Interpretation of landscape pattern and habitat change for local indicator species using satellite imagery and geographic information system data in New Brunswick, Canada

Abstract

We measured the extent and rate of habitat change and interpreted landscape metrics for fragmentation in the Fundy Model Forest, New Brunswick, from 1993 to 1999 using geographical information system baseline data updated with landscape changes detected on Landsat satellite imagery. We report on three categories of landscape metrics (habitat cover, patch size, and nearest neighbour), which we interpret as applicable to potentially fragmentation-sensitive local indicator species in specific habitat types. Between 1993 and 1999, 5.6% of forest land in the Fundy Model Forest was estimated by satellite image analysis as having >30% of canopy cover removed, primarily as a result of forest harvesting treatments. In four of five habitat types, the rate of habitat loss from harvesting outpaced habitat replacement due to forest growth. Changes in landscape pattern metrics indicate that fragmentation has occurred in each of the five indicator species habitat types over the available time period; furthermore, the rate of fragmentation exceeded the rate of habitat loss. Declines in the number and area of mixedwood patches dominated the fragmentation of the landscape in this region. More attention to the spatial distribution of harvesting activities may be necessary to change this trend in landscape pattern in the future.