Ecological connectivity for a changing climate

A frequently proposed strategy to reduce the negative effects of climate change on biological diversity is to increase ecological connectivity the flow of organisms and ecological processes across landscapes. Traditionally, conservation professionals have sought to maintain or restore connectivity to ensure gene flow among isolated populations and promote recolonization of vacant patches. Given the rapid emergence of connectivity enhancement as a climate-change adaptation strategy, we considered whether connectivity should be emphasized in conservation strategies as global or regional temperatures increase and what principles for connectivity enhancement could be applied to maximize the usefulness of the strategy.