توسعه حفاظت پایدار تنوع زیستی با مدلسازی کریدورهای سیمای سرزمین مبتنی بر تئوری مدارها

Modeling habitat network connections in biodiversity conservation planning is one of the global priorities of landscape ecology and ecological security. Destruction of landscape structure by creating disjointed habitats and disconnection in landscape patches leads to disturbance in ecological functions. This research aimed to model the landscape corridors of South Khorasan Province to link habitats together to increase habitat network connections. This, in spite of avoiding island management of conserved areas, causes sustainable protection of ecological security. First, the habitat quality map of the study area was modeled, and then it was converted into a habitat resistance map. Habitat hotspots were also extracted from the habitat quality map using the Getis-Ord G approach. Finally, Habitat corridors and the most significant connecting regions were modeled using the habitat quality and resistance maps in Circuitscape software based on circuit theory. The findings indicated that several regions are capable of producing flow with intensities ranging from 0 to 114.5 Ampere. These areas include about 4,944,200 ha (33%) of the entire study area, of which 900 ha are hot corridors, which can be thought of as corridors that facilitate species movement and can mitigate the negative effects of habitat fragmentation. Therefore, for efficient protection of habitat network security, it is necessary for planners to pay attention to the important corridors for connecting the habitats. The results of this study in the South Khorasan Province can pave the way for operational measures to be taken to construct and plan the protection of corridors and improve the habitat performance of the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]