Landscape Structure Indices Research Articles

How urban riparian corridors affect the diversity of spontaneous herbaceous plants as pollination and dispersal routes - a case of the Wenyu River- North Canal in Beijing, China

The loss of biodiversity due to rapid urbanization can be mitigated by urban riparian corridors. As an important component of urban biodiversity, spontaneous herbaceous plants play an essential role in the ecological functions of urban river corridors. Currently, the influence of the landscape structure within corridors on plant diversity has been poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the species and functional diversity, especially the functional traits of origin, pollination, and dispersal, of spontaneous herbaceous plants in the Wenyu River-North Canal riparian corridor in Beijing. The results showed that urban riparian corridors have a positive effect on the spread of alien and invasive plants as well as increasing the native plant diversity. No significant differences in diversity indicators but significant differences in the composition of functional traits between habitat types. Plants with long pollination and dispersal distances tended to be more closely related to the landscape structure indices at larger scales. Invasive plants were more common in patches with significant connectivity, while native plants were positively correlated with water and road connectivity. Anemophilous and anemochores were more common in habitats with sinuous edges. Ant-dispersed plants were closely related to the water bodies. Autochores were positively correlated with the connectivity of habitat patches. Plants dispersed by birds and mammals were weakly correlated with landscape structure. Our study underlines that emphasis should be placed on the support for plant pollination and dispersal, together with the prevention and control of invasive plants in the construction and management of future urban ecological corridors.

Multi-temporal analysis of urbanisation patterns as coastal development indicators: Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Natural and anthropogenic forces on Earth create changes in biophysical characteristics of landscapes in the forms of modifications or transformations. Since landscapes are composed of spatially configured patches of different land cover types, changes in the pattern composition and configuration may be used as indicators for identifying environmental trends and their underlying causes. To this end, pattern indices hold a strong potential to conceptualize landscape structure in many different ways. This study aims to analyse landscape changes in an urbanized coastal landscape in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey using pattern indices as development indicators. For this purpose, the spatial distribution of built-up areas was extracted for the years 1989, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2019 using geo-referenced SPOT and Sentinel images. Eight landscape structure indices were calculated to demonstrate spatial and temporal diversity of area/edge, shape and aggregation characteristics of built-up patches. These indices are (1) class area (CA), (2) percentage of landscape (PL), (3) largest patch index (LPI), (4) edge density, (5) perimeter-area ratio (PARA), (6) fractal dimension (FRAC), (7) related circumscribing circle (RCC) and (8) percentage of like-adjacencies (PLADJ). The study area was divided into 215 grid-units to represent spatial diversity of development. The aforementioned indices were calculated separately for each of the units. The spatial distribution of built-up areas was also associated with land capability to assess land degradation trends. Results showed that much of the development occurred on Class I and II lands that are in fact prime agricultural areas. Results also suggest that the structure of building patches and the way that it changes vary between the coast and inland.

Mapping of landscape structure and forest cover change detection in the mountain chains around Addis Ababa: The case of Wechecha Mountain, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia is, a tropical city, found on a high elevation between 2000 m and 3000 m above sea level. The city is bordered by high rise mountains, Entoto Mountain in the North, Wechecha Mountain in the West, Furi Mountain in the South and Yerer Mountain in the East which have a crucial influence on determining the climate of the city. This study, therefore, focuses on landscape structure and forest cover change on Mount Wechecha, which has a great contribution in the regulation of modifying micro climate of the city and the environ, not only due to its elevation but also due to its dense forest cover. Monitoring land cover changes in a mountain ecosystem help to understand and pinpoint the strategy to be followed for the conservation of ecosystems found on the neighbouring mountains, which also have a great influence on regulating the climate of the city. The study uses five Landsat satellite images to derive land cover of Mount Wechecha from 1973 to 2013. Landscape structures and matrixes have been analyzed and mapped based on the patch-corridor-matrix ecological model. The results have shown that the patch analyst result is proportional to the land cover classes derived from the satellite image. The landscape structure indices of the number of patches are decreasing in all years, except for water and settlement. The forest patches are dissolved into agricultural lands. The mean core area of the forest that increases indicates that the forest coverage is limited to certain places. The Mean Core Area of agricultural land decreased in the last decade due to the agricultural land being interrupted by other economic activities, which leads to landscape modifications. Shannon's evenness and diversity index was zero. The overall result indicates that the forest, which play a great role in climate regulation and open land coverages are decreasing at a faster rate (30% and 24.5% in 1973–14% and 2.4%. in 2013 respectively), while settlement is highly increasing (from 1.3% to 26.25% same period). Hence, the priority has to be given to protecting forest loss of Mount Wechecha and other forests on the neighbouring mountains surrounding Addis Ababa in order to have favorable climate conditions in the city. Such type of studies on mountain chains are very vital in considering appropriate environmental planning mechanisms and to formulate policies at the landscape level.

