Factors influencing the dispersion and fragmentation of endangered mountain caribou populations

Mountain caribou, an ecotype of woodland caribou, are endangered due to the loss and fragmentation of old forests on which they depend. However, a wider array of natural and human factors may limit caribou persistence and isolate populations, and understanding these may help to stop or reverse population declines by forecasting risk and targeting core habitat areas and key linkages for protection, enhancement or restoration. Across most of the historic range of mountain caribou, we conducted a bi-level analysis to evaluate factors related to the persistence of, and landscape occupancy within, remaining subpopulations. We used caribou location data from 235 radio-collared animals across 13 subpopulations to derive a landscape occupancy index, while accounting for inherent sampling biases. We analyzed this index against 33 landscape variables of forest overstory, land cover, terrain, climate, and human influence. At the metapopulation level, the persistence of subpopulations relative to historic range was explained by the extent of wet and very wet climatic conditions, the distribution of both old (>140 yr) forests, particularly of cedar and hemlock composition, and alpine areas. Other important factors were remoteness from human presence, low road density, and little motorized access. At the subpopulation level, the relative intensity of caribou landscape occupancy within subpopulation bounds was explained by the distribution of old cedar/hemlock and spruce/subalpine fir forests and the lack of deciduous forests. Other factors impeding population contiguity were icefields, non-forested alpine, hydro reservoirs, extensive road networks, and primary highway routes. Model outputs at both levels were combined to predict the potential for mountain caribou population persistence, isolation, and restoration. We combined this output with the original occupancy index to gauge the potential vulnerability of caribou to extirpation within landscapes known to have recently supported animals. We discuss implications as they pertain to range-wide caribou population connectivity and conservation.     

Thresholds in landscape parameters: occurrence of the white-browed treecreeper Climacteris affinis in Victoria, Australia

The concept of critical thresholds of habitat loss has recently received considerable attention in conservation biology and landscape ecology, yet empirical examples of thresholds are scarce. Threatened species management could benefit from recognition of thresholds because conditions under which populations are at risk can be specified. In this study, 56 woodland patches in north-west Victoria were surveyed for the white-browed treecreeper Climacteris affinis, a threatened insectivorous bird of the semi-arid zone of southern Australia. Comparisons with historic records indicate the species’ range is contracting in Victoria. Using logistic regression and hierarchical partitioning, two models of patch occupancy were developed. Tree species composition was an important factor in both models, confirming the treecreepers’ affinity for belah Casuarina pauper and slender cypress-pine Callitris gracilis-buloke Allocasuarina luehmannii woodlands in north-west Victoria. The first model emphasized the importance of demographic isolation: probability of patch occupancy decreased with distance to the nearest occupied patch. A threshold response in demographic isolation was apparent. In agricultural landscapes, most suitable woodland patches within 3 km of an occupied patch were occupied, whereas patches beyond the threshold were vacant. The threshold distance increased to a minimum of 8 km in a matrix of native vegetation, suggesting landscape context affects the response of white-browed treecreepers to habitat fragmentation. Demographic isolation is a quasi-dependent variable and therefore a second model was developed using surrogate variables for demographic isolation. A positive relationship with the proportion of woodland cover in the landscape (100 km²) emerged as the pre-eminent explanatory factor. Depending on woodland quality, a threshold of patch occupancy was apparent at levels of woodland cover between 15 and 25%. However, belah and slender cypress-pine-buloke woodlands now cover only 10% of their original extent in the region. These results highlight the inter-dependence of patch isolation with the amount and quality of habitat in the landscape and the implications this has for maintaining functional connectivity. The retention (or restoration) of suitable habitat is the critical issue for conservation of the white-browed treecreeper, but in landscapes below the threshold of habitat cover, viability of local populations may be influenced by the configuration and quality of remaining habitat.     

