A distribution-oriented approach to support landscape connectivity for ecologically distinct bird species

Abstract

Managing landscape connectivity is a widely recognized overarching strategy for conserving biodiversity in human-impacted landscapes. However, planning the conservation and management of landscape connectivity of multiple and ecologically distinct species is still challenging. Here we provide a spatially-explicit framework which identifies and prioritizes connectivity conservation and restoration actions for species with distinct habitat affinities. Specifically, our study system comprised three groups of common bird species, forest-specialists, farmland-specialists, and generalists, populating a highly heterogeneous agricultural countryside in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. We first performed a comprehensive analysis of the environmental variables underlying the distributional patterns of each bird species to reveal generalities in their guild-specific responses to landscape structure. Then, we identified sites which could be considered pivotal in maintaining current levels of landscape connectivity for the three bird guilds simultaneously, as well as the number and location of sites that need to be restored to maximize connectivity levels. Interestingly, we found that a small number of sites defined the shortest connectivity paths for the three bird guilds simultaneously, and were therefore considered key for conservation. Moreover, an even smaller number of sites were identified as critical to expand the landscape connectivity at maximum for the regional bird assemblage as a whole. Our spatially-explicit framework can provide valuable decision-making support to conservation practitioners aiming to identify key connectivity and restoration sites, a particularly urgent task in rapidly changing landscapes such as agroecosystems.

Dispersal-based species pools as sources of connectivity area mismatches

“…For instance, Lechner et al (2017) have developed an approach called ''dispersal guild'', where they grouped mammals by similar dispersal behaviour and habitat characteristics, which allowed accounting for the multispecies dispersal needs in conservation planning. Herrera et al (2018) have also assessed multispecies connectivity for birds based on guildspecific responses to environmental variables allowing the optimisation of restoration actions. We suggest replicating analogous methodology for various taxa.…”

Analysing and modelling spatial patterns to infer the influence of environmental heterogeneity using point pattern analysis, individual-based simulation modelling and landscape metrics

“…While often criticised for being too simplifying, landscape metrics also have the advantage of straightforward application, interpretation and communication (Lausch et al, 2015) and are still widely used (Kupfer, 2012;Uuemaa et al, 2013Uuemaa et al, , 2009. Recent examples of studies using landscape metrics include biodiversity studies in agricultural landscapes (Decaëns et al, 2018), studies of bird biodiversity (Herrera et al, 2018) or natural disturbance studies in temperate forests (Senf and Seidl, 2018).…”

Integrating a landscape connectivity approach into mitigation hierarchy planning by anticipating urban dynamics

“…fewer sites to manage, fewer actors to coordinate, etc.). But it should be noted that multiple offset sites can limit the risk of larger-scale ecological failure (Moilanen, Van Teeffelen, Ben-Haim, & Ferrier, 2009), and may thus be more successful in promoting specific types of biodiversity (Herrera, Alagador, Salgueiro, & Mira, 2018;Wintle et al, 2019).…”