Assessing functional ecological connectivity for protected area design in Southwest Nova Scotia

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dc.contributor.advisor Bush, Peter G.
dc.coverage.spatial Nova Scotia
dc.creator Kokkinen, Olivia
dc.date.accessioned 2024-05-22T13:52:57Z
dc.date.available 2024-05-22T13:52:57Z
dc.date.issued 2024-04-25
dc.identifier.uri http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/31939
dc.description 1 online resource (x, 69 pages) : colour maps, colour graphs
dc.description Includes abstract and appendix.
dc.description Includes bibliographical references (pages 63-67).
dc.description.abstract Ecological connectivity is vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems, facilitating essential processes such as species dispersal, gene flow, and adaptation to changing environments. However, this connectivity is increasingly threatened by human activities such as road construction, deforestation, and agricultural practices, which fragment landscapes and impede species movement. This study in Southwest Nova Scotia addresses these challenges by aiming to enhance ecological connectivity in fragmented forest landscapes. Through the identification of potential corridors between protected areas and the assessment of species resistance to movement, the research seeks to provide valuable insights into protected area designs aligning with environmental goals. Utilizing habitat suitability modeling and spatial analysis techniques including least cost path modeling and circuit theory analysis, seven species sensitive to fragmentation are analyzed. Major findings highlight the importance of maintaining and restoring ecological corridors, identifying pinchpoints and barriers to species movement, and suggesting areas for restoration to enhance connectivity in fragmented landscapes. By offering insights into landscape-scale connectivity patterns and providing guidance for conservation strategies, this research aims to support ecologists and landscape planners in Nova Scotia in their efforts to balance wildlife conservation with human development needs. Ultimately, the study contributes to the broader goal of preserving interconnected landscapes and safeguarding biodiversity in the face of ongoing environmental challenges. en_CA
dc.description.provenance Submitted by Greg Hilliard (greg.hilliard@smu.ca) on 2024-05-22T13:52:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Kokkinen_Olivia_Honours_2024.pdf: 4668835 bytes, checksum: 7121cef853ce1df6833e506be2714977 (MD5) en
dc.description.provenance Made available in DSpace on 2024-05-22T13:52:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Kokkinen_Olivia_Honours_2024.pdf: 4668835 bytes, checksum: 7121cef853ce1df6833e506be2714977 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2024-04-25 en
dc.language.iso en en_CA
dc.publisher Halifax, N.S. : Saint Mary's University
dc.title Assessing functional ecological connectivity for protected area design in Southwest Nova Scotia en_CA
dc.type Text en_CA
thesis.degree.name Bachelor of Science (Honours Geography)
thesis.degree.level Undergraduate
thesis.degree.discipline Geography
thesis.degree.grantor Saint Mary's University (Halifax, N.S.)
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