Identifying indirect habitat loss and avoidance of human infrastructure by northern mountain woodland caribou

Understanding the impact of indirect habitat loss resulting from avoidance of human infrastructure is an important conservation priority. We evaluated resource selection for 10 global positioning system collared northern mountain woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in British Columbia, Canada, with seasonal resource selection functions (RSF) developed at the second-order (landscape) and third-order (within home range) scales. To estimate how much habitat was lost due to avoidance, we estimated the zone of influence (ZOI) around multiple developments and modeled realized and potential habitat. Potential habitat was approximated by removing the ZOI from RSF models. By calculating the spatial difference between potential and realized habitat we estimated the amount of indirect habitat loss. Caribou displayed hierarchical avoidance of development, with the greatest avoidance occurring at the second-order. During both seasons caribou avoided high-use roads by 2 km and low-use roads by 1 km. In winter, caribou avoided town by 9 km compared to 3 km in summer. However, in summer caribou avoided mines by 2 km and cabins and camps by 1.5 km, while in winter when human activity was low, avoidance of these features was minor. As a result of avoidance of the cumulative ZOI, approximately 8% and 2% of high quality habitat was lost in the study area in winter and summer, respectively. Our study provides an approach to identify the extent and quality of habitat influenced by indirect avoidance. Conservation efforts should prioritize protecting areas of high quality habitat degraded by avoidance in the vicinity of human development.     

城市扩张背景下景观破碎化动态演变及空间自相关分析——以南昌市为例

为探究城市扩张与景观破碎化演变过程及其关联机制,以江西省南昌市为例,基于2000—2015年的土地利用数据,运用城市破碎指数(UFI)刻画建设用地的景观破碎化水平; 然后结合形态学空间格局分析(MSPA)和景观连接度分析量化了自然景观和耕地的景观动态演变过程; 最后采用格网分析探究了三者之间的空间自相关动态特征。结果表明:2000—2015年间南昌市共有273.26 km²的耕地及45.61 km²的自然景观转为建设用地,整体城市破碎度指数在研究期内由2.27上升至4.94; 耕地核心区数量在15 a时间内持续衰减,自然生境在前期变化平稳,随着城市化进程的加快,核心及桥接区不断减少,岛状斑块开始增加; 空间自相关分析显示,景观破碎度与自然生境、耕地平均连通概率三者呈负相关,景观破碎度与耕地、自然生境平均连通概率之间的高低聚集区域集中分布在城市扩张的主要区域。2000—2015年城市快速扩张导致的破碎化致使耕地及自然生境景观结构发生改变,景观连通性逐渐丧失。     

Woodland networks in a changing climate: Threats from land use change

Landscape adaptation to climate change requires policies that facilitate species dispersal, to counteract the effects of fragmentation and allow tracking of a species’ ‘climatic niche’. Expanding existing ecological networks is often proposed as a measure to maintain functional connectivity for forest species in multi-functional landscapes.In the next decades, however, such networks will be threatened by climate change through its effects on land use change, as global drivers are likely to have an increasing influence on national land use policy. Evaluation of indirect effects of climate change, on habitat networks, mediated by land use change, is therefore needed. We used an approach integrating climate, soil properties, and landscape resistance to dispersal, the latter estimated using Circuit Theory, to evaluate the vulnerability to land use change of forest habitat networks in Scotland, given two scenarios of land use change. In Scotland a combination of high food prices and improved land capability for agriculture could lead to decreased landscape connectivity for woodland species, especially in the East and South, with potentially large trade-offs between agriculture and woodland connectivity in the case of loss of woodland on prime agricultural land. We suggest that planning of ecological networks needs to account for future land use change. Adaptation and mitigation strategies across multiple sectors should be reconciled. Woodland networks will benefit from minimising creation of new woodlands on future prime agricultural land, the protection of existing patches, and the creation of wide-scale dispersal pathways along climatic gradients, i.e. in the N–S and E–W directions.     

Influence of wetland networks on bat activity in mixed-use landscapes

Parks and other protected lands can provide important source habitat and act as valuable dispersal corridors in urbanizing environments. However, most wetlands within protected areas are managed in isolation without consideration of the broader landscape connections. We studied the importance of wetland habitat connectivity and landscape context to bat activity in five National Parks along a gradient of increasing urbanization within the Mid-Atlantic United States. Ninety-six Anabat stations were set up throughout the parks, from which we derived the characteristic spatial scales at which bat activity was associated with wetlands. This information was used in a graph theoretic framework to construct network models of potential landscape connectivity for those species that had positive associations with wetland land cover. We found that the importance of wetlands as a predictor of bat activity varied on a species-by-species basis and increased when network measures were used that accounted for connected area in a broad spatial context. The results demonstrate that both area and connectivity of wetland foraging habitat may act as orthogonal variables to availability of roosting habitat in explaining the distribution of highly mobile species. We use the results to illustrate the value of network analysis to guide the coordinated management of two of the parks’ most valued natural resources - wetlands and bats.     

