Scholarlink

<p>Forests in biodiversity hotspots are crucial habitats for a variety of animal and plant species. Nevertheless, anthropogenic factors have destroyed these valuable habitats at unprecedented levels. Consequently, there is a growing consensus on the importance of achieving effective mechanisms to improve conservation efforts. Nonetheless, studies on long-term spatiotemporal monitoring of the effect of forest loss on landscape connectivity in biodiversity hotspots in tropical regions are scarce, although they are crucial for devising appropriate strategies to maintain natural levels of connectivity in the landscape. This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest loss and its effects on landscape connectivity in a biodiversity hotspot in southern Africa from 1984 to 2023. Landsat satellite images, field data, and geographic information systems were used to assess the dynamics of forest loss and its driving forces. The graph theory approach was employed to evaluate changes in landscape connectivity using six dispersal distances (50 to 10000&#xa0;m) covering a wide range of dispersal and movement abilities of different plant and animal species. Connectivity indices in combination with statistical models were used to investigate the effect of individual forest patches and the loss of critical patches on landscape connectivity. The results indicated that forest habitat faced a loss trend during 1984–2023 due to unsustainable human activities, with a total loss of 7.5 km<sup>2</sup>. Deforestation decreased with increasing elevation and distance from roads and built-ups. The overall connectivity for all dispersal distances decreased over time due to the loss of forest patches across the landscape. Patches crucial for maintaining connectivity declined progressively. The findings also revealed that a patch decreases its contribution to overall connectivity when it decreases in area and becomes simpler. Additionally, small patches function as stepping stones and make the habitat configuration more suitable for biodiversity conservation than when there are only large but very isolated patches. This research provides meaningful insights into the dynamics of landscape connectivity and critical patches for connectivity, which is crucial for biodiversity conservation and management in a changing world.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Forest habitat loss diminishes the landscape connectivity in a biodiversity hotspot

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月1日

查看全文
  • Focas Francisco Bacar

摘要

Forests in biodiversity hotspots are crucial habitats for a variety of animal and plant species. Nevertheless, anthropogenic factors have destroyed these valuable habitats at unprecedented levels. Consequently, there is a growing consensus on the importance of achieving effective mechanisms to improve conservation efforts. Nonetheless, studies on long-term spatiotemporal monitoring of the effect of forest loss on landscape connectivity in biodiversity hotspots in tropical regions are scarce, although they are crucial for devising appropriate strategies to maintain natural levels of connectivity in the landscape. This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest loss and its effects on landscape connectivity in a biodiversity hotspot in southern Africa from 1984 to 2023. Landsat satellite images, field data, and geographic information systems were used to assess the dynamics of forest loss and its driving forces. The graph theory approach was employed to evaluate changes in landscape connectivity using six dispersal distances (50 to 10000 m) covering a wide range of dispersal and movement abilities of different plant and animal species. Connectivity indices in combination with statistical models were used to investigate the effect of individual forest patches and the loss of critical patches on landscape connectivity. The results indicated that forest habitat faced a loss trend during 1984–2023 due to unsustainable human activities, with a total loss of 7.5 km2. Deforestation decreased with increasing elevation and distance from roads and built-ups. The overall connectivity for all dispersal distances decreased over time due to the loss of forest patches across the landscape. Patches crucial for maintaining connectivity declined progressively. The findings also revealed that a patch decreases its contribution to overall connectivity when it decreases in area and becomes simpler. Additionally, small patches function as stepping stones and make the habitat configuration more suitable for biodiversity conservation than when there are only large but very isolated patches. This research provides meaningful insights into the dynamics of landscape connectivity and critical patches for connectivity, which is crucial for biodiversity conservation and management in a changing world.