A prioritization metric and modelling framework for fragmented saltmarsh patches restoration

Saltmarsh is a coastal ecosystem providing crucial services, and its continued degradation fragmentation has drawn increasing attention. However, how to effectively restore the connectivity between fragmented saltmarsh patches remains an open challenge. In this study, we developed metric modelling framework that prioritised for restoration. To demonstrate our approach, simulated spatially explicit restoration schedules Suaeda salsa at Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, China, using three strategies: increasing-patch-area, increasing-number-of-patches benchmark unrestrictive prioritization strategy. We based on number of widely used graph-theoretic landscape metapopulation capacity metrics. Our simulation results suggested rank connectivity-importance extant was correlated within group metrics or metrics, but unrelated across group. The strategy clearly outperformed strategies increasing-patch-area which returned comparable outcomes. For more effective strategy, there were substantial differences in priority considered stepping stone effects those did not. While former resulted corridor-building led connected throughout region, latter local clustering. recommend use total probability (PC) among tested due similarity other efficiency. proposed readily applicable prioritise areas conservation any monospecific regional scale.