Identifying Connectivity Conservation Priorities among Protected Areas in Qinling-Daba Mountains, China

Mountain biodiversity is under unprecedented threat due to climate change and excessive human activity. Although protected areas (PAs) are the cornerstone of nature conservation, it increasingly hard for isolated PAs maintain species ecological processes they depend on in long term. Linking reserves form a large connected conservation network regarded as optimal measure, but research this field lacking China. We mapped Qinling-Daba Mountains China identified corridors among corridors’ key nodes using least-cost analysis circuit theory model an connectivity region. The results showed that has 46 habitat patches by 88 corridors, with 69 pinchpoints, 86 barriers 37 stepping stones around corridors. In study, 34.86% suitable habitats have little or no protection and, future, these should be developed caution, more emphasis protecting their connectivity. This study used construct based PAs, providing framework at biogeographic scale scientific reference further, subsequent actions.