Biodiversa (2017 - 2020) : BearConnect

Functional connectivity and ecological sustainability of European ecological networks : a case study with the brown bear

Team involved : BIOM
Platform involved : PASTIS
Main contact person : Wilfried THUILLER, Marta DE BARBA (LECA, CNRS)

 

Europe is a mosaic of landscapes that have long been shaped by human activities. Nevertheless, parts of Europe harbour extremely high biological diversity and still host populations of large carnivores. These predators at the top of the food webs have charismatic and cultural value, regulate biodiversity and ecosystem functioning over large scales, and deliver important ecosystem services. Successful conservation of these important species depends on strategies that allow for population expansion and exchange of individuals among subpopulations, to enable them to fulfill their vital role in the ecosystem while minimizing conflict with humans. This requires coherent systems of ecological networks that consider protected areas and reserves together with other non-protected components of the landscape matrix.

 

Summary : (https://bearconnect.org)

In this project, we are focusing on the largest and most iconic terrestrial carnivore, the brown bear (Ursus arctos) to investigate the degree to which existing ecological networks, including national protected areas and the Natura 2000 network, ensure landscape functional connectivity (the degree to which landscapes facilitate the movement of individuals and associated genes) and ecological sustainability (the ability of landscapes to support resilient populations) at different scales in Europe, and to provide practical recommendations for their improvement.

The main objective of this project is to evaluate the functionality of ecological networks, including national protected areas and the Natura 2000 network, for brown bears in Europe, at the local, regional and European scales. Our specific objectives can be found below :

1. Evaluate functional connectivity and factors influencing brown bear distribution, movements, and effective dispersal in the current landscapes and future landscape scenarios.
2. Understand the role brown bears have in ecosystems, with focus on trophic interactions and associated ecosystem services.
3. Assess the effectiveness of the existing system of ecological networks for supporting the resilience of brown bear populations and associated ecosystem services.
4. Provide spatially explicit guidelines for the improvement of ecological networks to be used in landscape connectivity planning for the conservation of brown bears and other species in Europe.

Partners :