Landscape-level habitat connectivity of large mammals in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal.

ABSTRACT: The populations of many species of large mammals occur in small isolated and fragmented habitat patches in the human-dominated landscape. Maintenance of habitat connectivity in the fragmented landscapes is important for maintaining a healthy population of large mammal. This study evaluated the landscape patches and their linkages on two carnivores (leopard and Himalayan black bear) and seven prey species (northern red muntjac, chital, sambar, wild pig, Himalayan goral, rhesus macaque, and langur) between Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) by using the least-cost path (LCP) approach and the Linkage Mapper tool in ArcGIS. A total of 15 habitat patches (average area 26.67 ± 12.70 km²) were identified that had more than 50% of the total studied mammals

SUBMITTER: Adhikari JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11327774 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature