The North Pacific Forest Landscape Corridor and Connectivity Project utilized a landscape connectivity simulator (UNICOR) and a genetic simulation program (CDPOP) to model the functional (dispersal and genetic) connectivity in the North Pacific Landscape. The outputs from these programs indicated areas with high potential for landscape and genetic isolation and low probability of dispersal and colonization. In addition, this project was designed to provide spatially-explicit predictions of current and potential future patterns of fragmentation, prioritization of keystone corridors for protection and enhancement, and identification of places that may require habitat restoration or assisted migration to maintain viability. Data delivery and visualization tools are provided through dynamic interactive web map applications. The goal was to provide a framework for spatial corridor and connectivity pathway products that could be used to assist in conservation and management decisions.
Through this novel framework, results of this project provided pilot results and modeled the functional connectivity for two habitat-specific groups (montane and sub-alpine) across the NPLCC under climate regime shifts for 2000 and 2080. Results in a web-based decision support system and data repository allow for interactive exploration of potential changes in landscape connectivity.
