Acta Scientiarum: Technology (Jul 2018)

<b>Spatial dimension landscape metrics of Atlantic Forest remnants in Paraná State, Brazil

  • Igor José Malfetoni Ferreira,
  • José Hilário Delconte Ferreira,
  • Paulo Agenor Alves Bueno,
  • Luciane Maria Vieira,
  • Raquel de Oliveira Bueno,
  • Edivando Vitor do Couto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4025/actascitechnol.v40i1.36503
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 40, no. 1
pp. e36503 – e36503

Abstract

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Forest fragmentation may negatively impact fauna and flora. An important tool for the development and implementation of research on these effects is the use of a geographic information system (GIS). This paper aims to perform an integrated analysis of the landscape fragments that compose the Alonzo River watershed, Paraná State, by using remote sensing tools and landscape ecology metrics. The analyzed landscape metrics were Patton’s index, total area of the patches, edge length, edge density, forest fragment density, and the core area of the patches. The results showed 888 forest patches with area values ranging from 0.15 ha to 2509.82 ha, and it represents 12.5% of the total forest land cover of the studied basin; this means that 85.3% of the forest patches are less than 50 ha and that 75% of those fragments have a Patton’s index value of less than 3.9. The fragments that compose the studied area may be subject to edge effects and biodiversity loss as long as they present reduced areas and small core areas. Thus, the use of GIS and landscape ecology metrics is a quick and efficient way to evaluate the effect of fragmentation over large areas.

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