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1.
Urbanization is one of the most intensive threats to biodiversity worldwide. The rapid sprawl of urban settings often comprises a drastic landscape transformation due to the replacement of natural vegetation by impervious surfaces. However, cities can serve as critical refuges for some native fauna, particularly for pollinators. Here we used citizen data to contrast the structure of hummingbird-plant meta-networks across different greenspaces (natural protected areas, urban parks, urban gardens and street trees areas) in a tropical megacity. We compiled hummingbird-plant visitation records in Mexico City available in two citizen science resources: iNaturalist and eBird. We first determined whether the retrieved dataset was representative to estimate network metrics by calculating sample coverage and estimating species richness in different greenspaces. Then, we characterized network structure and plant importance for network organization according to plant origin, life form and pollination syndrome. We recorded 17 hummingbirds visiting 84 plant species, encompassing a total of 742 interactions. Natural protected areas and urban parks showed a higher richness of hummingbirds and plants. All networks had low levels of connectance, specialization, and nestedness. Modularity was significant across all networks with higher values in natural protected areas and urban gardens. Native and introduced plant species showed a similar contribution to network organization. Non-ornithophilous plants were most important in natural protected areas, while tree species were most important in street trees greenspaces. Our results provide evidence of generalization of hummingbird-plant networks in urban areas. Introduced species and non-ornithophilous plants were equally important for hummingbirds, suggesting an integration of alien plants with no specialized bird pollination traits into ecological networks in urban scenarios. Promoting conservation initiatives as pollinator gardens with key native species for hummingbirds across the city could contribute to the functional connectivity and restoration of ecological interactions in cities. 相似文献
2.
Green roofs provide many ecosystem services, but little is known about the way they contribute to urban functional connectivity. This paper has the following four objectives: (1) to compare the potential green roofs’ role to connectivity in relation to other urban green spaces, (2) to specify the green roofs contribution’s type, (3) to explore the influence of building height integration method and finally (4) to assess the impact on connectivity of simulated greening new roofs. Using a landscape graph approach, we modeled ecological networks of three species groups with different dispersion capacities in the Paris region (France). Then, we computed several connectivity metrics to assess the potential contribution of green roofs to functional connectivity. At a large scale (metropole scale), our results show that green roofs can slightly improve the global connectivity largely through the connections rather than the addition of habitat area. More than a stepping stone function, green roofs would have a dispersion flux function at a local scale. Furthermore, when the difficulty of crossing movement is exponential to the height of buildings, green roofs over 20 m high are mostly disconnected from the ecological networks. In addition to the green roof’s height, our analysis highlights the very strong role played by buildings’ configuration. This study raises promising directions for the integration of building height into the analysis of urban connectivity. Detailed research and long-term biological data from green roofs and green spaces are needed to confirm our results. 相似文献
3.
A new, multi-scaled graph visualization approach: an example within the playa wetland network of the Great Plains 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
We employed a sliding-window approach at multiple scales (window sizes and dispersal distances) to calculate seven standard graph-theoretical metrics within a subset of a large, freshwater wetland network. In contrast to most graph analyses, which quantify connectivity at a single (global) scale or at a patch-level scale, a multi-scaled, sliding-window approach provides an assessment that bridges these two approaches to examine patch clusters. As a case study we focused on a subset of a habitat patch network in a ~20,000 km2 area encompassing 2,782 playa wetlands in the panhandle of Texas. Playas are seasonal wetlands of the southern Great Plains of North America that form a network of regional habitat resources for wildlife. The large size of this network meant that global metrics failed to capture localized properties, so we used contour mapping to visualize continuous surfaces as functions of playa density, linkage density, and other topological traits at different window sizes and dispersal distances. This technique revealed spatial patterns in the components (i.e., the network properties of regions of the landscape at a given dispersal scale), with the spatial scale of habitat clustering varying with the size of the sliding window and dispersal distance. Using a tool familiar to landscape ecology (sliding-window methodology) in a novel way (to examine ecological networks at multiple scales), our approach provides a way to represent ecologically determined local-scale graph properties and illustrates how a multi-scaled approach is useful in examining habitat connectivity to investigate graph properties. 相似文献
4.
