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Context: Identifying animals movement through the landscape and delineating key corridors is critical for effective management and conservation. Still, assessments of space-use patterns and landscape connectivity are subjected to many limitations, especially in large scales. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess functional connectivity for four focal mammal species with varying dispersal abilities and diets, across protected areas in a transnational region where only scarce information on movement patterns exists. Methods: We used models relying on circuit theory, multiple layers of spatial information and graph-theoretical analysis. We delineated potential pathways suitable for species movement and evaluated connectivity status of the protected areas network in the Balkan Peninsula, southeastern Europe. Models were parameterized by combining information from experts and scientific literature, or by applying allometric equations, while novel connectivity metrics were developed. Results: We identified four key, suitable corridors within the transnational study region. The largest one crossed three countries, highlighting the need for international conservation efforts. For species with higher dispersal abilities, the network of protected areas appeared to be well connected and robust while for others it consisted of numerous isolated sites, raising the need for species-specific management plans. Conclusions: Our study serves as an example of how to set monitoring and conservation priorities in data-poor regions. Our findings highlight the need to identify a number of ecological corridors that could facilitate movement of multiple species with different functional traits and habitat preferences. This information is proved to be critical for setting spatially explicit conservation plans at local, regional and transnational scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global efforts to halt biodiversity loss mandate the establishment of protected areas. In the face of habitat loss and climate uncertainty, large-scale networks of protected areas connected by corridors are needed to increase the dispersal and persistence potential of biota. For example, the recent European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 defines clear targets for identifying, establishing and integrating ecological corridors, as part of a Trans-European Nature Network. Here, we examined whether rivers could serve as such corridors, facilitating landscape connectivity (i.e. extent to which landscape facilitates or impedes species movement, exchange of genes, natal dispersal and metapopulation dynamics) among protected areas hosted within different countries in the Balkan Peninsula, southeastern Europe. To quantitatively address this question, we calculated the proportion of the river network enclosed within a protected area per country to detect patterns of protection coverage and explored the degree to which spatial connections between 1878 protected areas are supported by the river network. Acknowledging that dams hinder instream continuity, we further quantified potential loss of connections between protected areas caused by the existence of already implemented or planned dam projects upon critical river habitats of endangered fish species. Our results highlight that Balkan rivers have great potential in providing the spatial connections needed to establish landscape connectivity between most of protected areas in the region. Still, heedless hydropower growth and dissimilarities in river protection between neighboring countries remain key challenges for the evolution of a relative framework. Transnational cooperation and systematic planning of infrastructure development could be the only efficient steps towards supporting the establishment of a river-based network to reconstruct connectivity between protected areas and meet biodiversity goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater ecosystems are threatened worldwide, with 1/3 of freshwater species being under extinction risk. Yet, systematic conservation planning has received little attention as a means to prioritize freshwater conservation areas. Here, we develop a comprehensive approach to spatially delineate key areas for freshwater conservation across Europe, considering directed-connectivity, climate change and human-related disturbances. We assess the adequacy of the current reserve network in protecting European freshwater ecosystems and provide guidelines for expansion. We conducted 13 prioritization scenarios for 18,300 sub-basins across Europe, accounting for the distribution of 1,668 freshwater species. Connectivity properties, metrics of climatic stability and human induced pressures were incorporated into the spatial prioritization framework. We highlight the critical importance of specific regions in Central and Southern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and parts of the Balkan Peninsula for future freshwater conservation efforts. However, our analysis also reveals the complete inadequacy of the current reserve network, as protected sub-basins only cover 4 % of the study area and encompass on average only 3 % of freshwater species distributions. In contrast, expanding current reserves to cover the top 17 % of high priority areas across Europe could substantially improve the overall coverage of species distributions, reaching an average of 61.5 % for all freshwater species and even exceeding 93.1 % for species of conservation interest (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species). The priority freshwater conservation network derived from the analysis provides specific spatial recommendations to help achieve conservation goals if the current reserve network is appropriately expanded. • Freshwater species are at risk worldwide and conservation planning is overlooked. • A new comprehensive approach prioritizes key areas for European freshwaters. • Critical regions for conservation exist in Central Europe and the Mediterranean. • Current reserves are inadequate covering only 4 % of Europe's freshwater ecosystems. • Expanding reserves can result in a 20-fold increase in species coverage within PAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]