Análisis del cambio de la fragmentación del hábitat en la conectividad ecológica de la cuenca del río Guayuriba, Colombia

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation and the loss of ecological connectivity are among the most critical threats to biodiversity, particularly in regions under strong anthropogenic pressure. This study assessed changes in landscape fragmentation and their effects on ecological connectivity in the Guayuriba River basin (Meta–Cundinamarca, Colombia), a biologically rich and hydrologically strategic transition zone between the Andes and the Orinoquía region. A multitemporal, spatial, and functional approach was applied using land cover data from 2002, 2012, and 2022 within a GIS framework. The methodology comprised three phases: (1) multitemporal land cover change analysis through change matrices, (2) landscape fragmentation assessment using spatial metrics at patch, class, and landscape levels, and (3) functional connectivity modeling based on suitability and resistance matrices, core habitat areas, and least-cost pathways for an umbrella species. Results revealed progressive landscape transformation driven mainly by agricultural expansion and other human activities, leading to increased structural fragmentation, reduced habitat patch size, and greater isolation. These changes diminished functional connectivity, restricting species movement and affecting ecological processes such as dispersal and gene flow. Identified potential corridors and critical connectivity gaps provide key inputs for territorial planning, ecological restoration, and conservation strategies aimed at strengthening landscape connectivity and ecosystem resilience.