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12 - Network analysis: a tool for studying the connectivity of source–sink systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2011

Ferenc Jordán
Affiliation:
The Microsoft Research — University of Trento, Italy
Jianguo Liu
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Vanessa Hull
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Anita T. Morzillo
Affiliation:
Oregon State University
John A. Wiens
Affiliation:
PRBO Conservation Science
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Summary

In order to optimize landscape conservation efforts, the most important landscape elements (patches and corridors) need to be identified quantitatively. A major aspect of functional importance is the role of a landscape element in maintaining connectivity. From a network perspective, different habitat patches and corridors can be ranked according to suitable centrality indices. Choosing and applying different indices may reflect differences in the problems studied (e.g., whether dispersal is limited) or data type (e.g., whether corridor permeability can be quantified). Within this framework, it is possible to consider the quality of patches and corridors or to make a distinction between source and sink patches. Network analytical tools can be used to quantify the local and global properties of directed landscape graphs (depicting source–sink systems). I present two case studies for illustrating how to set quantitative priority ranks of landscape elements and how to match the suitable techniques to particular problems (an undirected network of flightless bush crickets and a directed network of forest-living carabids). In the second case, I also calculate where to build a new corridor and suggest which corridor qualities to improve in the directed landscape graph. I propose a plan for redesigning a future freeway across the studied area. Finally, I argue that setting quantitative priority ranks for landscape elements could increase the efficiency of conservation efforts.

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