Potential Connectivity Research Articles

How much can highway stormwater ponds contribute to amphibian ecological network connectivity?

ABSTRACT Several studies assert that transportation infrastructure rights-of-way can play a positive role for many animal species, especially in highly fragmented and human-dominated landscapes. This study examines the contribution of highway stormwater ponds to amphibian ecological networks, questioning both the influence of their location on species richness and their capacity to increase landscape connectivity. The ecological networks of amphibian species were modeled by graph theory around highway A77 (France). Stormwater ponds as well as natural ponds were included as potential habitats and several connectivity metrics were calculated at different scales. The connectivity values of the stormwater ponds were analyzed in relation to species presence data collected in 2018. While most of these ponds contribute little to regional connectivity, some of them represent important connector patches. Statistical analysis also suggests that highway ponds are used by amphibians in areas with few natural pools. This raises questions about how to improve the management of ecological networks by considering the capacity of artificial habitats to serve as a refuge for biodiversity.

Identifying potential gray wolf habitat and connectivity in the eastern USA

Following federal protection in 1974, gray wolves (Canis lupus) partially recolonized former range in the western Great Lakes region, USA, yet remain absent from most of the eastern USA. Understanding potential for further recolonization requires quantifying remaining wolf habitat and habitat connectivity. We used recent snow tracking data from the western Great Lakes region to create an ensemble distribution model to estimate areas of habitat large enough to support gray wolf populations in the eastern USA. We then modeled cost-weighted distances between these areas and circuit connectivity to identify potential linkages. Our final distribution model had good performance (Receiver Operator Characteristic = 0.87) and suggests wolves selected against areas with greater human population densities and proportions of agricultural land. Gray wolves currently occupy about 4 % of their historical range in the eastern USA, which represents 12 % of the area estimated to remain suitable. We estimated 35 % of former range is currently suitable for wolves, and 18 % of these suitable areas are protected, mostly under state and federal jurisdictions. We identified five unoccupied areas where wolves could establish viable populations ranging from 18,110 to 725,488 km2. Connectivity between these areas and current wolf range is limited primarily by the Great Lakes and extensive agriculture in the Midwest USA. Most core habitat areas and priority linkages cross state or country borders, highlighting the importance of interjurisdictional cooperation. Our estimates of remaining suitable range and the potential for recolonization provide a baseline for the development of policies on gray wolf conservation in the eastern USA.

Potential Distribution and Connectivity for Two Plethodontid Salamanders: Conservation Areas and Landscape Corridors for Two Endemic Species of México and Guatemala.

Habitat loss is one of the most important threats to biodiversity; it alters the habitat connectivity of species and is among the main causes of the global amphibian extinction crisis. Identifying the potential areas of distribution and connectivity of species is of the utmost importance so that informed decisions can be made for the conservation of vulnerable amphibian populations. In this study, we performed species distribution models and used circuit theory to model omnidirectional connectivity for two plethodontid salamanders of conservation concern distributed in the forests of Chiapas, Mexico, and Guatemala (Bolitoglossa franklini and Bolitoglossa lincolni). Potential distribution maps show an affinity for well-preserved montane forests for both species. Likewise, we found that the niches of the species are not similar. The connectivity models show that the main areas of connectivity are in the Meseta Central de Chiapas, Sierra Madre de Chiapas, and the Cordillera Volcánica Guatemalense, in this last range, important areas of connectivity were located, as well as least-cost paths and barriers to the movement of both species. We identified that important areas of climatic suitability and connectivity are not within the protected natural areas and may be threatened by the increasing influence of anthropogenic activities. The results of our study show the importance of preserving the regional forests to ensure the persistence of species with arboreal habits and high sensitivity to habitat transformation, as well as to recognize and prioritize potential areas for management and protection in both southern Mexico and Guatemala.

