Identifying umbrella species for connectivity conservation in Europe

Abstract

The viability of many species depends on the potential of successful dispersal between populations across broad landscapes. This is particularly true for terrestrial large mammals, many of which are sensitive to the impacts of habitat fragmentation and isolation. Climate and land-use change further necessitate proactive management and conservation of areas that facilitate animal dispersal. Connectivity conservation is therefore one of the most widely-applied conservation measures, but needs to mapped at large scales with the potential of being used by multiple species.

We conducted an analysis to map connectivity between protected areas for large terrestrial mammals in Europe. We simulated multiple-paths for 20 species in Europe to map the potential connectivity at species-specific scales using four different methods based on ecological assumptions. We then identified the paths that were most common amongst the different species, and suggested multi-use corridors. We also identified the suite of species that best represent the connectivity needs for other species, and therefore best suited to serve as umbrella species for connectivity conservation in continental Europe. Further, we related the connectivity characteristics for each species with its life-history traits, conservation status, and habitat characteristics to get an understanding of general characteristics that explain connectivity patterns.

Our results provide a coarse-representation of important areas for potential dispersal of multiple species and support the development of management strategies to enhance connectivity conservation in Europe.