This activity aims to analyze the structural and functional connectivity of the distinct EFAs types that are embedded in the agricultural matrix. Considering that dispersal success of biological communities depends mainly on time and energy spent searching suitable habitats, connectivity amongst such places is extremely important for biodiversity conservation and thus for the provision of Ecosystems Services.
To reach this objective a graph theory approach will be used for the connectivity analysis since it is best suited to landscapes that can be represented by discrete habitat-patches implanted in a matrix considered as non-habitat. CONEFOR software will be used to derive connectivity indices based on spatial graphs (networks) and on the concept of measuring habitat availability (reachability) at the landscape scale. In this study, the outcome of A1 will be used for the analysis.
Contrary to structural connectivity, functional connectivity unequivocally considers species behavioural responses and attributes to the multiple landscape elements. Thus, depending on the species, a structurally connected landscape patch may be functionally not connected, while non contiguous habitat patches may be functionally connected. In this case, the graph theory approach will be maintained, but now considering species attributes, obtained for each group of biodiversity indicators (A3) and the EFAs connectivity and spatial attributes.