A landscape's biodiversity isn't just about total habitat — how connected that habitat is determines whether diversity can rebound after a local disturbance.
diversity(t+1) = diversity(t) + immigration*connectivity - disturbance
- Grid resolution — landscape cells each holding an independent diversity index.
- Habitat connectivity — how easily species can move between cells to recolonise after loss.
- Disturbance intensity — rate of habitat loss or disruption reducing local diversity.
- Species immigration rate — how quickly nearby source populations recolonise a disturbed cell.
Habitat corridors that raise connectivity between fragments consistently outperform isolated protected patches at maintaining regional biodiversity in long-term studies.