Dispersal and habitat connectivity in complex heterogeneous landscapes: An analysis with a GIS-based random walk model

A grid-based random walk model has been developed to simulate animal dispersal, taking landscape heterogeneity and linear barriers such as roads and rivers into account. The model can be used to estimate connectivity, and has been parameterized for the badger in the central Netherlands. The importance of key parameters was evaluated by means of sensitivity analysis. Results agree with field observations, and give interesting insight into the isolation of populations and potential populations. The model can be applied to obtain knowledge about dispersal processes in complex landscapes.