Land Cover Changes (1963–2010) and Their Environmental Factors in the Upper Danube Floodplain

Fang Xu,Sarah Harvolk-Schöning,Kristin Ludewig,Tobias Donath,Annette Otte

doi:10.3390/su9060943

Abstract

To analyze the changes in the Upper Danube Floodplain, we used aerial photos to quantify the change of landscape pattern from 1963 to 2010. We focused on typical floodplain habitats, i.e., riparian forest and floodplain grassland. We used landscape metrics and transformation matrix to explore changes in land cover structure and composition. The active floodplain experienced increasing fragmentation from 1963 to 2010. Despite an increase of aggregation, riparian forest suffered a 2.3% area loss from 1995 to 2010. Arable land in the active floodplain declined by 28.5%, while its patch size significantly increased. Elevation, distance to river and soil quality were the most relevant environmental factors for the land cover change in the floodplain. Higher soil quality or longer distance to river led to an increase of conversion from grassland into arable land; grassland patches with poorer soil quality were likely to change into riparian forest; riparian forest closer to the river and with a lower height above mean water level tended to remain stable. This comprehensive understanding of historical land cover change and environmental factors is needed for the enhancement of landscape functions and sustainable development in the floodplain.

Highlights

Natural and semi-natural floodplain habitats are valuable but rare
Common characteristics of all land cover types in the active and the former floodplain are: Between 1963 and 2010 riparian forest increased while arable land and grassland declined
In the Upper Danube Floodplain, our study focused on the change of land cover and the relevant environmental factors

Summary

Introduction

Natural and semi-natural floodplain habitats are valuable but rare. As an essential component of riverine ecosystems, riparian forests would form the Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV) that would theoretically develop without human influence [1,2]. Riparian forests have a high biomass productivity and habitat value. They provide various functions including water storage, water quality improvement, protection against flood and erosion, dead-wood provision for the structural diversity of the river, and they act as a buffer against negative influences of adjacent agricultural and industrial activities [3]. In many European floodplains, riparian forests were reduced or disappeared because of the river management activities. Riparian forests became threatened floodplain habitats [4]

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