东莞市人工景观结构与连接度的协整性及因果关系

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 东莞市人工景观结构与连接度的协整性及因果关系 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201311052673 作者: 作者单位: 广州大学地理科学学院,广州大学地理科学学院,广州大学地理科学学院,广州大学地理科学学院 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家科技支撑计划课题(2012BAH32B03);国家自然科学基金项目(41071078);教育部人文社科规划基金项目(11YJAZH016);住房和城乡建设部科学技术项目(2012-K8-42)资助 Research on the cointegration and causality between urban artificial landscape structure change and landscape connectivity in Dongguan City Author: Affiliation: School of Geographical Sciences,Guangzhou University,School of Geographical Sciences,Guangzhou University,School of Geographical Sciences,Guangzhou University,School of Geographical Sciences,Guangzhou University Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:城市人工景观特征逐步向城市外围自然及半自然景观渗透。近年来对快速城市化地区的景观格局特征定量化研究很多,但侧重于景观格局特征的简单分析和描述,忽略了城市空间扩展过程中,城市人工景观结构与景观连接度动态变化过程中之间的内部联系。以东莞市1988-2009年城市人工景观为研究对象,通过计算并分析景观结构与景观连接度指数,利用计量经济学中的协整概念与格兰杰因果检验方法并详细分析了这两类指数之间的具体关系。研究结果表明:(1)所选取的景观结构指数与景观连接度指数能较好地描述东莞市城市人工景观时空格局变化过程;(2)人工景观斑块类型面积(CA)与可能连通性指数(PC)存在协整关系。景观聚集度指数(AI)、蔓延度指数(CONTAG)与景观连通性指数(IIC与PC)也存在协整关系,即这些变量之间确实存在长期均衡关系;(3)格兰杰因果关系检验中,在不同滞后期的情况下,大部分的结果表明景观连接度指数(IIC与PC)是景观结构指数(CA、AI、CONTAG)的格兰杰成因,说明景观连接度指数信息有助于预测景观结构指数的变化。 Abstract:Characteristics of urban artificial landscape have permeated into natural and semi-natural landscapes. Prior studies focused on landscape pattern analysis and description in rapid urbanization areas but neglect the dynamic changes between structures and connectivity of artificial urban landscape and their internal interactions. We measured two landscape indices (landscape structures and landscape connectivity) and presented an integrated approach (the cointegration and causality) to explore the urban expansion of Dongguan, a rapidly growing city in southern China, since 1988 to 2009. Analyses of seven landscape indices indicates a clear dynamic change in the expansion of Donguan. We divided this expansion into four different periods, that is early natural and semi-natural landscapes dominated urban areas in 1988-1990, followed by rapid 'extension' and 'linear development' period through 1990-1999, and then urbanization developed steadily period ('sprawl') during 1999-2005, and the recent 'infilling' stage since 2005-2009 characterized by urban development? The results show that: (1) According to variation characteristics of seven indices, the period is divided into four stages. The first is 1988-1990, in which the natural and semi-natural landscapes such as farmland, woodland were dominant, while urban artificial areas were small and had low density and aggregation. The second period is 1990-1999, in which urban artificial landscape increased rapidly with high density and aggregation. Then, we named the urban land expansion as 'extension' and 'linear development' type. The skeleton of the city gradually formed and the urban artificial landscape was in the dominant position, while natural and semi-natural landscapes such as farmland, woodland were small with low density and aggregation. The third period is 1999-2005. The total area of urban artificial landscape grew steadily and we named the urban land expansion as 'sprawl' type. The last is 2005-2009. Urban artificial landscape grew further and we named the urban land expansion as 'infilling' type. (2) There exist cointegration relationships between class area (CA) and probability index of connectivity (PC), aggregation index (AI), contagion index (CONTAG), and connectivity indices IIC and PC. This indicates that there is a long-term equilibrium relationship among these variables and thereby no internal mechanism would break down the equilibrium of urban system. (3) Granger causality test shows that landscape connectivity indices (IIC and PC) are the Granger Causes of landscape structure indices (CA, AI, CONTAG), which suggests the landscape connectivity indices can be used to predict the change of landscape structures. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Habitat use and home range traits of resident and relocated hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas)

The aim of the study was to identify the habitat preferences and home range of resident and relocated brown hares during the nohunting period. The trial was carried out in a protected area and in a free-hunting territory (FHT), both located in the Florence province. During the captures, 21 hares were equipped with a necklace radio-tag: seven hares (resident group) were released in the same area of capture and 14 hares (relocated group) were relocated in six different locations within the FHT. The effect of the place of release was analysed by ANOVA and/or nonparametric methods. Results showed that the home ranges of the resident group were characterized by a greater amount of fallow land and shrub land than of the relocated group (P<0.05). Home range sizes and maximum distances from the releasing sites were greater in the relocated group. Resident hares preferred landscape characterized by a higher density of patches (152 vs. 70 n/100 ha), patch richness (43 vs. 12 n/100 ha), and patch area (4703 vs. 8142 m2) than the relocated hares (P<0.01). The landscape structure indices, the home range sizes and the maximum distance from the releasing sites suggest that the relocated hares, even if released in suitable habitats, will move from their releasing point to look for better habitats. The landscape with the most complexity is preferred by the resident hares. This result should be considered when a project is programmed to reintroduce this lagomorph into a territory, or when it is necessary to improve the dynamics of a natural population.

