A leakiness index for assessing landscape function using remote sensing

The cover, number, size, shape, spatial arrangement and orientation of vegetation patches are attributes that have been used to indicate how well landscapes function to retain, not ‘leak’, vital system resources such as rainwater and soil. We derived and tested a directional leakiness index (DLI) for this resource retention function. We used simulated landscape maps where resource flows over map surfaces were directional and where landscape patch attributes were known. Although DLI was most strongly related to patch cover, it also logically related to patch number, size, shape, arrangement and orientation. If the direction of resource flow is multi-directional, a variant of DLI, the multi-directional leakiness index (MDLI) can be used. The utility of DLI and MDLI was demonstrated by applying these indices to three Australian savanna landscapes differing in their remotely sensed vegetation patch attributes. These leakiness indices clearly positioned these three landscapes along a function-dysfunction continuum, where dysfunctional landscapes are leaky (poorly retain resources). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The impact of thematic resolution on the patch-mosaic model of natural landscapes

We argue that thematic resolution, i.e., the level of categorical detail of a thematic map expressed by the number of classes included in the map legend, is an inherent component of the scale at which a landscape is analyzed. Changing the number of classes can change the configuration of the patch mosaic as much as changing the grain does. We address recent calls in this and other journals to deepen research in this topic. In particular, we report how thematic resolution affects the patchiness of mosaics representing natural landscapes, which have seldom been studied in this respect. We selected seven 50 × 50 km landscapes within national parks, each representative of a world biome. We applied an object-based unsupervised classification to Landsat TM imagery of these landscapes using increasing numbers of classes, between 2 and 50, and derived curves of mean patch size and patch density for each site. Our results are consistent with previous findings in that the patchiness of output mosaics increases monotonically with increasing thematic resolution, with a higher rate of increase up to eight classes that declines until it becomes roughly constant for more than 16 classes. However, this constant rate of increase is still considerable, meaning that, at least for natural landscapes, there is no threshold beyond which the patch-mosaic model is independent of the conceptual filter applied. This dependence on human fiat calls for re-thinking the patch-mosaic paradigm.     

坝上地区景观格局动态变化分析

在遥感与G IS技术支持下,利用景观格局分析软件Fragstats分别计算了研究区内1987、1999和2004年的景观格局指数,对研究区17 a来的景观格局变化进行了分析。结果表明:该区域景观整体上处于破碎化过程,尤其是沙地在1987~1999年间迅速扩大,虽然在1999~2004年经过了一定的恢复,景观异质性有所下降,但仍然没有恢复到1987年的水平。     

常用景观指数的因子分析和筛选方法研究

本文以42幅云南省一平浪林场卫星遥感图为数据源,采用相关分析、因子分析和敏感性分析等方法,对13个常用的景观指数进行了分类和筛选方法的研究.研究结果显示大多数指数间呈现极高的相关性,通过因子分析提取出了累积贡献率达82.03%的3个公因子,遂将13个景观指数分为了3大类,并利用敏感性系数筛选出了4个具有良好灵敏度、能充分反映生态学意义的代表性景观指数,即斑块个数、平均最近距离、面积加权的平均形状指数和散布与并列指数.本方法有效地解决了景观分类和评价中指数繁多冗余的问题.     

盐城海岸带景观格局变化和重金属空间分布相关分析

如何通过景观格局的合理调控控制河口海岸区域的重金属生态风险是目前湿地科学研究的热点问题之一。以江苏省盐城市海岸带为研究对象,将研究区 1975、1991、2000、2006年的景观格局演变过程与土壤中Cr、Cu、Fe、Mn、Ni、Zn 6种重金属的浓度空间分布进行了耦合分析,研究了景观格局对重金属富集过程的影响。结果表明：研究区1975年的景观类型以芦苇、碱蓬等原生湿地景观和光泥滩为主,到2006年转变为以鱼塘和农田等人工景观为主,盐城海岸带景观格局的改变是一个较为典型的人类开发利用滩涂的进程。重金属浓度的分析表明,Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Zn 5种重金属的浓度由背景值的46.71、20.22、375.19、21.68、60.69 mg/kg变为2007年的54.52、19.14、548.83、26.49、62.59 mg/kg。耦合景观格局的分析与重金属浓度的空间分布分析表明,人类活动主导的景观格局演变与重金属的浓度具有空间分布的相关性。通过建立景观格局与重金属富集过程的定量耦合模型进而探讨景观格局的调控模式,从而降低区域重金属生态风险,是一个需要继续探讨的理论热点和难点问题。     

Forest fragmentation in Loudoun County,Virginia, USA evaluated with multitemporal Landsat imagery

In order to study forest fragmentation in the Virginia, USA Piedmont, a series of Landsat images from 1973, 1987, and 1999 covering a rapidly developing area (Loudoun County) was used to classify forest from non-forest. The classified images were analyzed using a geographic information system (GIS) to determine the spatial and temporal patterns of fragmentation, and to relate these patterns to infrared radiance provided by Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) band 6. The analysis was concentrated on eleven major watersheds of Loudoun County. The relationship between urbanized area per watershed and mean fragment size showed a strong negative decay form (r ²=0.757, p<0.0001). Analysis of four landscape metrics showed increasing fragmentation of forest cover, particularly from 1987 to 1999, as well as an increase in forest edge and shape complexity. Of the landscape metrics used, the perimeter-to-area (P/A) ratio showed the strongest relationship with mean radiance of forest patches. In addition, there was a negative, linear relationship between distance from major roads and band 6 radiance of forested pixels. Overall, the study shows that landscape metrics can convey meaningful information on biophysical changes associated with forest fragmentation at broad scales. These changes suggest that ambient temperature increases associated with urban sprawl may have important, long-term implications for ecophysiological processes.     

小流域生态安全景观指标的提取方法研究

景观指标是生态安全指标的重要组成部分,以小流域为单元的生态安全景观指标体系的构建以及指标提取方法是区域生态安全评价的基础。基于GIS、景观结构分析软件fragstats,制作了小流域土地覆盖景观图。基于数字地形技术实现了小流域的划分,提取了秦皇岛市84个小流域的生态安全景观指标。对小流域土地覆盖景观制图、小流域生态安全评价景观指标体系的构建和提取方法进行了探索。     

A method for the use of landscape metrics in freshwater research and management

Freshwater research and management efforts could be greatly enhanced by a better understanding of the relationship between landscape-scale factors and water quality indicators. This is particularly true in urban areas, where land transformation impacts stream systems at a variety of scales. Despite advances in landscape quantification methods, several studies attempting to elucidate the relationship between land use/land cover (LULC) and water quality have resulted in mixed conclusions. However, these studies have largely relied on compositional landscape metrics. For urban and urbanizing watersheds in particular, the use of metrics that capture spatial pattern may further aid in distinguishing the effects of various urban growth patterns, as well as exploring the interplay between environmental and socioeconomic variables. However, to be truly useful for freshwater applications, pattern metrics must be optimized based on characteristic watershed properties and common water quality point sampling methods. Using a freely available LULC data set for the Santa Clara Basin, California, USA, we quantified landscape composition and configuration for subwatershed areas upstream of individual sampling sites, reducing the number of metrics based on: (1) sensitivity to changes in extent and (2) redundancy, as determined by a multivariate factor analysis. The first two factors, interpreted as (1) patch density and distribution and (2) patch shape and landscape subdivision, explained approximately 85% of the variation in the data set, and are highly reflective of the heterogeneous urban development pattern found in the study area. Although offering slightly less explanatory power, compositional metrics can provide important contextual information.