Identifying Ecological Corridors and Networks in Mountainous Areas

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Landscape Ecology

Background:

• Human activities since the 1950s have driven economic development, land-use change, and accelerated urbanization, particularly in mountain regions.
• This has led to habitat destruction and fragmentation, hindering biological conservation and landscape connectivity.
• Identifying ecological corridors and networks is crucial for effective ecosystem protection in biodiversity hotspots.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify potential ecological corridors and construct an ecological network in Chongqing, China.
• To analyze land-use changes and their impact on habitat fragmentation and connectivity.
• To evaluate the characteristics and spatial distribution of the constructed ecological network.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Minimal Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model and Linkage Mapper software for ecological network construction.
• Employed Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) and Conefor2.6 software to identify ecological sources, corridors, and nodes.
• Analyzed land-use data from 2005 to 2015 to assess changes in land cover and fragmentation.

Main Results:

• Between 2005 and 2015, Chongqing experienced a decrease in cultivated land (-0.08%) and grassland (-1.46%) with a 1.5% increase in built-up areas, indicating significant land-use change.
• Cultivated land showed higher fragmentation, and forestry areas exhibited poorer internal connectivity.
• The study identified 24 ecological sources, generated 87 potential ecological corridors (totaling 2524.34 km) and 35 ecological nodes, with an average corridor length of 29.02 km.

Conclusions:

• The constructed ecological network in Chongqing exhibits high complexity and efficiency but suffers from uneven spatial distribution, particularly in the southwest.
• Urgent conservation efforts are needed to address habitat fragmentation and improve landscape connectivity in vulnerable areas.
• The findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing ecological network planning and implementing targeted conservation strategies in mountainous urbanizing regions.