Analyzing Landscape Change Through Landscape Structure Indices: Case of the City of Aydin, Turkey

Analyzing Landscape Change Through Landscape Structure Indices: Case of the City of Aydin, Turkey

A statistical GIS-based analysis of Wild boar (Sus scrofa) traffic collisions in a Mediterranean area

This study was aimed at analysing the most relevant environmental variables involved in vehicle–wild boar road collisions in a Mediterranean area, starting from a territorial information system implemented in a GIS environment. Landscape structure indices and local qualitative and quantitative variables were correlated to identify the most frequent predisposing factors of collisions. Statistical tests of the considered parameters indicated a higher frequency of collisions in the evening hours of late summer and autumn (P<0.05) compared with daytime and night-time, localized nearness to attraction points (feeding or resting sites; P<0.001) and closeness to no-hunting areas (P<0.001). In addition, local road parameters (shape of road, visibility at road sides, etc.) considerably increased the risk of collisions.

Relationship between landscape structure and neighborhood satisfaction in urbanized areas

Humans are an integral part of landscapes in landscape ecology. Theories and models of human–environment relationships suggest that human perception is essential to understand the interlocking relationship between humans and landscapes. This is particularly evident in urbanized areas. In the theories and models in landscape ecology suggesting close relationships between humans and landscapes, human perception of landscape structure hypothetically links ecosystems with many human responses and activities, including land-use decisions, landscape planning, landscape management, and preferences. Here, we attempted to understand the relationship between landscape structure and neighborhood satisfaction, which is a perceptual construct of residents. Neighborhood satisfaction was measured using a mail-out survey to single-family households in the city of College Station, TX, and landscape structures for respondents were also measured at a micro-neighborhood scale with a radius of 750 ft (229 m), an intermediate-neighborhood scale with a radius of 1500 ft (457 m), and a macro-neighborhood scale with a radius of 3000 ft (914 m). To measure the landscape structures around respondents’ home, we used IKONOS multispectral images with 4 m resolution and panchromatic images with 1 m resolution. We delineated the landscape structure using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) method. The neighborhood satisfaction of residents was associated with selected landscape structure indices. Specifically, it was more likely to be high when tree patches in neighborhood environments were less fragmented, less isolated, and well connected. Variety in the size and shape of tree patches also showed a positive relationship with neighborhood satisfaction. Interestingly, these relationships became stronger as the neighborhood scale increased. Under a hypothetical framework with theories and models in landscape ecology, landscape preference and neighborhood satisfaction, results of the present study provide insights into planning and management strategies for residential environments enhancing both neighborhood satisfaction of residents and ecological functions.

Relationship Between Game Species and Landscape Structure in the SE of Spain

Hunting is an important traditional and economic activity in the Iberian Peninsula. However, a very small amount of papers focuses on the relation between small-game species and landscape structure. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to determine the main relationships between landscape structure and game species thus obtaining new management methods to enhance game communities. Hunting bags were used to obtain abundance, diversity and dominance indices of game species in 2000. The abundances of several game species were related with land uses and landscape indices, which were used as independent variables (obtained using Arcview, Fragstats and Idrisi) in regression models. Considering the associations between wildlife species and traditional land usages, the woodcock profits from recent abandonment areas (p = 0.001, r = 0.915) and avoids dense shrublands (p = 0.001, r = 0.967). The red-legged partridge is positively related with old abandonment areas (p = 0.013, r = 0.820) and collared-doves benefit from afforested dense pines (p = 0.001, r = 0.916). The wild rabbit was positively related with fruit groves p < 0.001, r = 0.995), pine forest areas ((p < 0.001, r = 0.989), and old abandonment areas (p < 0.001, r = 1.0) and negatively related with oak wood (p < 0.001, r = 0.953) and urban areas (p < 0.001, r = 0.998). Hares were positively related with old abandonment areas (p = 0.010, r = 0.767) and avoid irrigated crops (p = 0.010, r = 0.919). Wild boars and red foxes presented positive relations with dense shrublands (respectively, p = 0.012, r = 0.821 and p = 0.005, r = 0.789). Considering landscape structure indices, the red-legged partridge is related to fractal dimensions and patch richness density (p = 0.01, r = 0.787 and p = 0.01, r = 0.916, respectively). The wood pigeon and turtle dove are related to the aggregation index and the contagion index (p = 0.016, r = 0.805 and p = 0.018, r = 0.798, respectively). Wild rabbits and hares are related with fractal dimension (respectively, p = 0.009, r = 0.770 and p = 0.001, r = 0.831) and perimeter-area ratio (respectively, p = 0.009, r = 0.920 and p = 0.001, r = 0.974).

