Does one size fit all? A multispecies approach to regional landscape corridor planning

Abstract

Aim The practical value of the single‐species approach to conserve biodiversity could be minimal or negligible when sympatric species are limited by factors that are not relevant to the proposed umbrella species. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated as follows: (1) habitat suitability and potential movement corridors of a single umbrella species, giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); (2) habitat suitability of sympatric mammals; and (3) the potential effectiveness of the single‐species corridor planning to preserve suitable habitat and its connectivity of other focal species. Location Qinling Mountains, central part of China (15,000 km2). Methods We collected species distribution, environmental and anthropogenic data and conducted species occupancy modelling for giant panda and six other sympatric species (i.e., takin Budorcas taxicolor, tufted deer Elaphodus cephalophus, Chinese goral Naemorhedus griseus, Reeve's muntjac Muntiacus reevesi, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis and yellow‐throated marten Martes flavigula). We then conducted circuit models to identify potential corridors for each species and evaluated the effectiveness of giant panda corridors to restore the habitat connectivity for these sympatric mammals. Results Occupancy modelling revealed that each species had a unique set of environmental variables associated with its distribution in the Qinling Mountains. We found that giant panda and all other focal species had some degree of fragmentation to their suitable habitat that required restoring habitat connectivity. Among the eight potential giant panda corridors, conservation efforts to reduce anthropogenic impacts would significantly improve the effectiveness of six corridors, while the other two corridors would require altering the vegetation. Five proposed giant panda corridors had remarkable overlap with corridors proposed for other species. We suggest two giant panda corridors as a priority due to their potential to maximize the benefits to both giant panda and a broader suite of mammals. Main conclusions Corridor planning in this region of China will likely continue using the single‐species policy, but our results highlight that not all potential giant panda corridors have equal effectiveness for other wildlife species. When offered multiple alternative actions, conservation planners can prioritize corridor development based on a multispecies perspective without loss of connectivity for the priority species. This approach has strong implications to the conservation of wildlife communities in China, and elsewhere, where conservation plans developed for a single‐species garner most available funding and institutional support.

Terrestrial vertebrates as surrogates for selecting conservation areas in a biodiversity hotspot in Mexico

“…Our study clearly showed that multitaxa surrogates are best in representing terrestrial vertebrates in conservation areas (Figures 2 and 3) in agreement with other studies (Forest, 2017;Grantham et al, 2010;Leal et al, 2010;Lentini & Wintle, 2015;Lindenmayer et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2018). It is likely that when more taxa are included as surrogates, a higher diversity of habitat types is included resulting in a better representation of all biodiversity features in conservation areas (Grantham et al, 2010;Leal et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2018). This idea is supported by the fact that birds performing best as single-taxon surrogates cover a wider range of habitat types compared to other vertebrates (García-Mendoza et al, 2004), but this hypothesis needs to be tested more rigorously (Margules & Sarkar, 2007).…”

“…Our study clearly showed that multitaxa surrogates are best in representing terrestrial vertebrates in conservation areas (Figures 2 and 3) in agreement with other studies (Forest, 2017;Grantham et al, 2010;Leal et al, 2010;Lentini & Wintle, 2015;Lindenmayer et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2018). Single-taxon surrogates with a higher number of species such as birds performed better, increasing the representation of other terrestrial vertebrate taxonomic groups.…”

“…need to be quantifiable to allow their estimation. One alternative is the inclusion of well-known taxonomic groups as surrogates for the constituents (Lentini & Wintle, 2015;Margules & Sarkar, 2007;Sarkar et al, 2005;Wang, McShea, Li, & Wang, 2018). However, available biological and distributional information for biodiversity constituents is usually limited or incomplete (Forest, 2017;Grantham, Pressey, Wells, & Beattie, 2010;Leal, Bieber, Tabarelli, & Andersen, 2010;Lentini & Wintle, 2015;Lindenmayer, Barton, & Pierson, 2015;Rodrigues & Brooks, 2007).…”

“…However, available biological and distributional information for biodiversity constituents is usually limited or incomplete (Forest, 2017;Grantham, Pressey, Wells, & Beattie, 2010;Leal, Bieber, Tabarelli, & Andersen, 2010;Lentini & Wintle, 2015;Lindenmayer, Barton, & Pierson, 2015;Rodrigues & Brooks, 2007). One alternative is the inclusion of well-known taxonomic groups as surrogates for the constituents (Lentini & Wintle, 2015;Margules & Sarkar, 2007;Sarkar et al, 2005;Wang, McShea, Li, & Wang, 2018). Several SCP exercises have explored approaches for selecting surrogates representing biodiversity content.…”

Towards the restoration of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor for large mammals in Panama: comparing multi-species occupancy to movement models

“…Moreover, when the survey is robustly designed, the entire population in the area sampled is assumed to be surveyed, including non-collared animals. Although camera trap data is increasingly widespread and available, because it is often easier and cheaper to obtain at a large scale than satellite collar data, their use in estimating functional connectivity has been very scarce (but see [16]).…”