Searching for Networks: Ecological Connectivity for Amphibians Under Climate Change

Abstract

Ecological connectivity depends on key elements within the landscape, which can support ecological fluxes, species richness and long-term viability of a biological community. Landscape planning requires clear aims and quantitative approaches to identify which key elements can reinforce the spatial coherence of protected areas design. We aim to explore the probability of the ecological connectivity of forest remnants and amphibian species distributions for current and future climate scenarios across the Central Corridor of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Integrating amphibian conservation, climate change and ecological corridors, we design a landscape ranking based on graph and circuit theories. To identify the sensitivity of connected areas to climate-dependent changes, we use the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate by means of simulations for 2080-2100, representing a moderated emission scenario within an optimistic context. Our findings indicate that more than 70% of forest connectivity loss by climate change may drastically reduce amphibian dispersal in this region. We show that high amphibian turnover rates tend to be greater in the northeastern edges of the corridor across ensembles of forecasts. Our spatial analysis reveals a general pattern of low-conductance areas in landscape surface, yet with some well-3 connected patches suggesting potential ecological corridors. Atlantic Forest reserves are expected to be less effective in a near future. For improved conservation outcomes, we recommend some landscape paths with low resistance values across space and time. We highlight the importance of maintaining forest remnants in the southern Bahia region by drafting a blueprint for functional biodiversity corridors.

Rapid genetic divergence and mitonuclear discordance in the Taliang knobby newt (<i>Liangshantriton taliangensis,</i> Salamandridae, Caudata) and their driving forces

“…Heavy precipitation contributes to the establishment of temporary connections between adjacent water systems, which facilitate salamander dispersal ( Wu et al, 2013 ). A 70% reduction in forest connectivity can diminish dispersal and further reduce gene flow among amphibians ( Campos et al, 2020 ; Curtis & Taylor 2004 ; Gibbs, 1998 ). Salamanders have a particularly high demand for vegetation, not only as terrestrial shelters ( Belasen et al, 2013 ; Otto et al, 2014 ) but also as microenvironments created by the interaction between precipitation and vegetation ( Escoriza & Hassine, 2014 ).…”

Using Satellite Image Fusion to Evaluate the Impact of Land Use Changes on Ecosystem Services and Their Economic Values

“…The dependence of ESV and VC on time change can be determined by CS, which means that 1% change in VC cause 1% variation in ESV [62]. If CS > 1, it indicates that the ESV is changeable to VC [61,64]. ; CS < 1 specifies that the ESV is unchangeable to VC, thus VC is introduced appropriately, and the results are reliable [64].…”

“…If CS > 1, it indicates that the ESV is changeable to VC [61,64]. ; CS < 1 specifies that the ESV is unchangeable to VC, thus VC is introduced appropriately, and the results are reliable [64]. The CS formula is as follows [63]:…”

Fine-scale habitat suitability and connectivity analysis for the core populations of Yellow-spotted mountain pond-breeding newt (Neurergus derjugini) in the west of Iran and east of Iraq

“…Protecting the species' populations in a fragmented landscape requires knowledge of their distribution extent (Campos et al, 2017). Ecological nest models (ENMs), also known as species distribution models (SDMs) (Campos et al, 2020), are one of the e cient tools to gain knowledge of the distribution range of a species. SDM includes methods that, using a mathematical algorithm, establish the relationship between presence data and environmental variables to introduce ecological niches or distribution ranges (Fišer, 2012;Peers et al, 2014).…”