Habitat connectivity of coyotes and brown creepers at the University of British Columbia campus-Canada

Habitat fragmentation has become an increasing threat to biodiversity, as it can result in the isolation of species populations and the loss of genetic diversity. To address this problem, landscape connectivity modeling has become a popular method for identifying key areas for conservation efforts. The present study assessed the habitat connectivity of two species, coyotes (Canis latrans) and brown creepers (Certhia americana), on the University of British Columbia campus using Conefor 2.6 and Conefor Inputs Tool. The study sought to identify key and hub patches for each species, compare the connectivity of the two species, and identify important areas of connectivity for each species. The two species were selected based on their habitat requirements, proximity to greenspaces, and dispersal distances. The land cover and Metro Vancouver data were used to identify habitat types and patch sizes needed by each species. Key and hub patches for each species were identified using spatial prioritization and evaluated their connectivity using the probability of connectivity (PC) values. The results showed that both species shared some important areas of connectivity, but brown creepers had a more connected network, while coyotes had higher key and hub patches. Areas of high and low connectivity for each species were also identified and found that connectivity was affected by factors such as buildings and proximity to green spaces. The study highlights the importance of considering the specific habitat requirements of different species in conservation efforts and emphasizes the need to prioritize the conservation of key and hub patches for maintaining habitat connectivity and ensuring the survival of multiple species. Future studies should focus on how factors such as landscape heterogeneity, human disturbance, and habitat quality affect the connectivity of the two species.