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Using Percolation Theory to Assess Landscape Connectivity and Effects of Habitat Fragmentation

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Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation

Abstract

Maintaining landscape connectivity has become a management imperative for many agencies (Salwasser 1991; Petit et al. 1995). It is therefore essential that landscapes in danger of becoming disconnected can be identified before they become too fragmented, after which management actions are less likely to be successful and cost-effective. Landscape connectivity is far more complex than is implied by the notion of habitat corridors linking fragments (structural connectivity). For example, if an organism is able to move through the intervening matrix, then isolated habitat patches may be functionally connected, if not structurally connected, by dispersal. Landscape connectivity, therefore, must ultimately be defined by the extent to which different habitat types and other elements of landscape structure facilitate movement among patches (functional connectivity; Taylor et al. 1993; With et al. 1997). The theoretical basis for understanding ecological flows, such as dispersal, gene flow, or the propagation of disturbances (e.g., spread of nonindigenous invasive species) across landscapes has emerged within the discipline of landscape ecology primarily as applications of percolation theory.

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Authors
  1. Kimberly A. With
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  1. Department of Biology, Baylor University, P.O. Box 97388, Waco, TX, 76798-7388, USA

    Kevin J. Gutzwiller

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With, K.A. (2002). Using Percolation Theory to Assess Landscape Connectivity and Effects of Habitat Fragmentation. In: Gutzwiller, K.J. (eds) Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0059-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0059-5_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-95322-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0059-5

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