With the acceleration of urbanization, construction land is gradually expanding, leading to a loss of ecological land. This is increasing the risk of connectivity loss between important natural habitats. In this study, potential ecological corridors and stepping stones under ecological security patterns with different connectivity levels were identified according to the important habitats and resistance surfaces. We analyzed the development potential, vulnerability, and connectivity loss of a fragmented landscape using a support vector machine (SVM), a circuit theory model, and the “exposure-vulnerability-potential loss” framework. Four types of stepping stones that require protection were defined according to the risk structure and level. The results showed that there are 40 important habitats and 50 potential ecological corridors in the ecological security pattern. The SVM results indicated that the possibility of patch development is most sensitive to protection status (−0.923), followed by the slope (−0.770), and distance from the city (−0.210) and roads (−0.147). Additionally, the impact of railways (0.056) and night-time light (0.092) was limited. Elevation (0.267) had a positive effect on development. With an increased security level, the proportion of middle- and high-risk stepping stones gradually decreased, which means that the risk of connectivity loss under urban development can be reduced by creating a security pattern with a higher level and including more stepping-stone patches. Connectivity loss risk management can provide a reference for ecological control line revision and land use planning. 相似文献
5.
Xuan Guo Nicholas C. Coops Sarah E. Gergel Christopher W. Bater Scott E. Nielsen J. John Stadt Mark Drever 《Landscape Ecology》2018,33(3):491-511
Context
The application of regional-level airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) data to characterize habitat patches and model habitat connectivity over large landscapes has not been well explored. Maintaining a connected network of habitat in the presence of anthropogenic disturbances is essential for regional-level conservation planning and the maintenance of biodiversity values.Objectives
We quantified variation in connectivity following simulated changes in land cover and contrasted outcomes when different conservation priorities were emphasized.Methods
First, we defined habitat patches using vegetation structural attributes identified via lidar. Second, habitat networks were constructed for different forest types and assessed using network connectivity metrics. And finally, land cover change scenarios were simulated using a series of habitat patch removals, representing the impact of implementing different spatial prioritization schemes.Results
Networks for different forest structure types produced very different patch distributions. Conservation scenarios based on different schemes led to contrasting changes during land cover change simulations: the scheme prioritizing only habitat area resulted in immediate near-term losses in connectivity, whereas the scheme considering both habitat area and their spatial configurations maintained the overall connectivity most effectively. Adding climate constraints did not diminish or improve overall connectivity.Conclusions
Both habitat area and habitat configuration should be considered in dynamic modeling of habitat connectivity under changing landscapes. This research provides a framework for integrating forest structure and cover attributes obtained from remote sensing data into network connectivity modeling, and may serve as a prototype for multi-criteria forest management and conservation planning.6.
Since the fragmentation of natural habitats is one of the most serious problems for many endangered species, it is highly interesting to study the properties of fragmented landscapes. As a basic property, landscape connectivity and its effects on various ecological processes are frequently in focus. First, we discuss the relevance of some graph properties in quantifying connectivity. Then, we propose a method how to quantify the relative importance of habitat patches and corridors in maintaining landscape connectivity. Our combined index explicitly considers pure topological properties and topographical measures, like the quality of both patches (local population size) and corridors (permeability). Finally, for illustration, we analyze the landscape graph of the endangered, brachypterous bush-cricket Pholidoptera transsylvanica. The landscape contains 11 patches and 13 corridors and is situated on the Aggtelek Karst, NE-Hungary. We characterize the importance of each node and link of the graph by local and global network indices. We show how different measures of connectivity may suggest different conservation preferences. We conclude, accordingly to our present index, by identifying one specific habitat patch and one specific corridor being in the most critical positions in maintaining connectivity.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date. 相似文献
7.
Habitat management is essential for safeguarding important flora and fauna. Further, habitat connectivity is a crucial component
for maintaining biodiversity given that it is known to have implications for species persistence. However, damage to habitat
due to natural and human induced hazards can alter spatial relationships between habitats, potentially impacting biodiversity.
Therefore, the susceptibility of spatial relationships to patch loss and associated connectivity degradation is obviously
an important factor in maintaining existing or planned habitat networks. Identifying patches vital to connectivity is critical
both for effectively prioritizing protection (e.g., enhancing habitat connectivity) and establishing disaster mitigation measures
(e.g., stemming the spread of habitat loss). This paper presents a methodology for characterizing connectivity associated
with habitat networks. Methods for evaluating habitat network connectivity change are formalized. Examples are presented to
facilitate analysis of connectivity in the management of biodiversity.
相似文献
| Alan T. MurrayEmail: |
8.
