Research overview: circuit theory and corridor design for wide-ranging cats

Circuit theory, which models animal movement as electrical current flowing across a resistance surface, has become a standard tool for mapping connectivity for wide-ranging cats. This overview surveys how the approach complements least-cost path methods by capturing multiple possible routes and pinch points, and how it is applied to design corridors for jaguars, pumas, tigers, and lynx. It reviews how resistance surfaces are built from land cover, terrain, and human footprint, and validated against genetic and telemetry data. The synthesis frames connectivity modeling as essential for planning climate-era corridors, explaining how abstract current-flow maps translate into on-the-ground priorities for keeping fragmented felid landscapes functionally connected.