![]() ![]() ![]() As main corridors were concentrated on valley bottoms, human pressure could severely diminish animal movement. The results revealed that the orography of the landscape was the main factor influencing the quantity and quality of the pathways in the western Alpine landscapes. We produced a cumulative current flow map and a gap analysis was also conducted to highlight the “conservation gaps” for optimal corridors. The study area included southeastern France, northwestern Italy, and Switzerland. To assess the chances of otter recolonization of the western Alps, we analyzed environmental connectivity by applying electrical circuit theory to an expert-based resistance surface using the Circuitscape software. The Eurasian otter ( Lutra lutra ) is a freshwater top predator that is slowly recovering after a dramatic decline occurred in central and southern Europe in the last century. In this phase of climate change and biodiversity crisis, maintaining landscape connectivity by restoring and protecting connecting areas and corridors is a key strategy to ensure the survival of many species. Assessing landscape connectivity allows defining the degree to which the landscape facilitates or impedes the movement of a species between resource patches.
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