Potential hydraulic connectivity of coal mine aquifers based on statistical analysis of hydrogeochemistry

Mining activities interfere with the natural groundwater chemical environment, which may lead to hydrogeochemical changes of aquifers and mine water inrush disasters. This study analyzed the hydrochemical compositions of 80 water samples in three aquifers and developed a water source identification model to explore the control factors and potential hydraulic connection of groundwater chemistry in a coal mine. The results showed that the hydrochemical types of the three aquifers were different. The main hydrochemical compositions of the loose-layer, coal-bearing, and limestone aquifers were HCO3·Cl–Na, SO4·HCO3–Na, and SO4–Na·Ca, respectively. The correlation, Unmix, and factor analyses showed that the hydrochemical composition of groundwater was controlled by the dissolution of soluble minerals (such as calcite, dolomite, gypsum, and halite) and the weathering of silicate minerals. The factor score plot combined with Q-mode cluster analysis demonstrated no remarkable hydraulic connection among the three aquifers in the study area. The water source identification model effectively identified the source of inrush water. Moreover, the mixing ratio model rationally quantified the contributions of the three aquifers to inrush water.

Reducing instability of inter-subject covariance of FDG uptake networks using structure-weighted sparse estimation approach.

Sparse inverse covariance estimation (SICE) is increasingly utilized to estimate inter-subject covariance of FDG uptake (FDGcov) as proxy of metabolic brain connectivity. However, this statistical method suffers from the lack of robustness in the connectivity estimation. Patterns of FDGcov were observed to be spatially similar with patterns of structural connectivity as obtained from DTI imaging. Based on this similarity, we propose to regularize the sparse estimation of FDGcov using the structural connectivity. We retrospectively analyzed the FDG-PET and DTI data of 26 healthy controls, 41 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 30 patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Structural connectivity matrix derived from DTI data was introduced as a regularization parameter to assign individual penalties to each potential metabolic connectivity. Leave-one-out cross validation experiments were performed to assess the differential diagnosis ability of structure weighted SICE approach. A few approaches of structure weighted were compared with the standard SICE. Compared to the standard SICE, structural weighting has shown more stable performance in the supervised classification, especially in the differentiation AD vs. FTLD (accuracy of 89-90%, while unweighted SICE only 85%). There was a significant positive relationship between the minimum number of metabolic connection and the robustness of the classification accuracy (r = 0.57, P < 0.001). Shuffling experiments showed significant differences between classification score derived with true structural weighting and those obtained by randomized structure (P < 0.05). The structure-weighted sparse estimation can enhance the robustness of metabolic connectivity, which may consequently improve the differentiation of pathological phenotypes.

Uzbekistan and Southeast Asia: Exploring the Opportunities for Strengthening Relations

Uzbekistan-Southeast Asia relations is an underexplored research topic, despite the growing significance of both Central Asia and Southeast Asia in world affairs. Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia, bordering all the four other Central Asian states, and has the largest population and thus largest potential market in Central Asia. This article examines the opportunities for strengthening relations between Uzbekistan and Southeast Asian countries, and also with the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It particularly looks at how Southeast Asia can be alternative economic partners for Uzbekistan in its attempt to diversify foreign relations and modernize the country. This article firstly examines Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, particularly its attempts to diversify relations and economic partners to enhance its strategic space and flexibility and how Uzbekistan views relations with key countries in Southeast Asia as opportunities for doing so. Secondly, it looks at how Southeast Asia sees opportunities in Uzbekistan which is potentially the largest market in the region, centrally located with good potential connectivity, including with South Asia, and has a well-developed industrial base. It also has a more open and engaging foreign policy under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Lastly, it examines ways to further strengthen relations by arguing that both sides should also view each other through a regional lens and work towards forging region-to-region relations, thereby enhancing greater economic cooperation potential.

Defining fine‐scaled population structure among continuously distributed populations

Abstract Understanding wildlife population structure and connectivity can help managers identify conservation strategies, as structure can facilitate the study of population changes and habitat connectivity can provide information on dispersal and biodiversity. To facilitate the use of wildlife monitoring data for improved adaptive management, we developed a novel approach to define hierarchical tiers (multiple scales) of population structure. We defined population structure by combining graph theory with biological inference about dispersal capability (based on movement, gene flow, and habitat condition) and functional processes affecting movement (e.g. habitat selection across scales of landscape preferences). First, we developed least‐cost paths between high fidelity sites (habitat patches) using a cost surface, informed from functional processes of habitat characteristics to account for resistance of inter‐patch movements. Second, we combined the paths into a multi‐path graph construct. Third, we used information on potential connectivity (dispersal distances) and functional connectivity (permeability of fragmented landscapes based on selection preferences) to decompose the graph into hierarchical tiers of connected subpopulations, denoting the degree that dispersal affected population structure. As a case study, we applied our approach across the greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) range, a species of conservation concern in western United States. We described the relative importance of local populations and where to potentially avoid landscape disturbances that may negatively affect population connectivity using centrality measures supported by graph theory, and we demonstrated close alignment of the resulting population structure with population densities. This method can be adapted for other species with site fidelity and used as a management tool to evaluate population trends and responses to landscape changes across different temporal and spatial scales.

