Box turtle refugia cores and connectivity scores

We identified a set of cores for each species that include areas of high relative value to the species either in the present, the future, or both. We assessed and mapped the connections between each nearby pair of cores (both in the future and present) and used the pairwise connectivities to assemble a graph of connections and to score each core’s connectivity in the present and future. Finally, we created an overall score that combines the landscape capability value, the climate refugia value, and the connectivity of each core which we think is a good starting point for conservation of each species. In general we found that the highest habitat values, connectivity, and scores were concentrated both towards the center of each species [...]