model outputs were validated and supported by the latest findings in landscape genetics of the species, and may provide impetus for connectivity conservation programs. Dispersal barriers were examined and appropriate mitigation strategies were suggested. This study provides conservation practitioners with thorough and visualized information to reserve the landscape connectivity for Przewalski’s gazelle. In a general sense, we proposed a heuristic framework for species with similar biological and ecological characteristics.
Highlights
Habitat fragmentation, associated with human population expansion and the following landscape modification, is of major concern to agencies of wildlife conservation [1,2]
We further evaluate and test the model using the latest evidence from landscape genetics of the gazelle [27]
The study is an ecological model with no cruelty to animals and no review from the ethnic committee is required in China
Summary
Habitat fragmentation, associated with human population expansion and the following landscape modification, is of major concern to agencies of wildlife conservation [1,2]. The functional model uses species-specific habitat preference, often based on expert opinion and literature [15,16], to depict the least-cost movement corridors or paths that provide better opportunities for successful dispersals. Advantages of this methodology include modest data requirements, a great benefit-to-effort ratio, visualized outputs and a convenient update process [7]. Habitat fragmentation, associated with human population expansion, impedes dispersal, reduces gene flow and aggravates inbreeding in species on the brink of extinction Both scientific and conservation communities increasingly realize that maintaining and restoring landscape connectivity is of vital importance in biodiversity conservation. We proposed a heuristic framework for species with similar biological and ecological characteristics
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