Combining habitat suitability models and fluvial functionality data for a multilayer assessment of riverine vulnerability

For studying river basins criticalities, it is mandatory to take into account the multilayered structure of the river/landscape system. We propose an integrated analysis that combines habitat suitability (HS) maps for a riverine key species (the endangered Eurasian otter) with data on fluvial functionality (FF) as an instrument to reveal more vulnerable fluvial portions in need of restoration. The approach was tested on two river catchments with different anthropogenic pressures, both falling within the otter core area in Italy. Results showed that the integration allows for a satisfactory prioritization of river criticalities, suggesting the method as an useful tool for river environmental management.