Demystifying ecological connectivity for actionable spatial conservation planning

Maria Beger; Anna Metaxas; Arieanna C Balbar; Jennifer A McGowan; Remi Daigle; Caitlin D Kuempel; Eric A Treml; Hugh P Possingham

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.002

Demystifying ecological connectivity for actionable spatial conservation planning

Trends Ecol Evol. 2022 Dec;37(12):1079-1091. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.002. Epub 2022 Sep 28.

Authors

Maria Beger¹, Anna Metaxas², Arieanna C Balbar², Jennifer A McGowan³, Remi Daigle⁴, Caitlin D Kuempel⁵, Eric A Treml⁶, Hugh P Possingham⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: m.beger@leeds.ac.uk.
² Dalhousie University, Department of Oceanography, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
³ Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Washington, DC, USA.
⁴ Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS, B3B 1Y9, Canada; Dalhousie University, Marine Affairs Program, 135 5 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
⁵ Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia.
⁶ School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., 3220, Australia.
⁷ Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

PMID: 36182406
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.002

Abstract

Connectivity underpins the persistence of life; it needs to inform biodiversity conservation decisions. Yet, when prioritising conservation areas and developing actions, connectivity is not being operationalised in spatial planning. The challenge is the translation of flows associated with connectivity into conservation objectives that lead to actions. Connectivity is nebulous, it can be abstract and mean different things to different people, making it difficult to include in conservation problems. Here, we show how connectivity can be included in mathematically defining conservation planning objectives. We provide a path forward for linking connectivity to high-level conservation goals, such as increasing species' persistence. We propose ways to design spatial management areas that gain biodiversity benefit from connectivity.

Keywords: connectivity; conservation prioritisation; dispersal connectivity; flow processes; global conservation; land-sea connectivity.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biodiversity*
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Ecosystem