An agent-based model of jaguar movement through conservation corridors
نویسندگان
چکیده
Wildlife corridors mitigate against habitat fragmentation by connecting otherwise isolated regions, bringing wellestablished benefits to conservation both in principle and practice. Populations of large mammals in particular may depend on habitat connectivity, yet conservation managers struggle to optimise corridor designs with the rudimentary information generally available on movement behaviours. We present an agent-based model of jaguars (Panthera onca), scaled for fragmented habitat in Belize where proposals already exist for creating a jaguar corridor. We use a leastcost approach to simulate movement paths through alternative possible landscapes. Six different types of corridor and three control conditions differ substantially in their effectiveness at mixing agents across the environment despite relatively little difference in individual welfare. Our best estimates of jaguar movement behaviours suggest that a set of five narrow corridors may out-perform one wide corridor of the same overall area. We discuss the utility of ALife modelling for conservation management.
منابع مشابه
Identification of Priority Conservation Areas and Potential Corridors for Jaguars in the Caatinga Biome, Brazil
The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a top predator with the extant population found within the Brazilian Caatinga biome now known to be on the brink of extinction. Designing new conservation units and potential corridors are therefore crucial for the long-term survival of the species within the Caatinga biome. Thus, our aims were: 1) to recognize suitable areas for jaguar occurrence, 2) to delineate ...
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