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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 />

650<br />

Figure 3. New housing areas on the study area of Tartu <strong>and</strong> gradients along main roads (Tartu-Valga,<br />

Tartu-Võru). Soils are classified according to their suitability for agricultural activities (Kõlli, 1994).<br />

The analysis of gradients showed that all the l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics analyzed indicate very well<br />

housing density as edge density, patch density <strong>and</strong> Simpson’s diversity index had higher values<br />

with higher housing densities <strong>and</strong> in case of mean shape index it was vice versa. The distance<br />

from the road appeared to play more important role than distance from the city in existing<br />

patterns of housing (Figure 4). However it can be assumed that housing densities decrease as<br />

we move away from the city <strong>and</strong> from the road but these results not show very clear trends. Part<br />

of it was beacause small settlements near roads that give higher peaks of edge density, patch<br />

density <strong>and</strong> Simpson’s diversity index. Nevertheless the l<strong>and</strong>scape was more fragmented in<br />

300m − 1000m then in 0m − 300m <strong>and</strong> 1000m − 2000m. This shows that the housing tends to<br />

exp<strong>and</strong> not directly near the main road but a little bit farther. People prefer to get quickly out of<br />

the city by main road <strong>and</strong> then move up to 1km away from the main road.<br />

800<br />

700<br />

edge density (m/ha)<br />

600<br />

500<br />

400<br />

300<br />

200<br />

100<br />

100m<br />

300m<br />

500m<br />

1000m<br />

1500m<br />

2000m<br />

0<br />

2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000<br />

distance from city (m)<br />

Figure 4. Gradients of edge density for Tartu-Valga road in Tartu study area in year 2005. 100m, 300m,<br />

500m, 1000m, 1500m <strong>and</strong> 2000m mark the distance of the gradient from the road.<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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