Cities continue to grow worldwide, and the highly modified urban landscape becomes an inhospitable environment for many species because the natural vegetation cover is commonly fragmented, and the remnants are often isolated. Protected Areas (PAs) located surrounding or within urban areas may not achieve their goal of protecting local or regional biodiversity. Thus, an urban ecological network is essential to support their PAs. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the PAs connectivity in an urban landscape in Brazil and understanding whether urban forest fragments can support an urban ecological network. Besides spatial models based on functional connectivity and graph theory, we used participatory techniques to design the resistance surface and the least-cost paths (LCPs) for Atlantic Forest birds. The results showed critical paths (LCPs), important areas for restoration programs for improving PAs connectivity, and essential forest fragments for conservation and restoration. Although the landscape has a forest structure with 1873 forest fragments and 516 links through which the LCPs were structured, most forest fragments and LCPs cannot provide the necessary support for the PAs connectivity. The current ecological network is dependent on forest fragments neighboring (outside PAs) and the flux dispersions occurred mainly in the peri-urban areas. Riparian zones and anthropic grasslands also showed importance for the PAs connectivity. We identified only 28 forest fragments spatially connected, presenting several sizes, and located near large forest areas, relevant PAs, and riparian zones. Six of these forest fragments, smaller than ten hectares and strategically located in the urban matrix, were indicated for restoration actions. The current low connectivity among PAs brings the importance of native vegetation restoration in the riparian zone and anthropic grassland and the importance of the periurban areas to promote biodiversity connectivity in the urban landscape. 相似文献
9.
Connectivity providers for semi-aquatic vertebrates: the case of the endangered otter in Italy 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
Maria Laura Carranza Evelina D’Alessandro Santiago Saura Anna Loy 《Landscape Ecology》2012,27(2):281-290
Modeling habitat connectivity for conservation of semi-aquatic vertebrates is a particularly challenging task, due to the
fine-scale and linear distribution of riverine habitats and to the capacity of species to move both on freshwater and terrestrial
realms. We showed how the integrated analytical framework provided by the habitat availability (reachability) metrics and
their fractions can be used to effectively evaluate the distinctive roles and contributions of both habitat patches (aquatic
and riparian) and linkage areas (permeable land matrix) to the connectivity and functioning of a complex system composed of
multiple river catchments. Analysis focused on the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra L.), one of the most endangered mammals in Italy. We developed a network connectivity model based on suitable otter habitats
and multiple least-cost paths between catchments. A graph analytical approach was used to identify critical nodes and links
for the potential expansion and long-term viability of the species in the region. Our results showed that few basins concentrate
most of the importance for sustaining the overall habitat connectivity, due to the extension of suitable habitats they contain,
their strong connections with other basins, and their importance as stepping stones that uphold ecological fluxes between
otherwise weakly connected habitats. The potential contribution of each basin to enhance the dispersal and expansion of otters
in the area strongly depended on the key functional paths (sequences of links and nodes) among the catchments. We identified
vacant basins that could be colonized by otters in the near future, and connecting areas in the intermediate matrix that might
be preferentially used to conduct and promote dispersal movements and gene flow in the area. The novel approach here adopted
could be easily extended to other semiaquatic species and catchment systems, offering a management strategy to preserve the
hydrographic network as an integrated system, as well as a joint evaluation of the role of both the river courses and the
matrix in between in a single landscape model. 相似文献
10.
John L. Orrock Gregory R. Curler Brent J. Danielson David R. Coyle 《Landscape Ecology》2011,26(10):1361-1372
The size, shape, and isolation of habitat patches can affect organism behavior and population dynamics, but little is known
about the relative role of shape and connectivity in affecting ecological communities at large spatial scales. Using six sampling
sessions from July 2001 until August 2002, we collected 33,685 arthropods throughout seven 12-ha experimental landscapes consisting
of clear-cut patches surrounded by a matrix of mature pine forest. Patches were explicitly designed to manipulate connectivity
(via habitat corridors) independently of area and edge effects. We found that patch shape, rather than connectivity, affected
ground-dwelling arthropod richness and beta diversity (i.e. turnover of genera among patches). Arthropod communities contained
fewer genera and exhibited less turnover in high-edge connected and high-edge unconnected patches relative to low-edge unconnected
patches of similar area. Connectivity, rather than patch shape, affected the evenness of ground-dwelling arthropod communities;
regardless of patch shape, high-edge connected patches had lower evenness than low- or high-edge unconnected patches. Among
the most abundant arthropod orders, increased richness in low-edge unconnected patches was largely due to increased richness
of Coleoptera, whereas Hymenoptera played an important role in the lower evenness in connected patches and patterns of turnover.
