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PreprintCited by 4Wildlife-Road Interactions and ConservationWildlife Ecology and ConservationSpecies Distribution and Climate Change

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 25 of the 25 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 36 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Omnidirectional and omnifunctional connectivity analyses with a diverse species pool

Open access
Tessier, Daphnée Lecours, Maranger, Roxane, Poisot, Timothée·2020·bioRxiv
DOI 10.1101/2020.02.03.932095
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Abstract

Connectivity among habitat patches in both natural and disturbed landscapes needs to be accounted for in conservation planning for biodiversity maintenance. Yet methods to assess connectivity are often limited, because simulating the dispersal of many species is computationally prohibitive, and current simulations make simplifying assumptions about movement that are potentially erroneous. Here we show how these limits can be circumvented and propose a novel framework for the assessment of omnifunctional and omnidirectional connectivity in a 28000 km2 area in the Laurentian region of Québec, Canada. Our approach relies on (i) the use of Omniscape , an improved version of Circuitscape which allows omnidirectional simulations that better emulate animal movement and (ii) the synthesis of large volume of species-level dispersal simulations through a posteriori clustering of the current intensity. Our analysis reveals that the movement of 93 species evaluated can be clustered into three functional dispersal guilds, corresponding to mostly aquatic species, terrestrial species able to use aquatic environments, and strictly terrestrial species. These functional guilds do not share connectivity hotspots, suggesting that corridor planning would need to account for the multiplicity of dispersal strategies. Although this approach requires a large volume of computing resources, it provides richer information on which landscape features are critical to maintain or need to be regenerated for broader biodiversity maintenance goals.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The paper proposes an omnidirectional, omnifunctional connectivity framework that simulates dispersal for 93 species and clusters their connectivity maps a posteriori into functional dispersal guilds. In a 27,994 km² Québec study area, it finds three guilds whose connectivity hotspots rarely overlap, implying corridor planning must account for multiple dispersal strategies.

Key findings

  • Simulating 93 species across the 27,994 km² Laurentian region yielded an optimal fuzzy C-means partition into three functional dispersal guilds, with representative species including the Horned grebe, American black bear, and Northern Two-lined Salamander.
  • The two more terrestrial guilds were not correlated (rho = 0.054), while both were negatively correlated with the more aquatic guild (rho approx. −0.7), indicating that favoring terrestrial species alone can impede semi-aquatic movement.
  • Protecting the best 17% of pixels for all guilds combined would cover approximately 40% of the territory, up to three times more surface than the best 17% pixels on average; very few aquatic habitats would be protected using the average classification.
  • PDI identified 15 generalist species, including Canada Lynx (PDI = 0.45), moose (PDI = 0.44), Redheaded woodpecker (PDI = 0.27), and Hoary bat (PDI = 0.42); about 16% of species were classified as generalists.

Methods

  • Study area: 27,994 km² on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River near Montréal, Québec, Canada; 93 species were selected from National Park lists, including 45 mammals, all 16 amphibians, 9 reptiles, and 15 avian species with conservation status plus additional records.
  • Species-specific resistance maps were built at 2-m² cell resolution by summing land cover, slope, buildings, waterbodies, roads, trails, and railways, with resistance scores from 0 to 100; habitat preference data came from IUCN, Québec fauna guides, and expert-curated websites.
  • Connectivity was simulated in Omniscape 0.1.2 with Julia 1.2.0 using three radii (30, 60, or 120 blocks of 180 m²), averaging quantiles of cumulative current; simulations required an estimated 3 core-years on the beluga supercomputer.
  • Maps were aggregated with fuzzy C-means (fuzziness = 2) on a species-by-pixel matrix using Euclidean distances; the number of clusters was chosen by a heuristic requiring no positive significant correlation between clusters, and uncertainty was assessed with standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and Pielou’s evenness.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the approach requires a large volume of computing resources, that fuzzy C-means lacks an established way to optimize the number of clusters, and that coefficient of variation is less appropriate than Pielou’s evenness because dispersal quantiles are bounded on an interval scale.
  • The paper also notes heterogeneous habitat-preference data gathered from several sources.
  • Evident from the text: this is a bioRxiv preprint not certified by peer review, data were not yet deposited (“will be deposited on DataDryad upon acceptance”), and the provided text omits appendices and some details such as the representative species for FDG2.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1101/2020.02.03.932095

Cites

25 of 25 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 36 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The movement of the 93 evaluated species can be clustered into three functional dispersal guilds, corresponding to mostly aquatic species, terrestrial species able to use aquatic environments, and strictly terrestrial species.

    “Our analysis reveals that the movement of 93 species evaluated can be clustered into three functional dispersal guilds, corresponding to mostly aquatic species, terrestrial species able to use aquatic environments, and strictly terrestrial species.”
    • Also stated in: § Guild clustering · plain
      “From the 93 connectivity maps created, the fuzzy C-means identified an optimal fuzzy partitioning into three functional dispersal guilds”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The functional dispersal guilds do not share connectivity hotspots.

    “These functional guilds do not share connectivity hotspots”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Areas where the needs of aquatic and terrestrial species are difficult to reconcile include the St Lawrence river itself and areas surrounding large water bodies such as Lac Taureau to the North.

    “This includes, trivially, the St Lawrence river itself, but also areas surrounding large water bodies such as the Lac Taureau to the North.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    These species belong to different guilds representing three emergent dispersal landscapes that coexist within the study region.

    “Furthermore, these species belong to different guilds representing three emergent dispersal landscapes that coexist within the study region.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingreasoning

    Very few aquatic habitats would be protected using the average classification as a target.

    “Furthermore, note that very few aquatic habitats would be protected using the average classification as a target.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 35
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 21

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Findingnone given

    Semi-aquatic species form a guild on their own.

    “Indeed, semi-aquatic, which form a guild on their own, are often neglected.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Findingnone given

    The Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) has a PDI of 0.45.

    “including notably the Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis, Kerr, 1792) (PDI = 0.45)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingnone given

    St. Lawrence Lowlands have areas with medium connectivity potential for FDG1 and FDG2 but are globally lowly connected and do not have real potential to facilitate the movement of species from FDG3.

    “St. Lawrence Lowlands have areas with medium connectivity potential for FDG1 and FDG2 but are globally lowly connected and do not have real potential to facilitate the movement of species from FDG3.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Species of open and undisturbed Lawrence Lowlands have a lower connectivity overall, though some more intact habitats running parallel to the shore allow for traversal.

    “A. FDG1 -Species of open and undisturbed Lawrence Lowlands have a lower connectivity overall, though some more intact habitats running parallel to the shore allow for traversal.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    FDG3 tends to have almost unrestricted movement outside of the lowlands, while FDG2 is predicted to be more canalized in some places.

    “FDG3 tends to have almost unrestricted movement outside of the lowlands, while FDG2 is predicted to be more canalized in some places.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Some areas running parallel to the shore in the St-Lawrence lowlands can work as dispersal avenues, though these are mostly used by FDG3.

    “with nevertheless some areas running parallel to the shore that can work as dispersal avenues (fig 3a), though these are mostly used by FDG3.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Findingnone given

    Hoary bat (Aeorestes cinereus) has a PDI of 0.42.

    “Hoary bat (Aeorestes cinereus, Beauvois, 1796) (PDI = 0.42)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Findingnone given

    Moose (Alces alces) has a PDI of 0.44.

    “moose (Alces Alces, Linnaeus, 1758), (PDI = 0.44)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    All identified guilds share a very poor connectivity score in the lowlands, although FDG3 can use some wooded areas for east-west traversal, and differ in how they use the rest of the study area.

    “All of these guilds share a very poor connectivity score in the lowlands (although FDG3 can use some of the wooded areas for east-west traversal), and differ in how they use the rest of the study area.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Findingnone given

    Redheaded woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) has a PDI of 0.27.

    “Redheaded woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Linnaeus, 1758) (PDI = 0.27)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Connectivity is lower in the St Lawrence Lowlands, which is more impacted by anthropogenic activities, and generally better in the forested areas of the Canadian Shield.

    “We found that connectivity is lower in the St Lawrence Lowlands, which is more impacted by anthropogenic activities, and generally better in the forested areas of the Canadian Shield.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Premisenone given

    Simulating the dispersal of many species is computationally prohibitive.

    “simulating the dispersal of many species is computationally prohibitive”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Roads have an effect on species dispersal at a broader scale (150 m), with the resistance score decreasing according to the distance from the road.

    “For the roads, we have accounted for their effect on a broader scale (150 m), with the resistance score decreasing according to the distance from the road”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Forman and Alexander, 1998 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    Santini et al. (2016) selected all 20 nonvolant mammal species of Italy that had a dispersal ability of a median of 3 km to identify defragmentation priorities.

    “Santini et al. (2016) selected all the 20 nonvolant mammal species of Italy that had a dispersal ability of a median of 3 km to identifying defragmentation priorities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Santini et al. (2016)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Analysing connectivity according to the needs of a diverse number of species should lead to a more robust and realistic output, as a small number of focal species seldom encompass the whole range of dispersal behaviours.

    “It should lead to a more robust and realistic output, as a small number of focal species seldom encompass the whole range of dispersal behaviours”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Liu et al., 2018 source
    • cites Marrotte et al., 2017 source
    • cites Meurant et al., 2018 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Fuzzy C-means allows species to contribute to more than a single cluster, as captured by the fuzziness parameter.

