Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s002670010136
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Title (Primary) Landscape metrics for the assessment of landscape destruction and rehabilitation
Author Herzog, F.; Lausch, A.; Müller, E.; Thulke, H.-H. ORCID logo ; Steinhardt, U.; Lehmann, S.
Source Titel Environmental Management
Year 2001
Department CLE; OESA
Volume 27
Issue 1
Page From 91
Page To 107
Language englisch
Keywords Landscape change; Landscape monitoring; Environmental indicator; Historical land use; Surface mining
Abstract This investigation tested the usefulness of geometry-based landscape metrics for monitoring landscapes in a heavily disturbed environment. Research was carried out in a 75 sq km study area in Saxony, eastern Germany, where the landscape has been affected by surface mining and agricultural intensification. Landscape metrics were calculated from digital maps (1912, 1944, 1973, 1989) for the entire study area and for subregions (river valleys, plains), which were defined using the original geology and topography of the region. Correlation and factor analyses were used to select a set of landscape metrics suitable for landscape monitoring. Little land-use change occurred in the first half of the century, but political decisions and technological developments led to considerable change later. Metrics showed a similar pattern with almost no change between 1912 and 1944, but dramatic changes after 1944. Nonparametric statistical methods were used to test whether metrics differed between river valleys and plains. Significant differences in the metrics for these regions were found in the early maps (1912, 1944), but these differences were not significant in 1973 or 1989. These findings indicate that anthropogenic influences created a more homogeneous landscape.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=6420
Herzog, F., Lausch, A., Müller, E., Thulke, H.-H., Steinhardt, U., Lehmann, S. (2001):
Landscape metrics for the assessment of landscape destruction and rehabilitation
Environ. Manage. 27 (1), 91 - 107 10.1007/s002670010136