USING GIS IN THE MAPPING AND ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE AND VEGETATION PATTERNS ALONG STREAMS IN SOUTHERN IRELAND

The aim of this study was to relate riparian landscape and vegetation patterns to plant species richness. Seventeen stream sites were selected in southern Ireland, and the vegetation within 20m-wide riparian strips was mapped using a global positioning system. Digital maps were created using geographic information systems, and vegetation/habitat classification was carried out at four levels (from broad habitat group to vegetation type). To analyse the structure of the riparian landscapes in the study area, a number of landscape indices were calculated using Patch Analyst software. Plant species richness and community structure were examined using belt transects perpendicular to the watercourse. Riparian zones in the study area are very heterogeneous and exhibit obvious gradients with reference to landscape composition and spatial configuration. This is the result of both natural disturbance caused by streams and human influence. Landscape structure indices were only weakly correlated with plant species richness in the riparian zones investigated, but they did explain most of the variation in the structure and composition of the plant communities.

Environmental constraints in the colonization sequence of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758) across the Iberian Mountains, Spain

AbstractAim This paper describes the dispersal process of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758) with respect to climatic factors, landscape characteristics and human activity. We hypothesized that environmental characteristics constrain the relative abundance and dispersal process of roe deer.Location The study was conducted in the Iberian Mountains, north‐eastern Spain, during 1986–2000.Methods Roe deer colonization dates in the study area were obtained from a survey for large mammals and from direct interviews with the employees of the Fish and Game Agency. We used a 10 × 10 km UTM grid as the sampling unit (n = 91). The relative abundance of roe deer was estimated by counting the number of pellet groups in line transects, which were representative of the habitat availability in the 10 × 10 km UTM grid. Climatic factors were obtained from meteorological stations placed near to the plot. Landscape structure indices, topography and human activity factors were obtained from digital maps using fragstats 3.3 and idrisi 32. We discarded a number of variables with no statistical significance and avoided multicollinearity by using Spearman rank correlation. Then, we used GLMz (with a multinomial error distribution and a logit link function) to analyse the influence of each variable considered in the dispersal process. Finally, GLMz (with a binomial error distribution and a logit link function) were used a posteriori to differentiate between the effects of the explanatory factors on a particular phase of the dispersal process.Results Our results indicate that proximity to a previously colonized grid significantly affected the global process of roe deer colonization. Independently of the proximity of the nearest population in the previous phase of colonization, our results also indicated that the dispersal process was influenced by precipitation and landscape structure, leading the species to colonize even apparently hostile places. Original nuclei of these populations occurred in territories with high and constant precipitation, and a landscape formed by mosaics of agricultural land with a high proportion of forests. During the expansion process, roe deer colonized territories with summer droughts, dominated by large agricultural patches and with few forest patches.Main conclusions These data support the working hypothesis that environmental characteristics constrain roe deer relative abundance and dispersal process through the Iberian Mountains. The location of the original nuclei of these populations probably had environmental conditions that were more favourable for the roe deer. Areas settled in the final phases of the dispersal process had low relative abundances of roe deer, and are likely to act mainly as dispersal corridors rather than being able to sustain viable populations themselves.

Landscape structure indices for assessing urban ecological networks

Analysis and planning of ecological networks is a relatively new phenomenon and is a response to fragmentation and deterioration of quality of natural systems. In urban areas, the problems of land use intransigence, political and jurisdictional issues create a difficult environment for implementing ecological networks. The specific questions addressed in this research program revolve around the viability of planning an ecological network in an urban landscape. The development and articulation of an ecological network plan was undertaken previously and in this paper, a series of assays of landscape structure are used to examine the viability of an ecological network in the Phoenix, Arizona urban area. Three principal analyses were utilized: (1) patch content analysis, (2) corridor content analysis, and (3) network structure analysis. Patch and corridor content analyses examined the internal characteristic and immediate context for each of the 89 ecological network elements. The network structure analysis incorporates a process for aggregating results of patch and corridor analyses and incorporates indicators that describe interrelationships between landscape elements. For each of these analyses the existing condition was compared to the optimal plan to demonstrate the level of change that can be expected. The results and conclusions of this research are that an ecological network plan provides modest but important improvement in ecological systems in the Phoenix urban area.