Difference between revisions of "Wildlife Corridor"

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An [[Summaries of Environmental Topics on the Central Coast of California|environmental topic]] examined by the [[ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems]] class at [[CSUMB]].
  
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A '''wildlife corridor''' or''' habitat corridor''' is a generally defined as a relatively narrow area/strip of land that acts as a link between larger habitat areas that have been fragmented by human activity. The linkage between larger habitat areas allows for an exchange of individuals between populations and thus increases the opportunity for [[gene flow]] between the habitats and improves [[biodiversity]]. Corridors may also help facilitate [[colonization]] and [[migration]] to habitats that have recently experienced [[disturbance events]].
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== Summary ==
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Although corridors have been implemented with the assumption that they will increase biodiversity, not enough research has been done to come to a definitive conclusion. The case for corridors has been built more on intuition and much less on empirical evidence (Tewksbury et al. 2002). In addition corridors are species specific, not every kind of animal will utilize every kind of corridor, and a corridor for one species could act as a barrier for another species.
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A wildlife corridor <ref>Wikipedia article on wildlife corridors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_corridor</ref> or habitat corridor is generally defined as a relatively narrow strip of land that acts as a link between larger habitat areas that have otherwise been fragmented by human activity.
  
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Corridors can also be quite costly to develop and implement. For example, Daniel Simberloff et al. states that “a bridge that would maintain a riparian corridor costs about 13 times as much per lane-mile as would a road that would sever the corridor.” Corridors are also more costly to maintain than simple ecological refuges as it would be logistically easier and more cost effective to manually transport animals between different refuges than to buy land, install a corridor and keep it properly maintained.However, if the goal is to protect biodiversity among all plants and animals, and not to just preserve a few large species, then habitat corridors may be the only option. Corridors are going to be expensive to implement no matter what, but it does depend on the type, location, and size, which can all vary to a great degree. With the lack of field data on the effectiveness, many management agencies are tentative to turn to wildlife corridors as the 'solution' to their ecological 'issues'.
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== Law, Policy, & Regulation ==
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California Assembly Bill No. 2785 [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_2751-2800/ab_2785_bill_20080903_enrolled.pdf](approved by Gov. Schwarzenegger Sep 26, 2008) revises the Significant Natural Areas Program "to investigate, study, and identify those areas in the state that are most essential as wildlife corridors and habitat linkages and prioritize vegetative data development in those areas". The funds would be provided by the [[California Wildlife Conservation Board|Wildlife Conservation Board]] from the monies made available by The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal protection Bond Act of 2006.
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The [[Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCP)|Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) Act]] of 1991 (AB 2172) provides for multi-species habitat conservation planning (MSHCP), which is recognized as an effective way to preserve the species while minimizing economic disruptions. Several MSHCP’s have been developed in California, with the cooperation of developers, federal and state agencies, and local communities.
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== Case Studies ==
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[[Monterey Bay]] is ringed by three distinct coastal ranges: the Santa Cruz Mountains to the north, the [[Gabilan Mountains|Gabilan Range]] to the east, and the [[Santa Lucia Range]] to the south. These ranges are separated from one another by the broad alluvial plain of the [[Salinas Valley]] <ref> Article on the Watsonville plain http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/157021/</ref>, an area of intense agricultural activity. Maintaining [[Wildlife Connectivity in California's Central Coast Region| connectivity]] between these ranges is seen as an important conservation measure for species with large territorial requirements.  The [[Santa Cruz Mountains]], for example, are believed to be too small to support a viable population of mountain lions. Corridors connecting those ranges have been identified, but no studies have been done to prove or disprove their utility. In Salinas Valley, where most land use is agricultural, there is little cover for animals to transverse across the valley, and waterway channels and riparian habitats are likely being utilized by traveling animals.
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==Links==
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*[[Bat Species of California's Central Coast Region]]
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*[[Riparian corridors in the California Central Coast Region]]
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*[[Summaries of Environmental Topics on the Central Coast of California]]
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*[[Wildlife Connectivity in California's Central Coast Region]]
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== Cited References ==
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<references/>
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== Additional Resources ==
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* Tewksbury, J.J., Levey, D.J., Haddad, N.M., Sargent, S., Orrock, J.L., Weldon, A., Danielson, B.J., Brinkerhoff, J., Damschen, E.I., Townsend, P. 2002. Corridors Affect Plants, Animals, and Their Interactions in Fragmented Landscapes. Ecology, 99 (20):1223-1226.
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== Disclaimer ==
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This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of [[CSUMB]], its staff, or students.

Latest revision as of 10:33, 8 April 2020

An environmental topic examined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Summary

A wildlife corridor [1] or habitat corridor is generally defined as a relatively narrow strip of land that acts as a link between larger habitat areas that have otherwise been fragmented by human activity.

Law, Policy, & Regulation

California Assembly Bill No. 2785 [1](approved by Gov. Schwarzenegger Sep 26, 2008) revises the Significant Natural Areas Program "to investigate, study, and identify those areas in the state that are most essential as wildlife corridors and habitat linkages and prioritize vegetative data development in those areas". The funds would be provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board from the monies made available by The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal protection Bond Act of 2006.

The Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) Act of 1991 (AB 2172) provides for multi-species habitat conservation planning (MSHCP), which is recognized as an effective way to preserve the species while minimizing economic disruptions. Several MSHCP’s have been developed in California, with the cooperation of developers, federal and state agencies, and local communities.

Case Studies

Monterey Bay is ringed by three distinct coastal ranges: the Santa Cruz Mountains to the north, the Gabilan Range to the east, and the Santa Lucia Range to the south. These ranges are separated from one another by the broad alluvial plain of the Salinas Valley [2], an area of intense agricultural activity. Maintaining connectivity between these ranges is seen as an important conservation measure for species with large territorial requirements. The Santa Cruz Mountains, for example, are believed to be too small to support a viable population of mountain lions. Corridors connecting those ranges have been identified, but no studies have been done to prove or disprove their utility. In Salinas Valley, where most land use is agricultural, there is little cover for animals to transverse across the valley, and waterway channels and riparian habitats are likely being utilized by traveling animals.

Links

Cited References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia article on wildlife corridors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_corridor
  2. ↑ Article on the Watsonville plain http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/157021/

Additional Resources

  • Tewksbury, J.J., Levey, D.J., Haddad, N.M., Sargent, S., Orrock, J.L., Weldon, A., Danielson, B.J., Brinkerhoff, J., Damschen, E.I., Townsend, P. 2002. Corridors Affect Plants, Animals, and Their Interactions in Fragmented Landscapes. Ecology, 99 (20):1223-1226.

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.

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