Effects of landscape-scale broadleaved woodland configuration and extent on roost location for six bat species across the UK

Although forest fragmentation can greatly affect biodiversity, responses to landscape-scale measures of woodland configuration in Europe have been examined for only a limited range of taxa. Almost all European bat species utilise woodland, however little is known about how they are affected by the spatial arrangement of woodland patches. Here we quantify landscape structure surrounding 1129 roosts of six bat species and a corresponding number of control locations across the UK, to examine associations between roost location and landscape composition, woodland proximity and the size of the nearest broadleaved woodland patch. Analyses are performed at two spatial scales: within 1 km of the roost and within a radius equivalent to the colony home-range (3–7 km). For four species, models at the 1 km scale were better able to predict roost occurrence than those at the home-range scale, although this difference was only significant for Pipistrellus pipistrellus. For all species roost location was positively associated with either the extent or proximity of broadleaved woodland, with the greatest effect of increasing woodland extent seen between 0% and 20% woodland cover. P. pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Eptesicus serotinus and Myotis nattereri all selected roosts closer to broadleaved woodland than expected by chance, with 90% of roosts located within 440 m of broadleaved woodland. Roost location was not affected by the size of the nearest broadleaved patch (patches ranged from 0.06–2798 ha ± 126 SD). These findings suggest that the bat species assessed here will benefit from the creation of an extensive network of woodland patches, including small patches, in landscapes with little existing woodland cover.     

Spatial and temporal variations in the use of rice-paddy dominated landscapes by birds in Japan

Agricultural landscapes with spatial and temporal variations interact with each other to affect the existing biodiversity. Though rice fields provide important habitats for birds all over the world, studies so far have rarely explored the effects of landscape heterogeneity on bird species in rice paddy areas. This study investigated the effects of habitat cover and landscape variables on the species richness and the abundance of birds in rice paddy areas in Japan. Data on bird occurrence and the environment were collected at 32 grid squares (1 × 1 km) in the Tone River basin. The richness and the abundance of agricultural wetland species were particularly high in landscapes with large areas of rice fields in summer, when rice fields were irrigated, but in those with large areas of open water in winter, when rice fields were drained. It is important to maintain a combination of rice fields and open water to satisfy multiple habitat requirements by agricultural wetland species throughout the year. Grassland species were positively associated with a rich diversity of land cover including fallow fields and open water, indicating the importance of a simultaneous existence of multiple landscape elements. Forest cover in landscapes positively affected edge species and woodland species. Since forest cover had a relatively strong correlation with edge density, the responses of bird species to changes in forest cover and edge density need to be explored further. This study illustrates the importance of spatial and temporal landscape complementation for bird species in rice paddy areas.     

Sustaining biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes in the Western Ghats: Remnant forests matter

Human-modified tropical landscapes under semi-natural or agro-ecosystems often harbor biodiversity of significant conservation value. In the Western Ghats of India, these ecosystems also provide connectivity between protected areas and other remnant forests. We investigated the conservation value of these landscapes and agro-ecosystems using results from 35 studies covering 14 taxonomic groups. Large, conspicuous taxonomic groups and tree-covered land-use types have received much focus in this area of research in the Western Ghats. We computed a response ratio defined as the log ratio of species richness in human land use to species richness in forest control site from 17 studies. In a meta-analysis, we investigated variation of this ratio across studies with respect to three variables: taxonomic group, the land-use type sampled and the extent of forest cover within the study landscape. Higher forest cover within the landscape emerged as a major positive influence on biodiversity in human-modified landscapes for vertebrates and vegetation while no patterns emerged for invertebrates. Our results suggest that loss of remnant forest patches from these landscapes is likely to reduce biodiversity within agro-ecosystems and exacerbate overall biodiversity loss across the Western Ghats. Conservation of these remnant forest patches through protection and restoration of habitat and connectivity to larger forest patches needs to be prioritized. In the densely populated Western Ghats, this can only be achieved by building partnerships with local land owners and stakeholders through innovative land-use policy and incentive schemes for conservation.     

