Aquatic and riparian ecosystems are of critical importance in arid environments, supporting a diverse suite of resident and migratory species over different life stages. Ecological connectivity is imperative in the functioning of these ecosystems, and a subject of significant interest for research, management and conservation. Furthermore, stakeholders hold a variety of perceptions on aquatic and riparian connectivity, and connectivity of these ecosystems in arid and semi-arid landscapes is a relatively unexplored subject. We focused on these issues in the US portion of the Madrean Archipelago by combining qualitative methods to capture the diversity of perspectives among stakeholders and quantitative spatial analysis to capture the variety of factors that influence aquatic and riparian connectivity. We synthesized available literature and the resultant stakeholder perspectives into a Connectivity Component-Dimension Framework that deconstructs aquatic and riparian connectivity into connectivity components - hydrologic, terrestrial, functional, societal; and their spatio-temporal dimensions. Using GIS and regression analysis, we applied this framework to a case study of the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis) in the Cienega Creek basin in Arizona and created connectivity indices for this focal species.
Results/Conclusions
Some factors that emerged significant in the case study include elevation, fire hazard potential, and density of leopard frog sightings. The Connectivity Component-Dimension Framework and the related indices provide customizable options for stakeholders to assess aquatic and riparian connectivity multidimensionally using readily available data. Interdisciplinary approaches and data can be utilized to develop a landscape scale perspective on aquatic and riparian connectivity, and stakeholder and expert input incorporation at multiple stages ensures that different types of knowledge inform the perspective. The framework can be used by stakeholders for exploratory analysis, conservation decision making, assessment or visualization of aquatic and riparian connectivity, in arid landscapes, and beyond.