These findings suggest that anthropogenic habitat alteration can have distinct effects on ground-dwelling arthropod communities
that arise due to changes in shape and connectivity. Moreover, this work suggests that corridors, which are common conservation
tools that change both patch shape and connectivity, can have multiple effects on arthropod communities via different mechanisms,
and each effect may alter components of community structure. 相似文献
11.
In Central Europe vast wetland areas have been converted into agricultural land over the past few centuries. Long-term spatially
explicit reconstructions of wetland cover changes at regional scale are rare but such information is vital for setting appropriate
wetland conservation and restoration goals. In this study wetland cover change over the past 150 years was analyzed for the
Canton Zurich (Switzerland) using information from historical and current topographical maps. Mapping instructions changed
significantly over time, i.e., wetlands were mapped more conservatively on older maps. Therefore a technique was developed
to account for changes in mapping instructions and to reconstruct a series of comparable maps spanning 1850–2000. Wetland
cover dramatically decreased from 13,759 ha in 1850 (more than 8% of the total study area) to 1,233 ha in 2000 (less than
1%). Largest loss is observed for the first half of the twentieth century when more than 50% of the total wetland loss occurred.
In 1850, almost all wetland patches were connected in two large networks defined by a 500 m buffer around all wetland patches
to account for typical dispersal distances of wetland animals. Despite extensive wetland loss, this networks remained largely
intact until 1950, but then collapsed into many medium and small networks consisting of only few wetland patches. In addition
to the direct loss of wetland habitats increased habitat fragmentation is limiting metapopulation dynamics and hindering genetic
exchange between populations. Amphibians and other wetland animals are particularly prone to habitat fragmentation because
of their limited migration abilities. This may lead to time-delayed extinction in the future because current species occurrence
might rather reflect historical than current wetland cover and habitat configuration. Future restoration efforts should focus
on reestablishing connectivity between remaining smaller wetland networks. 相似文献
12.
Habitat connectivity is a central factor in shaping aquatic biological communities, but few tools exist to describe and quantify
this attribute at a network scale in riverine systems. Here, we develop a new index to quantify longitudinal connectivity
of river networks based on the expected probability of an organism being able to move freely between two random points of
the network. We apply this index to two fish life histories and evaluate the effects of the number, passability, and placement
of barriers on river network connectivity through the use of simulated dendritic ecological networks. We then extend the index
to a real world dendritic river system in Newfoundland, Canada. Our results indicate that connectivity in river systems, as
represented by our index, is most impacted by the first few barriers added to the system. This is in contrast to terrestrial
systems, which are more resilient to low levels of connectivity. The results show a curvilinear relationship between barrier
passability and structural connectivity. This suggests that an incremental improvement in passability would result in a greater
improvement to river network connectivity for more permeable barriers than for less permeable barriers. Our analysis of the
index in simulated and real river networks also showed that barrier placement played an important role in connectivity. Not
surprisingly, barriers located near the river mouth have the greatest impact on fish with diadromous life histories while
those located near the center of the river network have the most impact on fish with potadromous life histories. The proposed
index is conceptually simple and sufficiently flexible to deal with variations in river structure and biological communities.
The index will enable researchers to account for connectivity in habitat studies and will also allow resource managers to
characterize watersheds, assess cumulative impacts of multiple barriers and determine priorities for restoration. 相似文献
13.
The distribution of plant species in urban vegetation fragments 总被引：21，自引：4，他引：17
(1) The presence and absence of 22 plant species of various growth forms and habitat associations were analysed in 423 habitat fragments totalling 10.4 km2 in a 268 km2 urban and suburban region, in Birmingham, UK. (2) Multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the effects of patch geometry and quality on the species distributions. Measures of geometry were area, shape (S-factor), distance from open countryside and various measures of isolation from other patches. Potential habitat for each species was determined quantitatively, and the distribution of each species was considered within a subset of patches containing potentially suitable habitat types. There was found to be a significant positive correlation between the density of patches available to a species and the proportion of these patches which were occupied. (3) Logistic analyses and incidence functions revealed that, for many of the species, occupancy increased with site age, area, habitat number and similarity of adjacent habitats, while increasing distance to the nearest recorded population of the same species decreased the likelihood that a species would be found in a patch. (4) Patterns of occupancy are consistent with increased extinction from small sites, and colonisation of nearby habitats, coupled with an important role for site history. We conclude that spatial dynamics at the scale of the landscape are of importance to the long-term persistence of many plant species in fragmented landscapes, and must be seriously considered in conservation planning and management. These results have direct implications for the siting and connectivity of urban habitat reserves. 相似文献
14.
