the infrastructure. In addition to cartographic results, a curve of the increased
connectivity provided by new crossings is generated. This graphical tool indicates
the number of potential crossings to be created in order to reach a given level of
connectivity or to detect levels above which crossing creation fails to increase
connectivity sufficiently. The method used here can also be applied to other species
with different ecological requirements, or to other perspectives such as habitat
restoration as in the study of Clauzel et al. (2015a) for the tree frog conservation.
Conclusions
The methodological approach used appears to be a handy tool for planners in
forecasting the impact of linear infrastructures at different spatial scales, including
the regional level, which is recognized as a gap in current methods (Fernandes
2000; Geneletti 2006; Mörtberg et al. 2007). The map of connectivity changes can
help optimize the location of new protected areas or mitigation measures by
identifying the areas most affected by the infrastructure. The results also provide
information about the maximum distance of the impact, which is often difficult to
assess. In the case of the HSR line in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, the
environmental assessment studies focused only on a strip of 800 m on either side of
the HSR line, which allowed the creation of new ponds to replace those destroyed
by the construction of the infrastructure.
Acknowledgements The research has been funded by the French Ministry of Ecology, Energy,
Sustainable Development and the Sea (ITTECOP Program). The graph analysis was conducted as
part of the Graphab project managed by the USR 3124 MSHE 744 Ledoux. Computations were
performed on the supercomputer facilities of the MSHE Ledoux.
References
Adriaensen, F., Chardon, J. P., De Blust, G., Swinnen, E., Villalba, S., Gulinck, H., et al. (2003).
The application of “least-cost” modelling as a functional landscape model. Landscape and
Urban Planning, 64, 233–247.
Alford, R. A., & Richards, S. J. (1999). Global amphibian declines: A problem in applied ecology.
Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 30, 133–165.
Allentoft, M. E., & O’Brien, J. (2010). Global amphibian declines, loss of genetic diversity and
fitness: A review. Diversity, 2, 47–71.
Andersen, L. W., Fog, K., & Damgaard, C. (2004). Habitat fragmentation causes bottlenecks and
inbreeding in the European tree frog (Hyla arborea). Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
Biological Sciences, 271, 1293–1302.
Bodin, Ö., & Saura, S. (2010). Ranking individual habitat patches as connectivity providers:
Integrating network analysis and patch removal experiments. Ecological Modelling, 221,
2393–2405.
Borgula, A. (1993). Causes of the decline in Hyla arborea. In A. H. P. Stumpel & U. Tester (Eds.),
Ecology and conservation of the European tree frog. Proceedings of the 1st International
13 Evaluating and Mitigating the Impact of a High-Speed Railway …
225
connectivity provided by new crossings is generated. This graphical tool indicates
the number of potential crossings to be created in order to reach a given level of
connectivity or to detect levels above which crossing creation fails to increase
connectivity sufficiently. The method used here can also be applied to other species
with different ecological requirements, or to other perspectives such as habitat
restoration as in the study of Clauzel et al. (2015a) for the tree frog conservation.
Conclusions
The methodological approach used appears to be a handy tool for planners in
forecasting the impact of linear infrastructures at different spatial scales, including
the regional level, which is recognized as a gap in current methods (Fernandes
2000; Geneletti 2006; Mörtberg et al. 2007). The map of connectivity changes can
help optimize the location of new protected areas or mitigation measures by
identifying the areas most affected by the infrastructure. The results also provide
information about the maximum distance of the impact, which is often difficult to
assess. In the case of the HSR line in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, the
environmental assessment studies focused only on a strip of 800 m on either side of
the HSR line, which allowed the creation of new ponds to replace those destroyed
by the construction of the infrastructure.
Acknowledgements The research has been funded by the French Ministry of Ecology, Energy,
Sustainable Development and the Sea (ITTECOP Program). The graph analysis was conducted as
part of the Graphab project managed by the USR 3124 MSHE 744 Ledoux. Computations were
performed on the supercomputer facilities of the MSHE Ledoux.
References
Adriaensen, F., Chardon, J. P., De Blust, G., Swinnen, E., Villalba, S., Gulinck, H., et al. (2003).
The application of “least-cost” modelling as a functional landscape model. Landscape and
Urban Planning, 64, 233–247.
Alford, R. A., & Richards, S. J. (1999). Global amphibian declines: A problem in applied ecology.
Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 30, 133–165.
Allentoft, M. E., & O’Brien, J. (2010). Global amphibian declines, loss of genetic diversity and
fitness: A review. Diversity, 2, 47–71.
Andersen, L. W., Fog, K., & Damgaard, C. (2004). Habitat fragmentation causes bottlenecks and
inbreeding in the European tree frog (Hyla arborea). Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
Biological Sciences, 271, 1293–1302.
Bodin, Ö., & Saura, S. (2010). Ranking individual habitat patches as connectivity providers:
Integrating network analysis and patch removal experiments. Ecological Modelling, 221,
2393–2405.
Borgula, A. (1993). Causes of the decline in Hyla arborea. In A. H. P. Stumpel & U. Tester (Eds.),
Ecology and conservation of the European tree frog. Proceedings of the 1st International
13 Evaluating and Mitigating the Impact of a High-Speed Railway …
225