Applying circuit theory and landscape linkage maps to reintroduction planning for California Condors.

摘要: Conservation practitioners are increasingly looking to species translocations as a tool recover imperiled taxa. Quantitative predictions of where animals likely move when released into new areas would allow managers better address the social, institutional, and ecological dimensions conservation translocations. Using >5 million California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) occurrence locations from 75 individuals, we developed tested circuit-based models predict movement away release sites. We found that electrical current were well calibrated distribution data in southern central (continuous Boyce Index = 0.86 0.98, respectively). Model calibration was improved additional nodes added circuit account for nesting feeding areas, densities higher 0.95). Circuit-based projections around proposed site northern comported with condor’s historical revealed that, initially, movements be most concentrated northwestern southwest Oregon. Landscape linkage maps, which incorporate information on landscape resistance, complement aid identification specific avenues population connectivity or between populations may constrained. linkages Coast Range Sierra Nevada provided reintroduction California. Our methods applicable other flexible, allowing researchers develop multiple competing hypotheses there uncertainties about social attractants, conductance surface.