Understanding the Importance of Dynamic Landscape Connectivity

Katherine Zeller,Rebecca Lewison,Megan Jennings,Mirela Tulbure,Robert Fletcher

doi:10.3390/land9090303

Abstract

Landscape connectivity is increasingly promoted as a conservation tool to combat the negative effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change. Given its importance as a key conservation strategy, connectivity science is a rapidly growing discipline. However, most landscape connectivity models consider connectivity for only a single snapshot in time, despite the widespread recognition that landscapes and ecological processes are dynamic. In this paper, we discuss the emergence of dynamic connectivity and the importance of including dynamism in connectivity models and assessments. We outline dynamic processes for both structural and functional connectivity at multiple spatiotemporal scales and provide examples of modeling approaches at each of these scales. We highlight the unique challenges that accompany the adoption of dynamic connectivity for conservation management and planning in the context of traditional conservation prioritization approaches. With the increased availability of time series and species movement data, computational capacity, and an expanding number of empirical examples in the literature, incorporating dynamic processes into connectivity models is more feasible than ever. Here, we articulate how dynamism is an intrinsic component of connectivity and integral to the future of connectivity science.

Highlights

Protected areas comprise less than 15% of the terrestrial area of the planet [1], and the remaining unprotected natural lands are becoming increasingly threatened due to deforestation and the expansion of urban areas and agricultural land [2,3]
We provide an overview of the rise of dynamic connectivity and explain the importance of including dynamism in connectivity models
Building on this conceptual foundation, we identify aspects of dynamic connectivity at different spatiotemporal scales, highlight approaches for connectivity analyses in a dynamic framework, and discuss how dynamic connectivity can support effective landscape

Summary

Introduction

Protected areas comprise less than 15% of the terrestrial area of the planet [1], and the remaining unprotected natural lands are becoming increasingly threatened due to deforestation and the expansion of urban areas and agricultural land [2,3]. We provide an overview of the rise of dynamic connectivity and explain the importance of including dynamism in connectivity models Building on this conceptual foundation, we identify aspects of dynamic connectivity at different spatiotemporal scales, highlight approaches for connectivity analyses in a dynamic framework, and discuss how dynamic connectivity can support effective landscape. Glossary of key terms for spatiotemporal dynamic landscape connectivity Some of these terms, such as dynamic at different scales, highlight approaches for connectivity complementarity, irreplaceability, and redundancy, are an extension and new application of the analyses in a dynamic framework, and discuss how dynamic connectivity can supportsame effective terms used in the literature for conservation prioritization. Whereas landscapes were traditionally considered to be static in early modeling and planning

Moving

Key Features of Dynamic Landscape Connectivity

Approaches for Modeling Dynamic Landscape Connectivity

Linking Dynamic Landscape Science to Connectivity Action

Findings

Summary and Conclusions