官司河流域土地覆被景观稳定性及其环境效应

以1995年和2005年官司河流域两期的TM遥感数据作为基本信息源,并借助RS、GIS和数理统计方法提取景观类型的矢量数据,通过基质比例、斑块数量和面积变化率、斑块密度变化率3个指标以及景观类型转化规律对流域的景观稳定性及其环境效应进行了初步研究。结果表明:(1)耕地是整个流域人工景观的基质,处在频繁耕作及动态变化中,马尾松林地作为半自然景观的基质,稳定性亦较低,但有所提高,二者对维持区域生态环境的良好发展起主导作用;(2)城镇及水域的斑块稳定性最高,马尾松林地、栎类林地和柏木林地次之,耕地与村庄的稳定性最低,这与流域作为典型农林复合生态区的地位与作用相吻合;(3)耕地与水域及有林地的转化最为剧烈,这与1998年以来流域实施的退耕还林工程密切相关,但水域及有林地的稳定性仍然取决于其自然稳定性,且景观格局呈现良好发展趋势;(4)中小斑块的马尾松林地及柏木林地的稳定性对流域的景观稳定性具有重要作用,处在生态环境变化趋向的节点位置,应予以合理的保护、规划及建设。     

Spatial population structure of the Cabrera vole in Mediterranean farmland: The relative role of patch and matrix effects

There is mounting evidence that both patch networks and the intervening matrix influence species persistence in fragmented landscapes, though the relative importance of each of these factors in determining spatial population structure remains poorly understood. This study examined this issue using a three-year data set on the distribution of Cabrera voles (Microtus cabrerae) in Mediterranean farmland. The spatial pattern appeared consistent with a metapopulation structure, as voles occupied discrete tall herb patches scattered across the agricultural landscape, where local extinctions and colonizations induced temporal changes in occupancy patterns. Patch dynamics determined deviations from classical metapopulation assumptions, with over half the extinctions resulting from agricultural disturbance or vegetation succession, and recolonizations often occurring after the recovery of suitable habitat conditions sometime after disturbance. Occupancy in undisturbed patches was more stable, with vole occurrence in one year strongly reflecting that in the previous year. Overall, occupancy increased with both patch size and connectivity, but the unique contribution of patch variables to explain variation in vole occurrence was far smaller than that of matrix attributes. Voles occurred more often in patches surrounded by natural pastures, while prevalence declined with increasing cover by shrubland, pine plantations, improved pastures and grazed cropland. It is hypothesised that unfavourable land uses may increase the effective isolation of habitat patches through increased predation risk of dispersing voles. Conservation of the Cabrera vole in Mediterranean farmland should thus strive to maintain lightly grazed fields surrounding well-connected networks of suitable habitat patches.     

Effects of roads on landscape structure within nested ecological units of the Northern Great Lakes Region, USA

Road development is a primary mechanism of fragmentation in the northern Great Lakes Region, removing original land cover, creating edge habitat, altering landscape structure and function, and increasing access for humans. We examined road density, landscape structure, and edge habitat created by roads for eight land cover types at two ecological extents within a 78,752 km² landscape. Road density ranged from 0.16 to 2.07 km/km² within land type associations. Between 5 and 60% of a land cover type was affected by roads, depending on the assumed depth-of-edge influence (DEI). Roads increased number of patches and patch density, and decreased mean patch size and largest patch index. Changes in patch size coefficient of variation and measures of patch shape complexity depended on ecological level (i.e. scale) and land cover class. Limited additional change in landscape metrics occurred as road DEI was increased from 20 to 300 m. Land cover type occurred in buffers at the same percentages as in the landscape as a whole. At finer extents, areas with greatest road densities did not always parallel those with greatest changes in landscape structure. Interactions of scale and variation in the distribution of roads across the region emphasize the importance of examining landscape metrics and road impacts within specific cover types and at appropriate, or multiple, scales. Although this region is densely forested, the fragmentation effects of roads are pervasive, significantly altering landscape structure within multiple forest cover classes and at differing ecological extents.     

