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Climatic-Anthropogenic Synergy Drives Escalating Minimum Area Requirements and Connectivity-Protection Mismatch in a
Guangmei Yang1,2, Heqin Cao1,2, Tuo Shen1,2
1College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.
Integrative Zoology
|November 11, 2025
Summary
Climate change and human activities are reducing habitat for François
Area of Science:
- Ecological dynamics
- Conservation biology
- Landscape ecology
Background:
- Species persistence hinges on landscape connectivity, influenced by climate change and human activities.
- Habitat loss and fragmentation are known impacts, but dynamic connectivity changes are less understood.
- François' langur (Trachypithecus francoisi), a karst-endemic primate, faces these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model habitat suitability and quantify spatio-temporal connectivity dynamics for François' langur.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of existing protected areas (PAs) in maintaining connectivity.
- To decipher the mechanisms driving species connectivity decline under multiple stressors.
Main Methods:
- Integrated field surveys and meta-analytical data for habitat suitability modeling.
- Quantified spatio-temporal connectivity of minimum area requirement (MAR) habitats from 1987 to 2024.
- Employed spatially explicit scenario modeling to analyze connectivity decline.
Main Results:
- Suitable habitat reduced by 48.8%, shifting from continuous to isolated north-south distribution.
- Habitat centroids migrated northeastward at 1.2 km/year, exceeding species' dispersal capacity.
- Connectivity probability (PCst) decreased by 18.32%, and equivalent connected area (ECAst) declined by 38,130 km².
- Connectivity mechanisms shifted from within-patch persistence to reliance on direct dispersal and stepping-stone pathways.
- Climate change and anthropogenic activities antagonistically affected connectivity, independent of MAR.
- Existing PAs sustained connectivity but inadequately protected dynamic habitats and corridors.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing PA networks is crucial for enhancing functional connectivity and conservation resilience.
- Reinforcing MAR core patches as ecological stepping stones is recommended.
- Constructing climate-adaptive corridors is essential for endangered karst-endemic species.
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