A New Combined Index to Assess the Fragmentation Status of a Forest Patch Based on Its Size, Shape Complexity, and Isolation

There are many local fragmentation metrics, but most can be grouped into four types (composition/area, isolation, edge, and shape), none of them alone determines the degree a patch. Here, we together main metrics (area, shape, isolation) in order to propose new metric/index, Patch Fragmentation Index (PFI), with which determine at patch scale. The index was subsequently verified Ecuadorian seasonal dry forest by employing geographic information layers temporal land uses changes 1990, 2000, 2008, 2018. PFI applied calculate per patch, spatial based on were assessed, patterns (Getis-Ord Gi * analysis) calculated. obtained mean value 0.88 (median = 0.99) This has increased 8.6% since 3451 patches disappeared between 1990 Getis-Ord analysis effective regard describing patterns, 62% that classified as hot had proven useful tool describe scale (regardless its size) extrapolated other landscapes. will provide vision help decision-making related conservation management fragmented ecosystems.