基于MSPA和MCR模型的南昌市生态网络构建与优化

[目的] 构建科学合理的南昌市生态网络,寻找生态网络中存在的问题及优化对策,为该市自然生态系统、生物多样性的保护及城市可持续发展规划与管理提供科学依据。[方法] 基于形态学空间格局分析（morphological spatial pattern analysis,MSPA）方法与景观连接度指数进行生态源地选择,考虑自然、人为因素构建综合阻力面,利用最小累积阻力模型（minimum cumulative resistance,MCR）提取生态廊道,最终构建南昌市生态网络。[结果] ①基于MSPA与景观连通性指数所提取的生态源地主要分布在西部、北部及东部生境质量较高、连通性较好的地区。②南昌市整体阻力呈现中部高、四周低的特征,生态廊道空间分布不均且结构单一。基于重力模型识别的重要廊道主要分布于东部、北部城市边缘的林地和水域。[结论] 建议加强对核心生境斑块的保护,增加生态源地,修复生态断裂点,优化网络连接。结合MSPA与景观性指数的方法可以有效地将生态质量好、连通性较高的斑块作为生态源地,在今后的发展还需要注重对生态用地的保护,提高区域景观连通性。     

Bird communities in small woods in an agricultural landscape: Effects of area and isolation

The distribution of breeding bird species in 68 small woodlots in two areas of agricultural landscape was investigated. Effects of area, habitat variation, interpatch distance, and distance from extensive woods were analysed with the help of multivariate techniques. No correlation was found between number of breeding bird species and isolation variables, but the degree of isolation was shown to affect the number of bird species restricted to mature woods. Species showed different responses to changes of area or isolation variables. It is concluded that, for several species of woodland birds, patches of mature woodland can be regarded as habitat islands. Some indications are given to apply the regression models found to landscape planning.     

黄土丘陵区土地利用变化动态与景观格局分析——以彭阳县为例

在退耕还林背景下研究土地利用/覆盖变化及其对景观格局的影响对宁南山区土地资源可持续利用和生态环境重建具有重要意义。以多时相Landsat TM/ETM 4期遥感影像数据为基础,借助GIS技术和景观生态学方法,分析彭阳县1991—2010年的土地利用变化动态及景观格局变化。结果表明:在研究时段内,彭阳县林草地面积持续增加的同时耕地和未利用土地持续减少;景观格局变化主要表现为景观破碎化程度、斑块混合分布程度、多样性指数和均匀度指数均呈先增加后减小的趋势,各斑块间连通性呈先减小后增加的趋势,景观形状趋于复杂;区域发展规划是该区2000年以后土地利用及景观变化的主要驱动力。     

庆阳市土地利用变化的景观生态效应研究

本文以甘肃省庆阳市为研究对象,选取2005年和2010年Landsat TM影像作为基本信息源,借助GIS技术和Fragstas 4.0软件,研究庆阳市的土地利用/覆被变化及其景观生态效应。结果表明:（1）研究时段内土地利用/覆盖变化较大,各土地类型间转换频繁。落叶阔叶林面积大幅度减少,减少的落叶阔叶林转变为灌木林,且落叶阔叶林减少量大于灌木林增加量。耕地面积逐渐减少,草地、居住地和交通用地明显增加。（2）庆阳市斑块数目较多,平均斑块面积在增加,但景观丰富度、边缘密度和斑块密度呈减小趋势。斑块破碎化程度在减小,景观空间异质性减小和均质化发展使得景观稳定性降低。林草地边缘效应的降低,使其景观生态功能减弱。     

2000—2020年三峡库区腹地人地耦合土地系统演变机制

基于人地耦合土地系统转型研究框架,采用耦合协调度模型、景观指数与二元Logistic回归模型等方法,探究人地耦合视角下三峡库区腹地土地系统演变规律,揭示其影响机制,从而归纳人地耦合土地系统数量—景观格局—功能转型模式。研究结果表明：1）2000—2020年,三峡库区腹地人类活动强度由逐渐增强转变为逐渐减弱,人地耦合关系总体表现为向协调型平缓发展。在空间上,呈现出中部与东北部趋于协调型、北部趋于拮抗型、南部变化不明显的分异特征;2）人地耦合土地系统数量—景观格局—功能形态发生了明显的变化。拮抗区和失调区耕地总体减少,减少量分别为21 263、40 029 hm²。其中,拮抗区林地恢复性增长,增长量为89 648 hm²。失调区林地呈先增加后减少的波动变化,总体增长16 054 hm²。协调区果园明显扩张,增长量为13 856 hm²;斑块破碎化程度改善,趋于规则;土地系统由单功能主导向多功能转变;3）研究区人地耦合土地系统转型模式呈现多元化,可归纳为：拮抗区：林地恢复-斑块聚集不规则-生态;失调区：林地缩减-斑块聚集规则-生态主导;协调区：果园扩张-斑块聚集、整体规则-生态经济;4）距离与地形是影响土地系统演变的决定性因素,主导因子之间交互产生叠加效应,共同促进土地系统的变化。研究揭示了三峡库区人地耦合关系发展规律与土地系统转型模式,对促进山区土地资源合理利用与人地协调发展具有现实意义。     

