Dissertation Research: Case Study of Effectiveness of Habitat Corridors

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9410874 Kareiva Corridors for animal dispersal are being increasingly examined as a management option for reducing the risk of extinction in threatened species. The idea is that these corridors encourage genetic diversity by the exchange of individuals between different regions, and offer a vehicle for recolonization of local populations that might go extinct due to chance catastrophes. While corridors could clearly in theory be a cost-effective means for promoting biodiversity, their biological efficacy is not established. In fact, ecologists have not even devised a clear protocol for evaluating corridor effectiveness. This research will assess the effectiveness of habitat corridors for a threatened species in Oregon, where in fact local governments are considering establishing corridors. Protocols will be developed for converting observations of how animals move through habitats into predictions about the likely value of corridors in conservation efforts. Small-scale experimental corridors will be created and individuals will be moved into different habitat types (or edges between habitat types) for observations of movement behavior.