ASSESSMENT OF GIS-ASSISTED MOVEMENT PATCHES USING LCP FOR LOCAL SPECIES: NORTH CENTRAL ANATOLIA REGION, TURKEY

• Published in: CERNE Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 130 - 139
• Main Authors: Özcan, Alı Uğur, Erzin, Pakize Ece
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: UFLA - Universidade Federal de Lavras 01.03.2020
• Subjects: FORESTRY; Resistance map; North Central Anatolia; Lynx lynx; Turkey; Least-cost path; Landscape corridor
• ISSN: 0104-7760; 2317-6342; 2317-6342
• DOI: 10.1590/0104776020202026012690

ABSTRACT As a result of the fragmentation and degradation of forests, the connectivity of natural habitats has been decreasing. Thus, problems in gene flow in wildlife have begun to arise. The connection of landscape patches with corridors is now an important subject of landscape planning. Central Anatolia has been affected by forest fragmentation due to its fragile ecologies. The purpose of this study was i) to identify the spatial location of landscape corridors in order to create ecological networks among the natural landscape reserves in the Northern Central Anatolia Region and ii) to develop a guideline that can be applied for landscape connectivity in fragmentation areas. Landscape resistances were determined according to the target species (Lynx lynx) and a resistance map was formed. Corridors were determined by using Least-cost path (LCP) approach with GIS. As a result, six corridors and major barriers were identified among the core areas and north forests. The methodology and results of this study has promising potential, which can be considered by experts, planners, and researchers in Turkey and others regions of the world as references for identifying and planning optimal patches for habitat sustainability.