Abstract
Connectivity is vital for the maintenance of spatially structured ecosystems, but is threatened by anthropogenic processes that degrade habitat networks. Thus, connectivity enhancement has become a conservation priority, with resources dedicated to enhancing habitat networks. However, much effort may be wasted on ineffective management, as conservation theory and practice can be poorly linked. Here we evaluate the success of landscape management designed to restore connectivity in the Humberhead wetlands (UK). Hybrid pattern-process models were created for six species, representing key taxa in the wetland ecosystem. Habitat suitability models were used to provide the spatial context for individual-based models that predicted metapopulation dynamics, including functional connectivity. To create models representing post-management conditions, landscape structure was modified to represent local improvements in habitat quality achieved through management. Models indicate that management had limited success in enhancing connectivity. Interventions have buffered existing connectivity in several species’ habitat networks, with inter-patch movement increasing for modelled species by up to 22% (for water vole, Arvicola amphibius), but have not reconnected isolated habitat fragments. Field surveys provided provisional support for the accuracy of baseline models, but could not identify predicted benefits from management interventions, likely due to time-lags following these interventions. Despite lacking clear empirical support as yet, models suggest the management of the Humberhead wetlands has successfully enhanced the landscape-scale ecological network, achieving management targets. However we identify key limitations to this success and provide specific recommendations for improvement of future landscape-scale management. Our developments in model application and integration can be developed further and be usefully applied to studies of species and/or community dynamics in a range of contexts.
Highlights
Connectivity of fragmented landscapes is considered to be of vital importance in maintaining long-term population viability in heterogeneous landscapes (Vasudev et al 2015)
In order to ameliorate anthropogenic landscape fragmentation, connectivity enhancement has become a conservation priority, with many resources dedicated to reconnecting habitat fragments in human-modified landscapes
The conservation management of the HHL Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) aims to deliver the stated “more, bigger, better, and joined” ecological network within the landscape of the Humberhead wetlands, and these wetland habitats have been the focus of habitat creation and restoration work
Summary
Connectivity of fragmented landscapes is considered to be of vital importance in maintaining long-term population viability in heterogeneous landscapes (Vasudev et al 2015). As landscape structure is degraded and fragmented by anthropogenic modification, it is expected that this will fundamentally degrade ecosystem processes (Lawson et al 2010) As such the creation and maintenance of functional linkages between remnant populations is essential for the long-term preservation of ecosystems in human-dominated landscapes (Benz et al 2016). As with many areas of applied conservation, there is concern that much of this effort is wasted on poorly planned or implemented management that often fails to enhance functional linkages between habitat islands effectively (Sutherland et al 2004) This uncertainty about success arises from the complexities of measuring habitat connectivity in the field and in predicting the potential impacts of interventions at the landscape scale (Luque et al 2012)
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