Identification of wetland conservation and restoration priorities in regions of oil extraction in the Yellow River Delta using circuit theory modelling

•Circuit model can quantify the effects of oil wells on wetland connectivity in the Yellow River Delta.•Oil wells increased the potential path length and barrier area, but decreased pinch area.•The nature reserve cannot sustain wetland connectivity and mudflat is prominently affected by oil wells here.•New potential paths serving as alternative routes for species and scattered pinch points as stepstones have high priorities for conservation.