Influence of the resolution of forest cover maps in evaluating fragmentation and connectivity to assess habitat conservation status Articles uri icon

authors

  • HERNANDO, A.
  • VELAZQUEZ, J.
  • VALBUENA, R
  • LEGRAND, MATHIEU
  • GARCIA ABRIL, A

publication date

  • August 2017

start page

  • 295

end page

  • 302

volume

  • 79

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1470-160X

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1872-7034

abstract

  • The analysis of fragmentation and habitat connectivity is important in determining their conservation status and ensuring their long-term survival. However, the reliability of assessments on habitat conservation status may depend on the resolution of forest cover maps used as inputs. The aim of this paper is to quantify differences in the results of habitat fragmentation and connectivity analysis found when using three different forest cover maps of various resolutions, and discusses their effect in the assessment of habitat conservation status. The study was conducted in a Natura 2000 habitat (9120:Atlantic acidophilous beech forests) in Spain. To measure fragmentation, we carried out a morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) which provided a very detailed spatial landscape description (core, islet, bridge, loop, branch and perforation elements).

keywords

  • fragmentation; connectivity; habitat conservation status; spatial resolution; forest cover maps; obia; gis; remote sensing; natura 2000