| Increasing connectivity between habitat patches remaining from anthropogenic land conversion is known to mitigate the effects of habitat fragmentation. This is often implemented through corridors, linear strips of habitat that connect larger habitat patches surrounded by a non-habitat matrix. Typically corridors are created of the same "high-quality" habitat as the isolated patches they connect; however, this may not always be feasible. We used a model system approach to assess the efficacy of lower-quality habitat corridors for increasing dispersal. Using isopods as a model organism, we used coco fiber to create a standard corridor study design. Habitat patches and high-quality corridors were supplemented with food and kept at high moisture levels favorable to isopods. Low-quality corridors lacked food and had lower moisture levels. We placed 125 isopods under each release patch, and counted the number of isopods in each patch and corridor for eight days. Mean isopod counts did not significantly differ between target patches connected with high- or low-quality corridors (Z = -0.359, p = 0.720), high quality and low quality corridors differ in isopod presences (Z = - 1.541, p = 0.123) . Infrequent use of the model system may be due to extreme climatic conditions (e.g. temperature, light intensity), causing isopods to leave the study system for more favorable conditions. |