Exploitation Drives Changes in the Population Connectivity of Queen Conch (Aliger gigas)

The queen conch, Aliger gigas, is an endemic and iconic marine gastropod of the Wider Caribbean region that has been harvested for thousands of years. Conch are slow-moving and require contact to mate; overfishing has reduced populations in many areas compromising its rates of reproduction. Long-range dispersal and mixing between distinct populations occur in the queen conch’s early life history stages, when pelagic larvae are transported by oceanic currents. Genetic studies suggest that gene flow between populations decreases as the distance between populations increases. Here, we assessed how the population connectivity of conch changes with spatially variable patterns of fishing exploitation by simulating larval dispersal and comparing the potential connectivity under an unexploited and a contemporary exploited reproductive scenario. Results demonstrate that reduced egg production, due to heterogeneous fishing pressure and localized depletion, significantly alters population connectivity patterns as well as the structuring of populations and metapopulations across the species’ range. This strongly suggests that estimates of contemporary demographic rates, together with estimates of reproductive output need to be included in population connectivity studies. The existence of self-sustained metapopulations of queen conch throughout the Wider Caribbean suggests that replenishment through larval dispersal occurs primarily within sub-regional spatial scales, emphasizing the need for regional and local conservation and management measures to build and protect reproductively active populations and nursery habitat across multiple jurisdictions.

A network analysis of connected biophysical pathways to advice eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration

The North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including Danish coastal waters, have experienced a drastic decline in eelgrass Zostera marina coverage during the past century. Around 1900, eelgrass meadows covered about 6700 km2 of Danish coastal waters while the current potential distribution area is only about one third of this. In some areas, the potential distribution area is far from realized, and restoration efforts are needed to assist recovery. Such efforts are challenging, and resource-demanding and careful site selection is, therefore, important. In the present study, we aim to identify the connectivity of eelgrass populations as a basis for guiding site selection for restoration. We developed a coupled biophysical model to study eelgrass dispersal in the Kattegat. Partly submerged particles simulated the dispersal of reproductive eelgrass shoots containing seeds during the flowering season July–September. We then used network analysis to identify the potential connectivity between populations. We evaluated connectivity based on In-strength, Betweenness and Eigenvector centrality metrics and identified key areas in the Kattegat such as the central part of Aalborg Bay, to be considered to restore the network of Z. marina patches. The study proves the potentials of combining hydrodynamic models and network analysis to support marine conservation and planning, and highlights the importance of collaboration between ecologists, oceanographers, and practitioners in this endeavour.

Determining population structure and connectivity through otolith chemistry of stout whiting, Sillago robusta

AbstractFish otoliths encode information on surrounding environmental conditions. This study used otolith chemistry to investigate population structure and potential connectivity in stout whiting (Sillago robusta) along the east coast of Australia. Otoliths were analysed for both minor and trace elements, targeting the otolith core (location of birth) and otolith edge (location of capture), along with Ba:Ca transects to investigate life histories. Significant differences were found between core and edge signatures as well as among sample zones for select trace and minor elements. Otolith edge signatures showed evidence of some heterogeneity among zones, likely influenced by both environmental and physiological factors. This combination of factors is reflected in poor separation of sample zones from the multielement analysis, suggesting that future research may benefit from incorporating additional natural markers. Transects reflected some degree of individuality in Ba:Ca profiles, with evidence for potential exposure to upwelling events, or movement from shallow, inshore habitats into deeper waters. The variation in Ba:Ca profiles among fish suggests that populations are comprised of both resident and migratory individuals. While analysis of otolith chemistry could not reliably separate capture locations, patterns in the data suggest that inshore juvenile habitats are likely to be important in supporting exploited populations.

