Navigating paved paradise: Evaluating landscape permeability to movement for large mammals in two conservation priority landscapes in India

摘要: Abstract Human land use and activity results in the loss of habitat biodiversity, alters how animals move through landscapes. Spatially explicit information on where animal movement is affected at large spatial scales crucial for prioritizing conservation efforts. We evaluated landscape permeability to two priority landscapes India, Western Ghats (WG) Central India (CI). Using an agent-based model we simulated dispersal five wide-ranging species WG (elephant, gaur, leopard, sambar sloth bear) four CI (gaur, bear). For each compared presence absence land-use land-cover, infrastructure human population identify areas impeded reduced due high-resistance features; unrestricted relatively low-resistance increased channelled surrounding areas. In both landscapes, median was reduced. land-use, high linear density contribute highest all species. Natural constitute only 20–55% 50–70% unrestricted, respectively. This suggests that a percentage maintaining not completely permeable. Such are often neglected planning. Our spatially help prioritize restoration or mitigation should be planned improve mammals. approach can used other data mammal lacking.