Connectivity Modelling of the Karuah-Myall Catchments

<p>The objective of this study is to characterise connectivity within the Karuah-Myall Catchments, New South Wales, Australia, using the GAP CLoSR framework (Lechner and Lefroy 2014) in order to provide a strategic overview of connectivity to support the MidCoast council’s regional planning efforts. We modelled connectivity for a “general representative species” dependent on woody vegetation. This method characterises connectivity for the majority of native fauna which utilises woody vegetation, and the plant species that rely on these fauna for dispersal. Connectivity was modelled using a graph theoretic connectivity model, Graphab (Foltête et al., 2012) where movement was characterised by least-cost paths and the importance of patches was quantified using graph metrics. The results of this study were discussed in terms of the patches and linkages which are critical for connecting the landscape, the contribution of protected areas to conserving connectivity and the role of the two catchments in connectivity beyond its boundaries with specific reference to the Great Eastern Ranges national wildlife corridor scheme.</p>