Ecological connectivity in urban environments, role of green spaces and NBS, with the red squirrel as a model species.
Cities can act as biodiversity reservoirs. Green spaces play a vital role for species conservation and ecosystem services. RESILIENCE studies how greening and soil de-sealing plans promote ecological connectivity.
Hair samples are collected using non-invasive baited tubes in all treed areas. Microsatellite genotyping is used to estimate gene flows between urban populations.
A mixed integer programming algorithm identifies areas where tree-lined cycle lanes would simultaneously maximise connectivity of both human and ecological networks.
Residents are invited to place hair tubes in their gardens or visited green spaces. Collected data feeds connectivity models.
≥ 50 hair samples per city
Gene flow maps
Urban vegetation inventory