We introduce a novel approach to building corridors in spatial conservation prioritization. The underlying working principle is the use of a penalty structure in an iterative algorithm used for producing a spatial priority ranking. The penalty term aims to prevent loss or degradation of structural connections, or, equivalently, to promote to a higher rank landscape elements that are required to keep networks connected. The proposed method shows several convenient properties: (1) it does not require a priori specification of habitat patches, end points or related thresholds, (2) it does not rely on resistance coefficients for different habitats, (3) it does not require species targets, and (4) the cost of additional connectivity via corridors can be quantified in terms of habitat quality lost across species. Corridor strength and width parameters control the trade-off between increased structural connectivity via corridors and other considerations relevant to conservation planning. Habitat suitability or dispersal suitability layers used in the analysis can be species specific, thus allowing analysis both in terms of structural and functional connectivity. The proposed method can also be used for targeting habitat restoration, by identifying areas of low habitat quality included in corridors. These methods have been implemented in the Zonation software, and can be applied to large scale and high resolution spatial prioritization, effectively integrating corridor design and spatial conservation prioritization. Since the method operates on novel principles and combines with a large number of features already operational in Zonation, we expect it to be of utility in spatial conservation planning. 相似文献
15.
Landscape ecologists have increasingly turned to the use of landscape graphs in which a landscape is represented as a set of nodes (habitat patches) connected by links representing inter-patch-dispersal. This study explores the use of a graph-based regionalization method, Graph-based REgionalization with Clustering And Partitioning (GraphRECAP), to detect structural groups of habitat patches (compartments) in a landscape graph such that the connections (i.e. the movement of individual organisms) within the groups are greater than those across groups. Specifically, we mapped compartments using habitat and dispersal data for ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in an agricultural landscape in southern Madagascar using both GraphRECAP and the widely-used Girvan and Newman method. Model performance was evaluated by comparing compartment characteristics and three measures of network connectivity and traversability: the connection strength of habitat patches in the compartments (modularity), the potential ease of individual organism movements (Harary index), and the degree of alternative route presence (Alpha index). Compartments identified by GraphRECAP had stronger within-compartment connections, greater traversability, more alternative routes, and a larger minimum number of habitat patches within compartments, all of which are more desirable traits for ecological networks. Our method could thus facilitate the study of ecosystem resilience and the design of nature reserves and landscape networks to promote the landscape-scale dispersal of species in the fragmented habitats. 相似文献
16.
A large-scale experimental landscape study was conducted to examine the use of corridors and the forest matrix habitat by the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus). The role of micro- habitat selection by S. hispidus in influencing routes of movement was also investigated. The experimental landscape consisted of ten 1.64-ha patches (each 128×128 m) established in a loblolly (Pinus teada) forest. Four of the patches were isolated while the other six were connected in pairs by a 32-m wide corridor. Cotton rats (N=96) were simultaneously released into both an isolated and connected patch, and monitored by radiotelemetry for 10 days. We found that the forest matrix was not a barrier to movements of cotton rats. Fifty percent of the cotton rats moved through the matrix. Corridors had no significant effect on the number of animals leaving connected patches (60%) compared to isolated patches (50%). However, corridors were the preferred route to leave a connected patch. Colonization success for cotton rats leaving connected and isolated patches did not significantly differ. Cotton rats exhibited micro-habitat preferences and these preferences differed within patch/corridor and matrix habitats. In patch/corridor habitats, cotton rats selected sites with tall (>1 m) shrubs and high percent cover. In the forest matrix, cotton rats selected sites with abundant cover by vines and low tree canopy cover. Movement patterns of Sigmodon hispidus are not strongly influenced by large-scale landscape spatial structures. Micro-habitat selection, however, does influence movement patterns. These findings have important implications regarding habitat connectivity for small mammals. 相似文献
17.
