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Análisis de la Conectividad de un Bosque Seral Tardío en el Oeste de Oregon, E.U.A.
Author(s) -
Richards William H.,
Wallin David O.,
Schumaker Nathan H.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.01433.x
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , seral community , habitat , geography , wildlife , ecology , fragmentation (computing) , habitat fragmentation , home range , population , range (aeronautics) , wildlife corridor , habitat destruction , forestry , biology , demography , materials science , sociology , composite material
Habitat loss and fragmentation due to timber harvest in western Oregon has put wildlife species reliant on late‐seral forest under demographic pressure as available habitat shrinks and local populations become isolated. Few studies have examined the effects of habitat removal and fragmentation on the ability of wildlife to disperse over large areas. We used a spatially explicit population model to examine the effects of landscape patterns on the dispersal success of territorial wildlife species with different dispersal capabilities and home‐range sizes. Simulations of dispersal were conducted on 8.3 million ha of forested landscape in western Oregon, based on forest conditions derived from satellite imagery. We compared dispersal success for baseline conditions of land cover with two alternative landscape patterns: late‐seral forest habitat systematically converted to a younger forest class based on (1) public ownership and (2) the Northwest Forest Plan reserve system. Dispersal success increased with larger dispersal distances and with smaller home ranges ( p < 0.01). Results indicate that the reserve system will not maintain habitat connectivity throughout the landscape for species with relatively short dispersal distances. Patches showing the greatest decrease in dispersal activity following the systematic removal of late‐seral forest habitat were identified as important areas of connectivity.