Updating the habitat conservation institution by prioritizing important connectivity and resilience providers outside

Maintaining biodiversity is vital for ecological processes. Yet, present static protected areas seem to be inefficient in biodiversity conservation. In this study, we use a set of indicators to evaluate topological features, landscape connectivity and resilience of the current habitat conservation institution, and apply the node addition method to prioritize habitats that play roles in improving connectivity and resilience outside the protected areas. Wanzhou District, Chongqing (SW China) is selected as the study area as it is a biodiversity hotspot in Three Gorges Reservoir Area. The results show that, in current conservation institution, average clustering coefficient and average weighted degree rise with the increasing dispersal distance of species; besides, landscape connectivity is rather low, while long dispersers have larger connectivity degree and resilience compared with short ones. Furthermore, how those patches could function as connectivity providers in different aspects (e.g. stepping-stone effect) is also presented by partitioning the connectivity indicator into three parts. However, it is interesting to find that, patches with good performance in improving connectivity may not have the equal efficiency in enhancing resilience, and the possible reasons are elaborately discussed. Prioritized patches are suggested to be placed under protection, and to update the habitat conservation institution. Our indicators and method can extend the knowledge of the importance of linking protected areas with surrounding habitats, and it can serve as a supporting tool for conservation planning or land use planning.