Application of landscape connectivity in habitat suitability evaluation case study in Wolong Nature Reserve,Sichuan, China

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Application of landscape connectivity in habitat suitability evaluation--Case study in Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China

--Landscapeconnectivity is a parameter of landscapefunction, which measures the processes by whichthe sub-populationsof organisms are interconnected into a functional demographic unit.Itis a landscape phenomenon which describes the relationshipsbetween landscape subunits.Landscape connectivity can be measuredby measuring the degree to which the landscapepattern facilitatesor impedes movement of animals among resource patches, particularlyforconserved animal species. In this paper, the landscapeconnectivity for Giant Panda inWolong Nature Reserve was evaluatedby using landscape ecological model on the base ofchoosing threenatural affecting factors on Giant Panda and using geographicinformationsystem. The results demonstrated that only about 90.36km2 (c.a.4.47%) of total area2023.31 km2 is most suitable for GiantPanda surrvivor, the suitable area is about 226.42km2 (11.19%),the moderately suitable area is 276.74 km2 (13.67%), as much as1236.51 km2 istotal unsuitable for Giant Panda living. The resultwill be helpful for making a decisionon improving eco-environmentand protecting Giant Panda in Wolong Nature Reserve.