Context

Black bear connectivity studies are scarce in the southern distribution where the species is endangered. The identification of corridors is a strategy to promote conservation in human-modified landscapes.

Objectives

Assess and validate long-distance corridors in the southern black bear distribution using resistance models, occurrence records, and radio-telemetry of an individual that dispersed between the Sierras Madres of Mexico.

Methods

We acquired black bear occurrence records from several sources and telemetry records from one dispersal individual in northern Mexico. We generated ensemble habitat suitability models and resistance landscape surfaces to generate cumulative resistant kernel and least-cost paths to identify connectivity core areas and corridors of importance through Natural Protected Areas. Finally, we assessed long-distance corridors.

Results

We developed three habitat suitability models for black bears southern range; one matches the current distribution of the species. When including radio-tracking records, the landscape resistance is reduced to arid sites with low habitat suitability. We used least resistance connectivity surfaces to merge subpopulations within each Sierra Madre. The long-distance corridor models indicate narrow routes that require individuals with plastic behavioral dispersal capacity. Almost 20% of the connectivity core areas are within Natural Protected Areas. These are the first large-scale corridors using resistance layers in the southern black bear distribution.

Conclusions

Corridors can be functional for a range of temperate and dry habitat species. Landscape connectivity models should include the monitoring of dispersal individuals to identify the plasticity of organisms and the tangible barriers for them.

中文翻译：

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为墨西哥北部的黑熊连接山脉和沙漠山谷

语境

在该物种濒临灭绝的南部分布区，黑熊的连通性研究很少。走廊的识别是促进人工改造景观保护的一种策略。

目标

使用分散在墨西哥 Sierras Madres 之间的个体的抵抗模型、发生记录和无线电遥测，评估和验证南部黑熊分布的长距离走廊。

方法

我们从几个来源获得了黑熊发生记录，并从墨西哥北部的一个散布个体那里获得了遥测记录。我们生成了整体栖息地适宜性模型和阻力景观表面，以生成累积阻力核心和最低成本路径，以确定通过自然保护区的连通性核心区域和重要走廊。最后，我们评估了长途走廊。

结果

我们为黑熊南部地区开发了三种栖息地适宜性模型；一个匹配该物种的当前分布。当包括无线电跟踪记录时，景观阻力减少到栖息地适宜性低的干旱地区。我们使用最小电阻连接面来合并每个 Sierra Madre 内的亚群。长距离走廊模型表明需要具有可塑性行为分散能力的个人的狭窄路线。近20%的互联互通核心区位于自然保护区内。这是南部黑熊分布区第一批使用阻力层的大型走廊。

结论

走廊可以为一系列温带和干燥栖息地物种发挥作用。景观连通性模型应包括对分散个体的监测，以确定生物的可塑性和对它们的有形障碍。