Combining Pattern and Network Analysis to Identify Key Connectors

Conservation and enhancement of ecological connectivity is widely recognized as one of the key objectives of forest landscape management. We present the novel integration of two recent approaches for analyzing forest structural connectivity that offers considerable synergies and potential relevant benefits for forest planning at a variety of scales. Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis - MSPA (Soille and Vogt, 2008) provides an intuitive description of image pattern structures as well as a reliable detection of connecting pathways. This pattern analysis can then be transferred for further studies using network theory approaches, which are particularly suited to quantify the importance of the MSPA-detected nodes and links. The proposed integrated approach can equally serve to identify (a) those forest areas that play a crucial role to sustain ecological fluxes that are to be promoted by management, such as the dispersal of native biota or (b) those sites where the spread of wildfires or invasive species can be halted more effectively. The potential of the proposed methodology to inform and guide landscape-planning decisions is reinforced by the availability of the required analytical tools (Guidos and Conefor Sensinode) as freeware software packages. The key features of MSPA and network analysis in Guidos will be illustrated and explained on a sample data set.JRC.H.7-Climate Risk Managemen