Role of African protected areas in maintaining connectivity for large mammals

摘要: The African protected area (PA) network has the potential to act as a set of functionally interconnected patches that conserve meta-populations mammal species, but individual PAs are vulnerable habitat change which may disrupt connectivity and increase extinction risk. Individual have different roles in maintaining connectivity, depending on their size location. We measured contribution (irreplaceability) for carnivores ungulates combined it with measure vulnerability based 30-year trend remotely sensed vegetation cover (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). Highly irreplaceable occurred mainly southern eastern Africa. was generally faster outside than inside particularly so extent increased distance from PAs. About 5% highly experienced loss surroundings, thus requiring particular conservation attention. Our analysis identified at risk whose isolation would PA large mammals. This is an example how ecological spatial modelling can be large-scale remote sensing data investigate land affect processes species conservation.