    “This approach allows to have species contribute to more than a single cluster”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites C.Bezdek, 1981 source
    • cites Dunn, 1973 source

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Without proper consideration of connectivity to freshwater habitats, downstream health of river reaches could degrade and critical riparian wetlands could dry up, resulting in both terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity loss.

    “without proper consideration of connectivity to freshwater habitats (lakes and rivers), downstream health of river reaches could degrade and critical riparian wetlands could dry up, resulting in both terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity loss”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Herbert et al., 2010 source
    • cites Smith et al., 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    The study area has a high aquatic surface (19.8%), which supports the need to account for more semiaquatic species in the simulations.

    “This high aquatic surface supports the need to account for more semiaquatic species in our simulations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    These eco-profiles were designed through dimensionality reduction based on species connectivity and habitat needs, either using clustering or multivariate analysis.

    “These eco-profiles were designed through dimensionality reduction based on species connectivity and habitat needs, either using clustering or multivariate analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Albert et al., 2017 source
    • cites Sahraoui et al., 2017 source

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    PDI has the property of returning values lower than 0.5 for generalist species and values above 0.5 for specialist species.

    “which has the desirable property of returning values that are lower than 0.5 for generalist species, and values above 0.5 for specialist species”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Poisot et al., 2012 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given

    Even a pool of 20 species cannot represent the entire functional diversity of realistic communities.

    “even a pool of 20 species cannot represent the entire functional diversity of realistic communities”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Albert et al. (2017) and Sahraoui et al. (2017) selected 14 and 16 eco-profiles respectively, each composed of one or more species, to represent a broader range of dispersal behaviours and habitat requirements.

    “Albert et al. (2017) and Sahraoui et al. (2017) selected 14 and 16 eco-profiles respectively, each composed of one or more species, in order to represent a broader range of dispersal behaviours and habitat requirements.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Albert et al., 2017 source
    • cites Sahraoui et al., 2017 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    The three studies created composite maps by summing the single-species results or by calculating the mean score for each patch of habitat.

    “The three studies have created composite maps by summing the single-species results or by calculating the mean score for each patch of habitat.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Albert et al., 2017 source
    • cites Sahraoui et al., 2017 source
    • cites Santini et al. (2016)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisereasoning

    Because species clustering is done before the simulations, this assumes that species connectivity depends on habitat requirements alone and neglects differences that could emerge due to landscape configuration.

    “because species clustering is done before the simulations, this assumes that species connectivity depends on habitat requirements alone and neglects differences that could emerge due to landscape configuration”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Only 7% of connectivity studies were conducted on fluvial habitats, while terrestrial ecosystems represent 88% of research efforts on this topic between 2000 and 2013.

    “only 7% of connectivity studies were conducted on fluvial habitats, while terrestrial ecosystems represent 88% of research efforts on this topic between 2000 and 2013”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Correa Ayram et al. (2016)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Interpretationcitation

    The watershed is the most ecologically relevant unit in which connectivity should be assessed.

    “therefore we argue that this is the most ecologically relevant unit in which connectivity should be assessed”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Freshwater biodiversity is considered the most imperiled globally, suggesting that the need to include aquatic and semi-aquatic species is urgent.

    “freshwater biodiversity is considered the most imperiled globally (Hendriks, 2016), suggesting that the need to include aquatic and semi-aquatic species is urgent”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hendriks, 2016

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Developing a general framework to include connectivity across ecosystem types, with a diverse set of species, is an achievable and timely task.

    “developing a general framework to include connectivity across ecosystem types, with a diverse set of species, is an achievable and timely task”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    Santini et al. (2016) tested seven other ways to merge species-specific maps, using weighted means of different landscape features to assess link probabilities, and two different summation types for nodes in the network.

    “Santini et al (2016) went even further by testing seven other ways to merge the species-specific maps, using weighted means of different landscape features to assess link probabilities, and two different summation types for nodes in the network.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Santini et al (2016)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Premisenone given

    Current connectivity simulations make simplifying assumptions about movement that are potentially erroneous.

    “current simulations make simplifying assumptions about movement that are potentially erroneous”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Interpretationown data

    Corridor planning would need to account for the multiplicity of dispersal strategies.

    “suggesting that corridor planning would need to account for the multiplicity of dispersal strategies”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Premisecitation

    To evaluate landscape connectivity for entire communities, a territory's features should be analysed according to the needs of a diverse number of terrestrial and aquatic species.

    “it has been suggested to analyse a territory's features according to the needs of a diverse number of terrestrial and aquatic species”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Albert et al., 2017 source
    • cites Sahraoui et al., 2017 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given

    Selected species pools continue to undervalue the contribution of semiaquatic species and their habitats to landscape connectivity.

    “selected species pools continue to under value the contribution of semiaquatic species and their habitats to landscape connectivity”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This new way of interpreting and post-processing connectivity simulations will result in a more integrative view of landscape connectivity to favour biodiversity maintenance in the long-term.

