Abstract Habitat connectivity is essential for maintaining populations of wildlife species, especially as climate changes. Knowledge about the fate of existing habitat networks in a changing climate and in light of land-use change is critical for determining which types of conservation actions must be taken to maintain those networks. However, information is lacking about how multiple focal species that use similar habitats overlap in the degree and geographic patterns of threats to linkages among currently suitable habitat patches. We sought to address that gap. We assessed climate change threat to existing linkages in the southeastern United States for three wildlife species that use similar habitats but differ in the degree to which their ranges are limited by climate, habitat specificity, and dispersal ability. Linkages for the specialist species (timber rattlesnake), whose range is climate-restricted, were more likely to serve as climate change refugia – that is, they were more likely to be climate-stable – by the middle of the 21st century. This contrasts with the two more generalist species (Rafinesque's big-eared bat and American black bear), whose linkages were threatened by climate change and thus required adaptation measures. Further incorporation of projected land-use change and current protection status for important linkages narrows down our recommended conservation actions for each species. Our results highlight the surprising ways in which even species that use similar habitats will experience differences in the degree and geographic patterns of threats to connectivity. Taking action before these projected changes occur will be critical for successful conservation.

中文翻译：

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在气候和土地利用变化下保持连通性：对于类似栖息地中的焦点物种没有一刀切的方法

摘要 栖息地连通性对于维持野生动物物种的种群至关重要，尤其是在气候变化的情况下。了解现有栖息地网络在气候变化和土地利用变化下的命运对于确定必须采取哪些类型的保护行动来维护这些网络至关重要。然而，缺乏关于使用相似栖息地的多个焦点物种如何在当前合适的栖息地斑块之间的联系受到威胁的程度和地理模式方面重叠的信息。我们试图解决这一差距。我们评估了气候变化对美国东南部现有联系的威胁，这些野生动物物种使用相似的栖息地，但其范围受气候、栖息地特异性和扩散能力的限制程度不同。到 21 世纪中叶，范围受气候限制的专业物种（木材响尾蛇）的联系更有可能成为气候变化的避难所——也就是说，它们更有可能是气候稳定的。这与两个更通才的物种（Rafinesque 的大耳蝙蝠和美国黑熊）形成对比，它们的联系受到气候变化的威胁，因此需要采取适应措施。进一步将预计的土地利用变化和当前保护状态纳入重要联系，缩小了我们为每个物种推荐的保护行动的范围。我们的结果突出了令人惊讶的方式，即使是使用相似栖息地的物种也会在连通性威胁的程度和地理模式上经历差异。