Least-Cost Corridors for Coastal Marten Habitat Connectivity

Polygonal representations of least-cost corridors derived from a landscape connectivity model for the coastal marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis). The corridors were generated using Linkage Mapper software, with a cutoff of 4885 cost-weighted meters to create biologically realistic swaths around single-pixel Least-Cost Paths. The dataset was published by the Department of the Interior and last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Mapping potential wildlife corridors based on modeled landscape resistance.
• Planning conservation areas based on least-cost path analysis.
• Analyzing habitat connectivity mosaics around identified core areas.
• Comparing cost-weighted distances between habitat cores for connectivity assessment.

Strengths

• Corridors are derived from a detailed landscape resistance surface and habitat core mapping.
• The model uses a specific cutoff value of 4885 cost-weighted meters for corridor definition.
• Methodology is described, referencing Linkage Mapper steps and normalization to meters.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and spatial extent are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the source region of the coastal marten.

Provenance

Source

Department of the Interior

Collection Method

Generated using Linkage Mapper software for landscape connectivity analysis.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-04 08:23:45.174229; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Likely covers the coastal region relevant to Martes caurina humboldtensis.