Potential global distribution of a temperate marine coastal predator: The role of barriers and dispersal corridors on subpopulation connectivity

AbstractPredicting the potential distribution of species and possible dispersal corridors at a global scale can contribute to better understanding the availability of suitable habitat to move between, and the potential connectivity between regional distributions. Such information increases knowledge of ecological and biogeographic processes, but also has management applications at a global scale, for example, for estimating the restocking ability of exploited regional subpopulations. As a case study, we tested the utility of environmental niche modeling to investigate the potential global distribution of a highly mobile temperate marine coastal species, the broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus). First, we characterized and compared three model variants using global data and regional data from two geographically distant and genetically diverging subpopulations in the Southwest Atlantic and southern Australia. The best performing model was then transferred to the rest of the world to obtain a final global prediction for the species. Predictions revealed broad suitable areas across temperate regions of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. As a final step, we overlaid underwater seamount data on suitability maps to simulate possible dispersal corridors and regional connectivity. Global subpopulation connectivity and dispersal are discussed in the light of recent genetic evidence, to help explain why unoccupied suitable areas are not currently accessed by the species. This study highlights the potential use of global and regional data for the assessment of habitat suitability of species at a global scale, and provides considerations when applying these models to other highly mobile species.

Concurrent 5. Presentation for: Multiple tracers for dis-connectivity of shallow aquifers, alluvium, and coal seam gas wells in the Great Artesian Basin

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 5 The potential for connectivity between water supply aquifers and gas reservoirs raises community, government, and scientific concerns. Methane can occur naturally, making it difficult to determine whether water bore methane levels are being influenced by nearby gas operations. This poses a challenge in the Surat Basin, where coal seam gas production operates alongside groundwater using industries (including feedlots, agriculture, mines). Water and gas samples were taken from water bores and coal seam gas (CSG) wells in the Walloon Coal Measures and from overlying aquifers (nominally, the Springbok, Gubberamunda, Orallo, and Mooga sandstones) and the Condamine Alluvium, for stable isotopes of gases, groundwater and dissolved inorganic carbon, as well as strontium isotopes. Most of the sampled water bores had isotopic signatures distinct from CSG wells, though a minority from gassy Springbok Sandstone and Walloon Coal Measure water bores could not be distinguished from CSG wells. In those few cases, neither connectivity or dis-connectivity could be confirmed. Alluvium and shallow aquifer samples have higher R36Cl values distinct from the older CSG production waters, as is the case with most 14C measurements. Waters from the Condamine River indicate potential surface water connectivity with the alluvium. The use of multiple tracers has shown that groundwater in some aquifers can be differentiated from groundwater in the coal seam gas reservoir and hence are useful tools in identifying where groundwater connectivity occurs. Understanding this connectivity forms another line of evidence to improve impact prediction models on a regional scale as well as providing information on connectivity in local groundwater investigations. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here

A Neural Network Model with Connectivity-Based Topology for Production Prediction in Complex Subsurface Flow Systems

Summary This paper presents a neural network architecture for prediction of production performance under different operating conditions by integration of domain insight and simulated production response data. The neural network topology in the developed approach is derived from interwell communication and connectivity between a producer and its surrounding supporting injection wells. Instead of a fully connected neural network that represents a global (field-scale) model that allows any injector to be connected to a given producer, and hence too many unrealistic and irrelevant connections, a local view is taken in building the proxy model. In this case, each producer is assumed to be supported by very few surrounding injection wells and is likely to have weak or no communication with distant wells. However, interwell connectivity in complex large-scale reservoirs is not just a function of distance and rather difficult to determine. Therefore, multiple randomly sized regions around each producer are considered to include different numbers of injectors in each local network for any given producer. The variability in the neighborhood size reflects the prior uncertainty about the potential connectivity between a producer and its nearby injection wells at different distances. This approach results in many local neural networks (several local networks per each producer) that can be aggregated into a single large neural network model with a predefined topological structure to represent possible connections. Training with simulated data is then used to estimate the weights in the resulting neural network architecture. Once the training process is completed, for each producer, the local model with the best prediction performance on the test data is selected and used to construct the final topology of the neural network model for the entire field. The method is applied to predict interwell connectivity and oil production in a large-scale mature field that undergoes waterflooding. The results demonstrate that even a simple domain insight, such as distance-based elimination of wells in a large field, can significantly reduce the amount of training data need and lead to noticeable improvement in the prediction performance of the resulting neural network model.

