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Beger, M., H. S. Grantham, et al. (2010). "Conservation planning for
connectivity across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms."
<u>Biological Conservation</u> <b>143</b>(3): 565-575.<br><br>
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Conservation plans are usually developed for regions that encompass only
one environmental realm (terrestrial, freshwater or marine) because of
logistical, institutional and political constraints. This is inadequate
because these realms often interact through processes that form, utilize
and maintain interfaces or connections, which are essential for the
persistence of some species and ecosystem functions. We present a
conceptual framework for systematic conservation prioritization that
explicitly accounts for the connectivity between the terrestrial, marine,
and freshwater realms. We propose a classification of this connectivity
that encompasses: (1) narrow interfaces, such as riparian strips; (2)
broad interfaces, such as estuaries; (3) constrained connections, such as
corridors of native vegetation used by amphibians to move between natal
ponds and adult habitat; and (4) diffuse connections, such as the
movements of animals between breeding and feeding habitats. We use this
taxonomy of inter-realm connectivity to describe existing and new spatial
conservation prioritization techniques that aim to promote the
persistence of processes that operate between realms.<br><br>
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