GIS-models work well, but are not enough: Habitat preferences of Lanius collurio at multiple levels and conservation implications

Species conservation largely depends on knowledge of habitat needs of target species. GIS-models are increasingly used to assess habitat preferences and distribution of target species, but their accuracy is constrained by availability of digital data layers. We developed a two-steps approach aiming at showing pros and cons of landscape (GIS)- and site-level habitat models, identifying key habitat factors for conservation of a threatened bird species, the red-backed shrike Lanius collurio. A spatially explicit GIS-model was generated using landscape variables, and a second model at site level was developed using fine-scale variables measured on the ground. The GIS-based model was then extrapolated to the entire region to obtain a map of distribution of suitable habitats. Positive associations between shrike occurrence and both hedgerow length and partial shrub cover were detected at both scales. Shrikes were also positively associated with grassland cover at landscape level and with partial cover of untilled herbaceous vegetation at the finer scale, and negatively affected by lucerne cover. The GIS-model led to an affordable map of predicted habitat suitability which should help conservationists to focus on different local priorities, but was unable to identify effects of untilled and lucerne cover. Site-level model gave fine details for habitat management, but its application elsewhere requires ground-measurements of factors. Combining the multiscale models could indicate more urgent actions at large scales (e.g. maintaining suitable habitats, or improving connectivity among isolated patches) and draw a detailed figure of the most suitable habitat for the species. Shrike occurrence was associated with a higher number of shrub and tree species: the indicator value of the species should ensure general benefits for biodiversity from dedicated management.     

基于CA-Markov和InVEST模型的土地利用格局与生境质量时空演变及预测——以江西省南昌市为例

为揭示土地利用变化对区域生境质量时空演变的影响,促进土地资源的合理利用和生态规划体系的建立健全,以江西省南昌市为例,基于1995年、2005年和2015年的土地利用数据,应用CA-Markov和MCE模型并结合InVEST模型,评价和预测了土地利用演变角度下的生境演化特征。结果表明:(1) 1995—2015年,草地、耕地及水域是南昌市的主要土地利用类别,占比超过90%;建设用地急剧扩张,20 a间涨幅高达96.44%,耕地和林地是流转为建设用地的重要地类。(2)研究区整体景观生境质量显著下降,大量高等级生境景观向低等级生境景观转化;城市附近和各个流域的生境退化比较显著;生境稀缺性高的用地类型大多是耕地和林地。(3) 2015—2025年期间,区内景观格局和生境质量继续保持1995—2015年的演变趋势,建设用地等生境适宜度较低的地类高速扩张,进而侵扰林地、水域和草地等生境质量优质地区,致使威胁源规模和影响范畴急剧扩大,景观破碎度水平升高,稳定性降低,这将引起研究区生境质量的持续下降。1995—2025年研究区生境质量明显退化,城镇化扩张与生态用地缩减是其主要原因。     

Potential habitat connectivity of European bison (Bison bonasus) in the Carpathians

Habitat connectivity is important for the survival of species that occupy habitat patches too small to sustain an isolated population. A prominent example of such a species is the European bison (Bison bonasus), occurring only in small, isolated herds, and whose survival will depend on establishing larger, well-connected populations. Our goal here was to assess habitat connectivity of European bison in the Carpathians. We used an existing bison habitat suitability map and data on dispersal barriers to derive cost surfaces, representing the ability of bison to move across the landscape, and to delineate potential connections (as least-cost paths) between currently occupied and potential habitat patches. Graph theory tools were then employed to evaluate the connectivity of all potential habitat patches and their relative importance in the network. Our analysis showed that existing bison herds in Ukraine are isolated. However, we identified several groups of well-connected habitat patches in the Carpathians which could host a large population of European bison. Our analysis also located important dispersal corridors connecting existing herds, and several promising locations for future reintroductions (especially in the Eastern Carpathians) that should have a high priority for conservation efforts. In general, our approach indicates the most important elements within a landscape mosaic for providing and maintaining the overall connectivity of different habitat networks and thus offers a robust and powerful tool for conservation planning.