Examining Interhemispheric PFC Connectivity during AUD Abstinence with Multilevel Modeling

ABSTRACT Objective The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a communicative network involved in information processing and behavioral regulation and is crucial to understanding the impact of alcohol use disorders (AUD). Functional interhemispheric connectivity across PFC regions may be important aspect of networking while seeking abstinence from AUD. This study examines functional PFC activation of persons seeking continued abstinence from AUD to explore potential interhemispheric connectivity in response to alcohol cues and how such connectivity is associated with abstinence duration. Method This study analyzed cerebral blood flow from PFC regional associations or couplings of 46 persons seeking continued abstinence from AUD were presented with alcohol and other affective cues. Intraclass correlations calculated using multilevel modeling (MLM) served as a measure of functional interhemispheric connectivity. Results Connectivity was found in response to alcohol and other affective cues. Results also suggest that interhemispheric connectivity in response to alcohol cues is negatively associated with abstinence duration. Conclusions Findings of this study suggest that functional interhemispheric connectivity may be important during the processing of alcohol-related cues for persons seeking continued abstinence from AUD. Abstaining from consumption in the early stages of abstinence may be a particularly high demand task requiring both PFC hemispheres, with this need decreasing as abstinence length increases.

Inter-annual variability in growth and maturation of the swordtip squid Uroteuthis edulis in Yilan Bay off northeastern Taiwan

The swordtip squid Uroteuthis edulis, distributed in the temperate and tropical neritic waters in the Indo-Pacific region, is a crucial component of marine ecosystems and is a target species of fisheries in the Northwest Pacific. Although studies have elucidated the growth and maturation of the squid in the southern East China Sea (ECS) shelf, few have assessed the population biology of the squid in waters in the vicinity of the southern ECS. We collected samples of swordtip squid from a trawler in Yilan Bay (YLB) between January 2011 and December 2012 to examine the growth and maturation of the squid based on statolith microstructures and the inter-annual variability in certain parameters as well as the potential underlying mechanisms. The average dorsal mantle length (ML) of the squid was significantly higher in 2011 than in 2012 in both sexes. The ML-body weight relationship differed significantly between 2011 and 2012 in both sexes. Squid hatching peaked in summer (June and August)in 2011 and spring (March and April) in 2012. The average ML-at-age data were described using the exponential function and power function for female and male squid, respectively. Female squid matured to 139 mm at 133 days in 2011 and to 133 mm at 137 days in 2012. Male squid matured to 160 mm at 151 days in 2011 and to 148 mm at 133 days in 2012. However, the ML- and age-at-maturity of the squid in YLB were lower than those of the squid in the southern ECS shelf. These results indicate that YLB is one of the feeding grounds for squid that have hatched in the southern ECS shelf and have been transported southward intermittently to YLB. Further study of the population structure and potential population connectivity of the squid in the entire ECS shelf is warranted to obtain data for the development of effective conservation and management measures for the squid and its fisheries in the Northwest Pacific.

Multiple tracers for dis-connectivity of shallow aquifers, alluvium, and coal seam gas wells in the Great Artesian Basin

The potential for connectivity between water supply aquifers and gas reservoirs raises community, government, and scientific concerns. Methane can occur naturally, making it difficult to determine whether water bore methane levels are being influenced by nearby gas operations. This poses a challenge in the Surat Basin, where coal seam gas production operates alongside groundwater using industries (including feedlots, agriculture, mines). Water and gas samples were taken from water bores and coal seam gas (CSG) wells in the Walloon Coal Measures and from overlying aquifers (nominally, the Springbok, Gubberamunda, Orallo, and Mooga sandstones) and the Condamine Alluvium, for stable isotopes of gases, groundwater and dissolved inorganic carbon, as well as strontium isotopes. Most of the sampled water bores had isotopic signatures distinct from CSG wells, though a minority from gassy Springbok Sandstone and Walloon Coal Measure water bores could not be distinguished from CSG wells. In those few cases, neither connectivity or dis-connectivity could be confirmed. Alluvium and shallow aquifer samples have higher R36Cl values distinct from the older CSG production waters, as is the case with most 14C measurements. Waters from the Condamine River indicate potential surface water connectivity with the alluvium. The use of multiple tracers has shown that groundwater in some aquifers can be differentiated from groundwater in the coal seam gas reservoir and hence are useful tools in identifying where groundwater connectivity occurs. Understanding this connectivity forms another line of evidence to improve impact prediction models on a regional scale as well as providing information on connectivity in local groundwater investigations.

