Landscape Metrics
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چکیده
Understanding the relationship between landscape pattern and ecological processes constitutes the foundation of landscape ecology. Generally, a set of landscape metrics is derived from land cover maps, and subsequently related with a measured ecological response by statistical methods to assess their prediction power. Here, I reviewed several concepts regarding these pattern-process interactions, the main shortcomings of landscape metrics, and the techniques used to diminish or reduced the problems. In addition, I examined several real-world and simulation attempts to understand and describe such interactions. I also decided to conduct an exercise on this topic, and gain experience for my research needs. The general perception is that three basic problems are found with the utilization of landscape metrics. These are: a high degree of correlation among metrics, ambiguous responses for different conditions, and sensitivity to changes in spatial scale (grain and extent). However, several statistical techniques like factor analysis, and the utilization of interactions between landscape metrics have been proposed to reduce redundant information, and diminish ambiguity respectively. Promising results have been documented regarding the utilization of landscape metrics as explanatory factor for bird’s abundance, and stream water quality. Both approaches have in common the statement that habitat amount is more important than habitat fragmentation when predicting a system’s response. The results of assessing the power of landscape metrics to predict the behavior of invasive spread in the State of Utah for the period 1995 – 2004 were not entirely successful. Yet, the overall results exhibited agreement with the importance of habitat amount mentioned before. A common context derived from this review and the exercise is that landscape metrics are a potential tool for management purposes, provided that they are generated accordingly to the research question, are well interpreted, and most importantly, are not used independently of the ecology dynamics on the landscape.
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