The Effects of Climate Change on Habitat Connectivity: A Case Study of the Brown-Eared Pheasant in China

Abstract

Climate change has caused habitat fragmentation and reduced connectivity. The Fen River Basin in Shanxi Province, China is an important habitat for the central population of the brown-eared pheasant (BEP). The effects of climate change need to be considered in the conservation planning of BEP habitats. We used a species dispersion model to determine the BEP core habitat and graph theory to explore the connectivity of the BEP’s main habitats. The pinch point areas of BEP dissemination were determined by circuit theory. Least-cost pathways were used to identify the critical corridors for BEP dissemination. A gap analysis was conducted to estimate the efficiency of BEP conservation measures. Under the future climate scenarios, BEP habitats decreased by between 54.69% and 97.63%, and the connectivity of the main habitats was reduced by a similar magnitude. The BEP core habitat shifted to the southwestern region under the influence of climatic conditions. Currently, 90.84% of the species’ critical habitat remains unprotected. Due to climate change, the core habitat in the future was projected to differ from the current protected area. Enhancing the protection of the pinch point region may aid in the restoration of habitat connectivity.