Large-Scale Habitat Corridors for Biodiversity Conservation: A Forest Corridor in Madagascar.

ABSTRACT: In biodiversity conservation, habitat corridors are assumed to increase landscape-level connectivity and to enhance the viability of otherwise isolated populations. While the role of corridors is supported by empirical evidence, studies have typically been conducted at small spatial scales. Here, we assess the quality and the functionality of a large 95-km long forest corridor connecting two large national parks (416 and 311 km2) in the southeastern escarpment of Madagascar. We analyze the occurrence of 300 species in 5 taxonomic groups in the parks and in the corridor, and combine high-resolution forest cover data with a simulation model to examine various scenarios of corridor destruction. At present, the corridor contains essentially the same communities as the national parks, reflectin

SUBMITTER: Ramiadantsoa T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4511669 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature