Selecting compact habitat reserves for species with differential habitat size needs

Abstract

We propose a model for the design of protected habitat reserves, which maximizes the number of species represented at least once in a limited set of reserved sites or parcels. Most models for reserve design do not differentiate eligible habitat sites by their size. Also, they assume that protection is guaranteed through the selection of one site for any species, not taking into consideration that habitat needs vary from species to species. Our model acknowledges the fact that different species require reserves of different sizes, and that these reserves should be compact areas, as opposed to a set of disconnected parcels. Computational experience is shown on a landscape modeled as a regular grid, in which individual species require 1-, 2- or 4-parcel compact reserves. The results are compared to output from a Maximum Species Covering Model. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.