Linking the minimum spanning tree and edge betweenness to understand arterial corridors in an ecological network

Abstract

Redundancy is a typical characteristic of complex networks. In ecological networks, redundancy also exists in the connectivity between key nodes. Understanding the redundant structure of an ecological network and identifying the backbone structure is very important in maintaining the stability of the ecological network system. Using Shenzhen City as an example, we aimed to construct an ecological network and identify its arterial corridors. A protection plan for arterial corridors is proposed through network analysis. Using the concept of edge betweenness and a minimum spanning tree, we identified the arterial corridors in the ecological network. Four corridor destruction scenarios were considered: random destruction, urban sprawl, ecological control line, and arterial corridor scenarios. The ecological network stability under the four scenarios is explored based on a network robustness analysis. The ecological network covers 32 important habitats and 49 ecological corridors. Among them, 31 arterial corridors connect 32 important habitats, forming the backbone structure of the ecological network. Both the control line policy and protection plan of the arterial corridor play a role in maintaining the stability of the ecological network. The stability of the ecological network under the arterial corridor protection scheme was 6% higher than that under the control line one. This study provides an effective method for identifying arterial corridors in an ecological network. Protecting the arterial corridors and the redundant corridors based on edge betweenness can maintain the stability of the ecological network to the greatest extent. Our study has reference significance for the hierarchical protection of ecological corridors.