Influence of land use changes on landscape connectivity for North China
leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis)
Abstract
Aim: North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis), is the
most widespread subspecies of leopard and one of the rare and endangered
species in China. It is currently confined to several isolated reserves,
and little is known about its habitat network connectivity with land use
changes. We proposed an approach for the evaluation of the impacts of
land use changes on landscape connectivity for North China leopard.
Location: The Great Taihang Region, in the north of China, covers the
entire territory of Shanxi province, as well as some districts and
counties in Beijing, Hebei and Henan provinces. Methods: We analysed
multiple background layers affecting North China leopard movement
patterns, including environmental and anthropogenic factors, and
generated a landscape resistance surface. Then we used Circuit
theory-based connectivity models to delineate pathways suitable for
species movement, and evaluate the connectivity status of core areas and
the impacts of land use changes on landscape connectivity. Results: We
identified 33 least cos distance paths in 1990 and 34 paths in 2020, and
four key barrier areas. The landscape connectivity has not been greatly
improved with the land use changes, especially with the increase of
forest land from 26.61 to 34.85%. Nevertheless, there is a decreasing
trend on connectivity in some key movement barrier areas. Improving
landscape connectivity at a broad spatial scale is as important as
protecting the habitats (natural reserves) where the species lived. Main
conclusions: Our study can serve as an example of how to explore the
relationships between land use changes and landscape connectivity for
species at broad spatial scales with limited movement patterns data.
This information is proved to be critical for enhancing landscape
connectivity for conservation concern of North China leopard and
planning of natural reserves network.