Climate Resilient Connectivity for California's South Coast Region

May 23, 2019 (Last modified Jun 5, 2019)
Created by Megan Jennings
Climate Resilient Connectivity for California's South Coast Region

About

In this project, we are advancing regional-scale climate-smart connectivity planning by applying a novel complement of approaches supported by new research in ecological science. This effort combines ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) with dynamic metapopulation models to advance connectivity modeling and planning approaches accounting for climate change, land-use shifts, and uncertainty. This complement of techniques has never been used before to develop a robust analysis of habitat-specific connectivity for multiple species. This project will support practical, proactive management of biodiversity under climate change by developing connectivity linkage maps for the South Coast Ecoregion based on comprehensive species and landscape analyses and mapping. Map products from this effort are currently in draft form. Final products will be available in September 2019.

The goal of this project was to develop a regional landscape connectivity plan that identifies landscape linkages while accounting for species distribution shifts under climate change. The project was designed to:
• provide information and context for decision-making under uncertainty
• complement existing fine-scale preserve designs for species or specific communities, not serve as a substitute
• maintain targets for preservation of biodiversity beyond rare/protected/listed species (keep common species common). Can complement work done on rare, habitat specialists
• be a component of growing conservation planning toolbox

Tags
conservation, climate, wildlife, california, connectivity

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Data generated by: Jennings, M.K., E. Conlisk, E. Haeuser, R.L. Lewison. 2019. Climate Resilient Connectivity for the South Coast Ecoregion of California

Conserved lands data depicted in maps in this gallery were derived from the 2017 California Protected Areas Database and combined with local conserved land layers from the San Diego Association of Governments.

About the Gallery Author

Megan Jennings
Research Ecologist with San Diego State University

I'm Research Ecologist working in southern California to inform conservation planning and management with scientific approaches. I'm interested in landscape and conservation ecology, particularly with respect to assessing and improving landscape connectivity to build resilience to climate change and...