Abstract
ContextThe importance of habitat connectivity for wildlife is widely recognised. However, assessing the movement of species tends to rely on radio-tracking or GPS evidence, which is difficult and costly to gather.ObjectivesTo examine functional connectivity of greater horseshoe bats (GHS, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) at a local scale using Circuitscape software; comparing our results against expert opinion ‘fly ways’.MethodsExpert opinions were used to rank and score five environmental layers influencing GHS movement, generating resistance scores. The slope and resistance scores of these layers were varied, and validated against independent ground truthed GHS activity data, until a unimodal peak in correlation was identified for each layer. The layers were combined into a multivariate model and re-evaluated. Radio-tracking studies were used to further validate the model, and the transferability was tested at other roost locations.ResultsFunctional connectivity models could be created using bat activity data. Models had the ability to be transferred between roost locations, although site-specific validation is strongly recommended. For all other bat species recorded, markedly more (125%) bat passes occurred in the top quartile of functional connectivity compared to any of the lower three quartiles.ConclusionThe model predictions identify areas of key conservation importance to habitat connectivity for GHS that are not recognised by expert opinion. By highlighting landscape features that act as barriers to movement, this approach can be used by decision-makers as a tool to inform local management strategies.
Highlights
Retaining the functional connectivity of landscapes is a pressing issue for conservation (Goodwin and Fahrig 2002; Fahrig et al 2011)
The model predictions identify areas of key conservation importance to habitat connectivity for greater horseshoe bat (GHS) that are not recognised by expert opinion
By highlighting landscape features that act as barriers to movement, this approach can be used by decisionmakers as a tool to inform local management strategies
Summary
Retaining the functional connectivity of landscapes is a pressing issue for conservation (Goodwin and Fahrig 2002; Fahrig et al 2011). The identification of landscapes or habitats that provide high functional connectivity for species of conservation concern has the potential to focus resources where they can be deployed most effectively (Lawton et al 2010). For some species, such habitats are—at least in principle—legally protected because they are vital to maintaining the integrity of key populations [e.g. landscapes connecting a network of Special Areas of Conservation of bats under the EU Habitats Directive; 92/43/EEC (EC 1992)]. Important corridors may offer relatively poor habitat quality in themselves, but may offer the best—or only—available route to join areas important for foraging, mating or resting
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