Kris Van Looy Cyril Cavillon Thierry Tormos Jérémy Piffady Philippe Landry Yves Souchon 《Landscape Ecology》2013,28(7):1239-1249
Existing methods for connectivity analysis still encounter difficulties in explaining functional relationships between network structure and ecological patterns over larger territories or complex structures like dendritic river networks. We propose a method that addresses the problem of scale and resolution in the connectivity analysis of dendritic network structures, illustrated here for the re-colonization of the French Loire river basin by the European otter. The ecological niche factor approach is applied to infer favourable habitat in the river network based on large scale data of land use and hydro-morphology of river segments for the entire river basin. These analyses identified the stressors to the riparian zone of channel straightening, urbanisation and forest fragmentation as the principal factors explaining otter occurrence. Using this estimate of habitat favourability, we used the Integral Index of Connectivity to quantify habitat availability and connectivity in the dendritic river network. When we calculate the integral index of connectivity over different spatial extents by constraining network distances, the scale-sensitivity of the network’s connectivity emerges. Accounting for high mobility by entering larger network distances in the analysis identifies conservation networks and priorities mainly in downstream parts of the river basin, whereas with smaller network distances, more restricted high quality areas in central and upstream parts are highlighted. The presented approach performed better than distribution modelling approaches in explaining species occurrence over the river network and confirms the crucial aspect of connectivity in otter re-colonization. 相似文献
18.
Biodiversity in urban green areas has been widely explored in several bird studies because birds are known to be important bio-indicators. Many studies have investigated the different responses of bird communities to urbanization and land use changes in urban environments. However, there are still important knowledge gaps related to the impacts of the heterogeneity, spatial structure, and connectivity of green areas on avian diversity. Such information is needed for sustainable urban planning. In this study, we focused on the comparison of bird communities between urban parks in the heritage city of Olomouc and hardwood floodplain forests in the vicinity of the city. The results of the study indicate the high importance of urban parks for the maintenance of bird diversity even though urban parks are man-made habitats. The results highlight the importance of some native vegetation structures in urban parks (old trees, bush ecotones) for maintaining urban bird biodiversity. Some implications of the results can be widely used as a decision support tool for the management of urban green areas and for the planning of ecological networks in urban landscapes. 相似文献
19.
Dispersal traits determine plant response to habitat connectivity in an urban landscape 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
Identification of trait syndromes that make species vulnerable to habitat fragmentation is essential in predicting biodiversity
change. Plants are considered particularly vulnerable if their capacities for persistence in and for dispersal among local
habitats are low. Here we investigated the influence of easily measured functional traits on the presence of 45 plant species
in an urban landscape in north-west Germany where patches were separated by distances consistent with regular plant dispersal
range. To describe the spatial configuration of patches we calculated species-specific patch connectivities. Then we assessed
plant connectivity responses in distribution models calculated from connectivities and environmental predictors. Twenty (45%)
of the analysed species showed a positive connectivity response after accounting for species-specific habitat requirements.
These species differed from non-responsive species by functional traits associated with dispersal, including reduced seed
numbers and higher terminal velocities relative to non-responsive species. Persistence traits played however no role which
we attribute to the environmental conditions of urban habitats and their spatiotemporal characteristics. Our study underlines
that even ruderal plants experience dispersal limitation and demonstrates that easily measured functional traits may be used
as indicators of fragmentation vulnerability in urban systems allowing generalizations to larger species sets. 相似文献
20.
Graph-theoretic connectivity analyses have received much attention in connectivity evaluation during the last few years. Here, we explore the underlying conceptual differences of various graph-theoretic connectivity measures. Based on connectivity analyses from three reserve networks in forested landscapes in Central Finland, we illustrate how these conceptual differences cause inconsistent connectivity evaluations at both the landscape and patch level. Our results also illustrate how the characteristics of the networks (patch density) may affect the performance of the different measures. Many of the connectivity measures react to changes in habitat connectivity in an ecologically undesirable manner. Patch prioritisations based on a node removal analysis were sensitive to the connectivity measure they were based on. The patch prioritisations derived from different measures showed a disparity in terms of how much weight they put on patch size versus patch location and how they value patch location. Although graphs operate at the interface of structure and function, there is still much to do for incorporating the inferred ecological process into graph structures and analyses. If graph analyses are going to be used for real-world management and conservation purposes, a more thorough understanding of the caveats and justifications of the graph-theoretic connectivity measures will be needed. 相似文献