DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6hdr7sr9m
title: Data and code from: The continuity-contiguity problem in fragmentation-biodiversity research

description: A primary question for researchers in the field of conservation science
 concerns the fragmentation of biodiversity-supporting habitat. Key debates
 revolve around the relevance of habitat composition and configuration for
 conservation outcomes. Central to this debate is the measurement and
 delineation of the habitat patch, as the analytical unit from which
 fragmentation-related metrics are assessed and evaluated. Despite the need
 to quantify and model habitat fragmentation, the habitat patch concept
 itself has been subject to criticism concerning its ability to adequately
 reflect the heterogeneity of resource distributions in complex landscapes.
 In this paper, we present the continuity-contiguity problem, which is one
 of the fundamental challenges related to the delineation of habitat in
 space, and discuss its implications for fragmentation-biodiversity
 research. We outline the potential contribution of recent developments in
 spatial-ecological methods and the leveraging of uncertainty in the
 modelling process to address four common issues related to the habitat
 patch concept. We conclude with several recommendations for studies on
 fragmentation-biodiversity outcomes where the continuity-contiguity
 problem may influence the research process.
       
description: These data were computed from a Random Forest classification of
 the study area landscape represented in Dennis and Huck (2025): DOI:
 10.1111/jbi.15077. They can be used to generate a
 Boolean classification of the landscape into 5 classes (Woodland,
 Grassland, Shrubs, Wetland and Urban) and a distribution of possible
 habitat values for the "Woodland" class derived from a Beta
 distribution for each location (cell) in the landscape. The classification
 is based on the use of Planet Scope Colour Infra-red imagery (Planet Labs
 PBC. 2024. URL: https://api.planet.com) and 4,500 training points. Methodological steps can be found in Dennis and Huck (2025): DOI: 10.1111/jbi.15077    
description: # Data and code from: The continuity-contiguity problem in
 fragmentation-biodiversity research [Data DOI:
 https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6hdr7sr9m](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6hdr7sr9m) ## Description of the data and file structure This repository contains the code and necessary data to reproduce the analysis in the  Dennis and Huck (2025): **The continuity-contiguity problem in fragmentation-biodiversity research** **File list:** "cc_For_review_Rev2.R" "rfClasses.tif" "rf_means.csv" "woodland_var.csv"  "woodBetaCCR1.rds" **Data description:** "rfClasses.tif" is a GeoTiff format raster of a classified colour infrared image (Planet Labs PBC, 2024), see below. Class 1 = Woodland, Class 2 = Grassland, Class 3 = Shrub, Class 4 =Water, Class 5 = Urban "rf_means.csv" contains the membership values for each cell in the study landscape to each class resulting from the random forest classifier. The file has 6 headings: "Cell" denoting the cell number starting from top left in the raster layer and a column for each land-cover class given in "rfClasses.tif"  "woodland_var.csv" contains the variance around the membership values of each cell to the "Woodland" class for the study landscape. The file has two headings "Cell" denoting the cell number starting from top left in the raster layer and "variance" denoting the variance for each cell computed as the variance of predictions of all decision trees for the "Woodland" class for each cell.  "woodBetaCCR1.rds" consists of a matrix wherein rows represent locations (cells) in the landscape and each column gives 10,000 random variables drawn from a beta distribution based on the mean and variance of cell membership to the "Woodland" class taken from "rf_means.csv" and "woodland_var.csv", respectively.  ## Code/software R code for use with this dataset is in the file cc_For_review_Rev2.R included in this upload. This code can be used to reproduce the figures in the article and a distribution of habitat values for the study area landscape. ## Access information The data can also be accessed from the corresponding author upon request made to [matthew.dennis@manchester.ac.uk](mailto:matthew.dennis@manchester.ac.uk)  The data were derived from the following sources: * Planet Labs PBC. 2024. Planet Application Program Interface: In Space for Life on Earth. URL: [https://api.planet.com](https://api.planet.com)