On the effects of spatial resolution on effective distance measurement in digital landscapes

Abstract Background Connectivity is an important landscape attribute in ecological studies and conservation practices often expressed terms of effective distance. If the cost movement organism over a effectively represented by raster surface, distances can be equated with cost-weighted distance least-cost paths. It generally recognized that this measure sensitive to grid’s cell size, but little known if it always same way degree not, what makes more (or less) sensitive. We conducted computational experiments both synthetic real data, which we generated analyzed large samples measured on surfaces varying sizes derived from those data. The particular focus was statistical behavior ratio—referred as ‘accuracy indicator’—of lower-resolution surface higher-resolution surface. Results In experiment surfaces, sample values accuracy indicator were clustered around 1, slightly greater absence linear sequences barriers) high-cost or inadmissible cells smaller presence such sequences. latter tendency dominant, tendencies became pronounced difference between spatial resolutions associated increased. When two satellite images (of different fairly discrepancies) used basis estimation, variation found substantially vicinity (1500 m) source decreases quickly increase it. Conclusions Effective are highly correlated with—and useful predictors of—effective surfaces. This relationship tends weakened when barriers dispersal (e.g., roads rivers) exist, strengthened moving away sources and/or (if any) detected other presumably accessible affordable vector line Thus, benefits high-resolution data not likely outweigh their costs, use lower resolution worth considering cost-effective alternative application path modeling connectivity analysis.