Puma concolor potential distribution and connectivity in the Colombian Llanos

Abstract Understanding species distribution to target biodiversity conservation actions in countries with high biodiversity, scarce data availability and low study sites accessibility is very challenging. These issues limit management and conservation actions even on charismatic and potentially conflictive species like large carnivores. We developed a geographic assessment of the potential distribution, core patches and connectivity areas for Puma concolor in the Colombian Llanos (Orinoco region). To create this geographic representation, we used methodological approaches that work with scarce information and still provide a spatially-explicit distribution that could be used by stakeholders. Our results show the importance that the Llanos region has for the conservation of the species and the potential role that can have to ensure a resident long-term population. Based on our approach, more than 50,000 km2 (near to 30% of the study area) can be still considered as core habitats for the species, and most of them are still connected, with spatial gaps lower than the estimated dispersal distance of the species and several remaining steppingstones. Further research is required to validate our analysis and we expect our results can target research and conservation priorities within the region.

P434. Potential Functional Connectivity Alterations in Adolescents Following Concussion

Adolescent concussion is a growing public health concern, with adolescents often reporting longer and more severe symptoms than adults and younger children. Yet, the neurological mechanisms underpinning concussive symptoms at this developmental stage are not well understood. While resting state fMRI is a useful tool in examining these mechanisms, few studies have used this technique to examine the impact of concussion during adolescence.

Drug and pesticide usage for sea lice treatment in salmon aquaculture sites in a Canadian province from 2016 to 2019

We used 4 years of publicly available data (2016–2019) on chemical usage at salmon sites with information on production, stocking, locations and environmental conditions to explore patterns of anti-sea lice treatments in a Canadian province. Results show that sequential chemical treatments are prevalent, emamectin benzoate (EMB) with azamethiphos being the most used combination with a decrease in ivermectin usage. Relatively high rates of usage of EMB per fish biomass may point to potential lice resistance patterns with information needed on mechanisms and local populations. Lower or no chemical usage at some sites indicate less sea lice infestations likely influenced by localized site conditions (coves), and a lessened need for medication due to the usage of cleaner fish and possibly other non-chemical methods (not documented in this report). The year/climate influenced chemical input only in sites with higher treatment levels likely due to effects on sea lice growth and reproduction. Observed differences between years are warmer surface temperature in the fall, a higher freshwater input in spring, and stronger wind conditions for 2017 and 2018 with more medication usage for these two years. The lack of significant effect of site distances calculated in zones of influence based on 24 h potential connectivity patterns highlight the need to refine the resolution of hydrodynamic processes.

The contribution of roadsides to connect grassland habitat patches for butterflies in landscapes of contrasting permeability

Roadsides, in particular those being species-rich and of conservation value, are considered to improve landscape permeability by providing corridors among habitat patches and by facilitating species' dispersal. However, little is known about the potential connectivity offered by such high-value roadsides. Using circuit theory, we modelled connectivity provided by high-value roadsides in landscapes with low or high permeability in south-central Sweden, with ‘permeability’ being measured by the area of semi-natural grasslands. We modelled structural connectivity and, for habitat generalists and specialists, potential functional connectivity focusing on butterflies. We further assessed in which landscapes grassland connectivity is best enhanced through measures for expanding the area of high-value roadsides. Structural connectivity provided by high-value roadsides resulted in similar patterns to those of a functional approach, in which we modelled habitat generalists. In landscapes with low permeability, all target species showed higher movements within compared to between grasslands using high-value roadsides. In landscapes with high permeability, grassland generalists and specialists showed the same patterns, whereas for habitat generalists, connectivity provided by high-value roadsides and grasslands was similar. Increasing the ratio of high-value roadsides can thus enhance structural and functional connectivity in landscapes with low permeability. In contrast, in landscapes with high permeability, roadsides only supported movement of specialised species. Continuous segments of high-value roadsides are most efficient to increase connectivity for specialists, whereas generalists can utilize also short segments of high-value roadsides acting as stepping-stones. Thus, land management should focus on the preservation and restoration of existing semi-natural grasslands. Management for enhancing grassland connectivity through high-value roadsides should aim at maintaining and creating high-value roadside vegetation, preferably in long continuous segments, especially in landscapes with low permeability.