    “will result in a more integrative 127 view of landscape connectivity to favour biodiversity maintenance in the long-term”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Premisenone given

    The guilds are optimized to maximize the differences between them.

    “Because the guilds are optimized to maximize the differences between them”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Conservation actions that neglect the protection of a specific guild due to poor representativity of indicator species could have overall negative consequences on biodiversity maintenance of the entire region.

    “Conservation actions that may neglect the protection of a specific guild due to poor representativity of indicator species could have overall negative consequences on the biodiversity maintenance of the entire region.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given

    Specialist species, or species with high affinity for a specific FDG, can be good indicator species.

    “Whereas specialist species, or species with high affinity for a specific FDG can be good indicator species”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given

    Generalist species can provide an overall view of landscape connectivity.

    “generalist species can provide an overall view of landscape connectivity.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisenone given

    High values of Pielou's evenness correspond to more similar connectivity across FDGs.

    “Note that the color scale has been inverted, to reflect the fact that high values correspond to more similar connectivity across FDGS.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given

    Average connectivity gives an idea of dispersal potential, and the coefficient of variation and evenness inform about the areas in which the guilds differ markedly in their landscape use.

    “The average connectivity gives an idea of dispersal potential, and the coefficient of variation and evenness informs about the areas in which the guilds differ markedly in their landscape use.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Our approach offers a road map for future connectivity assessments.

    “our approach offers a road map for future connectivity assessments.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given

    Our approach was the first to assess connectivity across such a large heterogeneous landscape, by accounting for the full taxonomic diversity of both terrestrial and semi-aquatic species.

    “Although this result was expected, our approach was the first to assess connectivity across such a large heterogeneous landscape, by accounting for the full taxonomic diversity of both terrestrial and semi-aquatic species.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Interpretationreasoning

    We provide the most robust and fully integrated terrestrial and aquatic multi-dispersal connectivity assessment at a regional scale.

    “Here we provide, to our knowledge, the most robust and fully integrated terrestrial and aquatic multi-dispersal connectivity assessment at a regional scale.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Once initial clustering is made, the entire species list may no longer be required for subsequent simulations carried out for the same region.

    “Once initial clustering is made, the entire species list may no longer be required for subsequent simulations carried out for the same region.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Interpretationnone given

    The integration of the multiple dispersal pathways provides a robust connectivity conservation plan.

    “The integration of the multiple dispersal pathways provides a robust connectivity conservation plan”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisereasoning

    Clustering returns groups of species based on predicted dispersal, and therefore represents a process to select indicator species within each guild.

    “Clustering returns groups of species based on predicted dispersal, and therefore represents a process to select indicator species within each guild.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Premisenone given

    Values larger than unity are generally regarded as noise.

    “Values on the map have been capped at 1, as values larger than unity are generally regarded as noise.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given

    The coefficient of variation performs better on ratio scales, whereas the quantiles of dispersal, being bounded, are expressed on an interval scale.

    “Although widely used, the coefficient of variation performs better on ratio scales, whereas the quantiles of dispersal, being bounded, are expressed on an interval scale.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
48 of 48

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Species use the landscape without knowing it entirely; they are aware of their immediate surroundings but not of the entire landscape.

    “Indeed, species use the landscape 193 without knowing it entirely, which is assumed by the least-cost analysis”
    “which amounts to assuming that the species is aware of its 192 immediate surroundings, but not of the entire landscape”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Semi-aquatic species are often neglected.

    “Indeed, semi-aquatic, which form a guild on their own, are often neglected.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Current conservation strategies often neglect the diversity of ways in which species actually use the landscape, since they focus largely on terrestrial species.

    “Yet, current conservation strategies often neglect the diversity of ways in which species actually use the landscape, since they focus largely on terrestrial species.”
3 of 3

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Discussion reverses the order of clustering and averaging

    Minor

    The methods say the final average was calculated from cluster centroids after clustering. The discussion instead says the average connectivity map was classified using fuzzy C-means.

  • Cluster-matrix columns are assigned to the wrong dimension

    Minor

    The text defines s as the number of species. In a c-by-s matrix, each column corresponds to a species and each row to a cluster, not the other way around.

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Smith, T.M. , Smith, R.L. , Waters, I. (2014). Elements of Ecology (1st Canadian Edition). Toronto, Ontario: Pearson Canada.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Metadata

Authors
Tessier, D. L., Maranger, R., & Poisot, T.
Affiliations
Université de Montréal (CA)
Venue
bioRxiv
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2020-02-03
DOI
10.1101/2020.02.03.932095
OpenAlex
W3003889230
Cited by
4
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Compute Canada
  • Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation - Québec
  • Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecological Modeling › Species Distribution and Climate Change
Keywords
habitat connectivity, species dispersal, Circuitscape, landscape corridors, conservation planning, biodiversity maintenance

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