RESEARCH ARTICLE Evaluating habitat connectivity methodologies: a case study with endangered African wild dogs in South Africa Craig R. Jackson . Kelly Marnewick . Peter A. Lindsey . Eivin Røskaft . Mark P. Robertson Received: 28 January 2015 / Accepted: 25 January 2016 / Published online: 9 February 2016 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016 Abstract Context In fragmented landscapes, connectivity between subpopulations is vital for species’ persis- tence. Various techniques are used to assess the degree of connectivity between habitat patches, yet their performance is seldom evaluated. Models are regu- larly based on habitat selection by individuals in resident populations, yet dispersers may not require habitat which supports permanent residence. Objectives and methods Using a database of African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) occurrence records in north- eastern South Africa (n = 576), we developed and compared ecological niche models (ENM) for wild dogs packs and dispersers. Additionally, we used least cost path (LCP) and current flow models to assess connec- tivity. Results were further validated using occurrence records (n = 339) for cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Results and conclusions The ENM for wild dog packs identified large but isolated patches of suit- able habitat, while the disperser ENM had greater suitability values for areas in between highly suit- able patches. Without disperser-specific data, models omitted large areas which were confirmed to have provided connectivity. Although models derived from a potentially subjective cost layer have been criticised, Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10980-016-0342-5) contains supple- mentary material, which is available to authorized users. C. R. Jackson (&) Á E. Røskaft Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Realfagbygget, 7491 Trondheim, Norway e-mail: craigj@bio.ntnu.no; craig.jackson@nina.no C. R. Jackson Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Postboks 5685, Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway K. Marnewick Carnivore Conservation Programme, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Private Bag X11, Modderfontein, 1645 Johannesburg, South Africa K. Marnewick Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa P. A. Lindsey Panthera, New York, USA P. A. Lindsey Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa M. P. Robertson Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa 123 Landscape Ecol (2016) 31:1433–1447 DOI 10.1007/s10980-016-0342-5