Corridor Lab

No Place to Roam

Introduction

Animal corridors are designed to allow for the movement of wild animals. Corridors are also called landscape linkages or dispersal corridors. Corridors allow animals to move safely from one natural area to another. Without the ability for these animals to migrate to new locations extinction is inevitable.

When we set up an animal preserve and then develop all the land around it for human use we enclose the animals and prevent them from roaming. This reduction of the animal’s natural habitat and fragmentation leads to many problems for the species. Habitat fragmentation is acknowledged as one of the primary reasons that many species are in decline worldwide. Habitats are becoming smaller and more isolated from each other and this leads to smaller animal populations. These smaller populations are vulnerable to inbreeding and stochastic events that can all lead to extinction.

Procedure

I am presenting the corridor connections that are in development in the northwestern Rocky Mountains. The corridors allow for the movement of animals in a circular motion. From the Yellowstone National Park, to the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, to the Salmon-Selway Ecosystem, back to the Yellowstone. See map below. 

(Please note that this map is a screen shot from google maps that I pulled into Photoshop in order to illustrate the corridors)

The two main species that would benefit from the corridors are the grizzly bear and cougar. The Northern Rockies have become a recreational hot spot for Americans over the last few decades resulting in housing developments, roads, and extractions of natural resources. This all has lead to the diminishment or fragmentation of the grizzly bear and cougars natural habitat.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/grizzly-bear/ • Accessed 4/2/12

http://true-wildlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/cougar.html • Accessed 4/3/12

The grizzly bear is considered an umbrella species. An umbrella species is a species that we can help and that long-term management of this species will likely ensure that many other species will also flourish.

http://www.conservationnw.org/what-we-do/wildlife-habitat/grizzly-bears-across-borders • Accessed 4/2/12

The scientific name for the Grizzly bear is Ursus arctos and the scientific name for the cougar is Felis concolor. Cougars along with elk and other animals will benefit greatly from the corridors. Diversity is a big benefit to the natural environment adding strength and stability.

Results

The corridor areas will accommodate the spatial needs for these species to roam. Extirpation of plants becomes a problem when species are confined and not able to roam.  The corridors offer safe opportunity for plant eating animals and predators to roam. The movement species will help to insure the diminishment of inbreeding and avoid abiotic factors in the environment.

Observing the corridor areas will supply insight and allow for adaptive management. I recently watched a documentary about how extremely remote areas are being monitored using wireless surveillance cameras.

We can all do our part to help in the efforts put forth to assist in the migration of the grizzly bear and cougars. One adaptive measure is to regulate light pollution around the corridors. Another would be enforcing and respecting conservation easements that prohibit building around the corridors entrances and exits.

Genetic interchange is a positive byproduct of animals that roam. When species are able to disperse when they reach sexual maturity this factor generates genetic diversity in the species population. When it comes to the dispersal of large predators such as the cougars and grizzly bears we see that maternal females banish the juvenile males. These juvenile males have no choice but to flee to different areas. With limited areas to move to they run into habitats that are occupied by dominate males that will kill off the young intruders. Landscape linkages will increase the young males survival by offering a path out of the core habitat.

Intergrading the topography and other aspects like known food, water, and shelter are important aspects in planning the route of the corridors. Also looking at ways around or under impediments to movement within the corridors such as roads or highways. Here are some images of corridors going under and over roads.

http://www.zazzle.com/wildlife_corridor_photosculpture-153648276479889352 • Accessed 4/3/12

Accessed 4/3/12 http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Animals/Archives/2010/Wildlife-Corridors.aspx

Signs are also posted to let us know that animals migrate through a certain area. 

http://www.zazzle.com/wildlife_corridor_photosculpture-153648276479889352 • Accessed 4/2/12

Conclusion

Allowing animals to roam is beneficial to both humans and animals. Corridors allow safe passage for animals and keep the animals off the roads. Less animals on roads means less car accidents for humans. Corridors aid in the flourishment of animals that need to roam in order to maintain their species.

Citied Works

Charles Fergus, Amelia Hansen Bears page 22, 2005

Lynn M. Stone, Cougars Page 6

Richard Walker and Lance Craighead, Analyzing Wildlife Movement Corridors in Montana Using GIS http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc97/proc97/to150/pap116/p116.htm • Accessed 4.2.12