How Important Are Resistance, Dispersal Ability, Population Density and Mortality in Temporally Dynamic Simulations of Population Connectivity? A Case Study of Tigers in Southeast Asia

Eric Ash, Samuel A. Cushman, David W. Macdonald, Tim Redford and Żaneta Kaszta
Additional contact information
Eric Ash: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Tubney, Oxon OX13 5QL, UK
Samuel A. Cushman: Rocky Mountain Research Station, United States Forest Service, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
David W. Macdonald: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Tubney, Oxon OX13 5QL, UK
Tim Redford: Freeland Foundation, Lumpini Ville Phahon-Sutthisan, 23/90 7th Floor, Bldg. B, Sutthisan Winitchai Rd., Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Żaneta Kaszta: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Tubney, Oxon OX13 5QL, UK

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-27

Abstract: Development of landscape connectivity and spatial population models is challenging, given the uncertainty of parameters and the sensitivity of models to factors and their interactions over time. Using spatially and temporally explicit simulations, we evaluate the sensitivity of population distribution, abundance and connectivity of tigers in Southeast Asia to variations of resistance surface, dispersal ability, population density and mortality. Utilizing a temporally dynamic cumulative resistant kernel approach, we tested (1) effects and interactions of parameters on predicted population size, distribution and connectivity, and (2) displacement and divergence in scenarios across timesteps. We evaluated the effect of varying levels of factors on simulated population, cumulative resistance kernel extent, and kernel sum across nine timesteps, producing 24,300 simulations. We demonstrate that predicted population, range shifts, and landscape connectivity are highly sensitive to parameter values with significant interactions and relative strength of effects varying by timestep. Dispersal ability, mortality risk and their interaction dominated predictions. Further, population density had intermediate effects, landscape resistance had relatively low impacts, and mitigation of linear barriers (highways) via lowered resistance had little relative effect. Results are relevant to regional, long-term tiger population management, providing insight into potential population growth and range expansion across a landscape of global conservation priority.

Keywords: landscape connectivity; cumulative resistant kernels; sensitivity analysis; mortality risk; resistance surface; Panthera tigris; dispersal; divergence; displacement; Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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