Connected habitat

We predicted connected habitat for each species and species group using the resistant kernel analysis across a combination of multiple levels of relative landscape resistance and dispersal ability. The three levels of landscape resistance were high, med, low. There were three levels of dispersal ability for each of the three focal species, chosen to bracket the true dispersal ability of each species. There were five levels of dispersal ability for each species group, chosen to cover a broad range from species with limited to high vagility. Connected habitat predictions are areas in the study area that are expected to be joined into patches where kernel predictions of expected density are above 0.2 in every connected pixel.

We mapped and analyzed the extent and pattern of connected habitat for each species and species group across the full combination of relative resistance and dispersal ability. Core habitat is predicted to have very high rates of internal movement, and is likely core source habitat for the species. Fracture zones are areas of connected habitat in which movement rates are at least 90% lower than the maximum in the landscape and are likely areas with attenuated gene flow and partial isolation. However, at the level of analyzing connected habitat, both core and fracture zones are combined.

Corridor

We predicted corridor habitat for each species and species group using UNICOR across a combination of multiple levels of relative landscape resistance and point densities. The three levels of landscape resistance were high, med, low. There were two levels of random point placement, 50 and 100 points.  Corridor habitat predictions are areas in the study area that are expected to be joined from shortest-path connections or easiest movement through the resistance surface.

We mapped and analyzed the extent and pattern of corridor habitat for each species and species group across the full combination of relative resistance and two point densities.  Corridor habitats are areas of connection in which movement rates are expected to be highest, and are likely areas with increased gene flow.