Abstract
ContextEffective planning for protected areas and wildlife population management requires a firm understanding of the location of the species’ core habitat patches, the dispersal corridors connecting them, and the risk they face from key threats, notably deforestation.ObjectivesTo quantify and map core habitat patches and dispersal corridors for Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi diardi), Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) across the 16,000 km2 tropical rainforest Kerinci Seblat landscape, Sumatra. Also, to model future forest loss and fragmentation and its effect on landscape connectivity for populations of these threatened species.MethodsUsing data from camera trap (671 sites/55,856 trap nights), and occupancy modelling, we developed habitat use maps and converted these into species-specific landscape resistance layers. We applied cumulative resistant kernels to map core areas and we used factorial least-cost paths to define dispersal corridors. A 17-year deforestation dataset was used to predict deforestation risk towards the integrity of corridors and core areas.ResultsThe occupancy estimates of the three cats were similar (0.18–0.29), with preference shown for habitats with dense tree cover, medium elevation and low human disturbance. The overlap between core areas and corridors across the three species was moderate, 7–11% and 10%, respectively. We predicted future loss of 1052 km2 of forest in the landscape, of which 2–4% and 5% in highly importance core areas and corridors.ConclusionsThis study provides a valuable guidance for identifying priority areas in need of urgent protection within and outside the protected area network, and where infrastructure development planning can incorporate wildlife conservation goals.
Highlights
At a global scale, increasing deforestation rates and other anthropogenic drivers of landscape transformation cause habitat loss and fragmentation (Laurance et al 2014)
The occupancy estimates of the three cats were similar (0.18–0.29), with preference shown for habitats with dense tree cover, medium elevation and low human disturbance
This study provides a valuable guidance for identifying priority areas in need of urgent protection within and outside the protected area network, and where infrastructure development planning can incorporate wildlife conservation goals
Summary
At a global scale, increasing deforestation rates and other anthropogenic drivers of landscape transformation cause habitat loss and fragmentation (Laurance et al 2014) This imposes immense pressure on wildlife populations, especially for highly specialized species (Frank and Amarasekare 1998) or those with large home ranges and dispersal abilities, such as medium- or large-bodied felids (Sunquist and Sunquist 2019). Species adaptability to these changes, and populations’ survival, often depends on how individuals can move through the landscape in search of food, better quality habitat and mates (Zeller et al 2012). Habitat fragmentation and increased poaching pressure may push individuals to the periphery of protected areas or even to move out into human-dominated lands, elevating the likelihood of conflict (Nyhus and Tilson 2004; Macdonald et al 2012)
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