Selecting focal species in ecological network planning following an expert-based approach: Italian reptiles as a case study

Selecting focal species in ecological network planning following an expert-based approach: Italian reptiles as a case study

Corrado Battist¹  and Luca Luisell²

¹ Nature Conservation Office, Environmental Service, Province of Rome, via Tiburtina, 691, 00159 Rome, Italy

² F.I.Z.V. (Ecology) and Centro di Studi Ambientali Demetra s.r.l., via Olona 7, 00198 Roma, Italy
Journal for Nature Conservation

Here is a paper which I read the other day and found interesting.

The selection of focal fragmentation-sensitive species plays a very important role in connectivity conservation and ecological network planning. Despite the very important role the selection of focal species has traditionally been carried out using charismatic and/or non objective approaches.

In this new study, the researchers, using as a case study Italian reptiles, apply an expert-based approach for the selection of focal species on the basis of sensitivity to components of habitat fragmentation and the intrinsic ecological traits of the species ( trophic level, dispersal ability, body size, niche breadth, and rarity).