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Landscapes Forest and Global Change - ESA - Escola Superior ...

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E. Uuemaa et al. 2010. Spatial gradients of l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics as an indicator of human influence on l<strong>and</strong>scape<br />

647<br />

Spatial gradients of l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics as an indicator of human<br />

influence on l<strong>and</strong>scape<br />

Evelyn Uuemaa * , Ramon Reimets, Tõnu Oja, Arno Kanal & Ülo M<strong>and</strong>er<br />

Department of Geography, Institute of Ecology <strong>and</strong> Earth Sciences, University of Tartu,<br />

Estonia<br />

Abstract<br />

L<strong>and</strong>scape metrics have been widely used for mapping of l<strong>and</strong> cover/use change <strong>and</strong> analysing<br />

relationships between l<strong>and</strong>scape pattern <strong>and</strong> processes. Natural factors <strong>and</strong> human activity<br />

diversify <strong>and</strong> homogenize l<strong>and</strong>scape simultaneously. The aim of our study was to analyze the<br />

extent <strong>and</strong> magnitude of human influence on l<strong>and</strong>scape along l<strong>and</strong>scape gradients near main<br />

roads. We calculated several l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics for gradients along main roads of Tartu <strong>and</strong><br />

Tallinn on Estonian Basic Map (1:10 000) from different years (1997/1998 <strong>and</strong> 2004/2005). We<br />

compared the gradients of l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics to determine how the anthropogenic areas have<br />

exp<strong>and</strong>ed in 10 years <strong>and</strong> whether the housing <strong>and</strong> infrastructure tend to exp<strong>and</strong> more quickly<br />

on fertile soils. The results showed that the housing has mostly exp<strong>and</strong>ed on fields eliminating<br />

the possibility to use fertile soils for agriculture or foresting. The pressure on forest areas was<br />

not as intense as on agricultural areas. The gradients enable to compare the changes in l<strong>and</strong>scape<br />

structure in time <strong>and</strong> space at the same time.<br />

Keywords: spatial gradients, l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics, settlement structure<br />

1. Introduction<br />

<strong>Change</strong>s in l<strong>and</strong>scape are caused by natural <strong>and</strong> anthropogenic factors. Natural changes occur<br />

during a long time, mostly due to climate change. The anthropogenic impact on l<strong>and</strong>scapes is<br />

expressed by changes in l<strong>and</strong> use related primarily to changes in the settlement structure.<br />

Natural factors <strong>and</strong> human activity diversify <strong>and</strong> homogenize l<strong>and</strong>scape simultaneously.<br />

L<strong>and</strong>scape metrics that means all parameters that quantify the spatial pattern of l<strong>and</strong>scape from<br />

topographic measures (Vivoni et al. 2005) to proportions of l<strong>and</strong> use/cover, shape <strong>and</strong> area<br />

metrics (Palmer 2004) have been suggested for measuring l<strong>and</strong>scape diversity. These metrics<br />

enable to evaluate habitat suitability for animals <strong>and</strong> birds (Weiers et al. 2004), nutrient fluxes<br />

<strong>and</strong> losses (Uuemaa et al. 2005). Attempts to relate l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics to human perception of a<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scape have been made as well (Antrop <strong>and</strong> Van Eetvelde 2000). Both human activities <strong>and</strong><br />

those of other biota in l<strong>and</strong>scape may be generalised as l<strong>and</strong>scape consumption (Oja, Prede<br />

2004).<br />

Different software has been developed to calculate l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics like FRAGSTATS<br />

(McGarigal <strong>and</strong> Marks 1995) but there are no unambiguously interpretable indicators <strong>and</strong> there<br />

can be found numerous researches on the issue of the use/interpretation of l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics<br />

(Wu 2004, Uuemaa et al. 2005, Oja et al. 2005, Uuemaa et al. 2007).<br />

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +372 52 27 830 - Fax: +372 7375 825<br />

Email address: evelyn.uuemaa@ut.ee<br />

<strong>Forest</strong> <strong>L<strong>and</strong>scapes</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Change</strong>-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation <strong>and</strong> Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO L<strong>and</strong>scape Ecology<br />

Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)<br />

2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.

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