Table 6.1 Landscape level indicators of habitat change in support of land management at BNP
(Stratmann et al. 2010)
No. Indicator
Interpretation of measure
1
Diversity of land
cover categories
% share of open habitats per area unit, % share of shrub and forest
habitats per area unit
2
Presence of water
% share of water bodies per area unit
3
Richness of landscape
components/
elements
Number of various elements
4
Landscape diversity
index (LDI)
Evaluation of diversity of land cover types in a given area, based
on land-use maps, remote sensing and calculation of land-use
classes within a defined area
5
Effective mesh size
(EMS)
The effective mesh size measures landscape fragmentation due to
linear elements such as technical infrastructure; the indicator
measures landscape fragmentation in ha, ranging from 0 ha
(totally fragmented) to the area size of the largest patch investigated for the region (the procedure is described by Moser
et al. 2007)
6
Land cover diversity
based on data from
remote sensing and
interpretation of
imagery
NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) – the index calculated from light reflectances measured in the visible and near
infrared channels as the normalised difference between the near
infrared and red reflectance values; NDVI is related to the
fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by
chlorophyll; NDVI has been correlated with a variety of vegetation parameters such as abundance, productivity and biomass
LAI (Leaf Area Index) – a dimensionless variable defined as the
maximal projected leaf area per unit ground surface area. LAI is
used in remote sensing to quantify many biological and physical
processes such as primary productivity, plant respiration, transpiration, photosynthesis and nutrient cycles
VM (Vegetation Moisture) – the vegetation water content is defined
as water volume per leaf or ground area of the amount of water
per dry vegetation mass and is applied to assess e.g. water deficit
or drought stress in vegetation
7
Edge density/spatial
configuration/variation of element
shape
Expressed as ratio: length per area unit; e.g. m/ha
8
Habitat fragmentation/patchiness
Number of patches per area unit; e.g. 1 ¼ one large open area;
2 ¼ split open area; 3 ¼ patchy open area
9
Area visually affected
by disturbance
% of area classified as visually disturbed per area unit
10 Agricultural intensity
index
Agricultural intensity index measures the proportion of intensively
used agricultural area in the total agricultural area; constitutes a
common indicator to measure intensification of agriculture
11 Changes in ranges of
plant communities
Observation of changes based on field measurements and mapping/
study of archival data
12 Wind and water erosion/physical degradation of land
cover/denudation
Number of sand dunes, erosion gullies, etc. features per area unit;
change in soil and water coloration according to Munsell scale
6 Indicators for Monitoring Climate Change-Induced Effects on Habitats. . .
81
(Stratmann et al. 2010)
No. Indicator
Interpretation of measure
1
Diversity of land
cover categories
% share of open habitats per area unit, % share of shrub and forest
habitats per area unit
2
Presence of water
% share of water bodies per area unit
3
Richness of landscape
components/
elements
Number of various elements
4
Landscape diversity
index (LDI)
Evaluation of diversity of land cover types in a given area, based
on land-use maps, remote sensing and calculation of land-use
classes within a defined area
5
Effective mesh size
(EMS)
The effective mesh size measures landscape fragmentation due to
linear elements such as technical infrastructure; the indicator
measures landscape fragmentation in ha, ranging from 0 ha
(totally fragmented) to the area size of the largest patch investigated for the region (the procedure is described by Moser
et al. 2007)
6
Land cover diversity
based on data from
remote sensing and
interpretation of
imagery
NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) – the index calculated from light reflectances measured in the visible and near
infrared channels as the normalised difference between the near
infrared and red reflectance values; NDVI is related to the
fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by
chlorophyll; NDVI has been correlated with a variety of vegetation parameters such as abundance, productivity and biomass
LAI (Leaf Area Index) – a dimensionless variable defined as the
maximal projected leaf area per unit ground surface area. LAI is
used in remote sensing to quantify many biological and physical
processes such as primary productivity, plant respiration, transpiration, photosynthesis and nutrient cycles
VM (Vegetation Moisture) – the vegetation water content is defined
as water volume per leaf or ground area of the amount of water
per dry vegetation mass and is applied to assess e.g. water deficit
or drought stress in vegetation
7
Edge density/spatial
configuration/variation of element
shape
Expressed as ratio: length per area unit; e.g. m/ha
8
Habitat fragmentation/patchiness
Number of patches per area unit; e.g. 1 ¼ one large open area;
2 ¼ split open area; 3 ¼ patchy open area
9
Area visually affected
by disturbance
% of area classified as visually disturbed per area unit
10 Agricultural intensity
index
Agricultural intensity index measures the proportion of intensively
used agricultural area in the total agricultural area; constitutes a
common indicator to measure intensification of agriculture
11 Changes in ranges of
plant communities
Observation of changes based on field measurements and mapping/
study of archival data
12 Wind and water erosion/physical degradation of land
cover/denudation
Number of sand dunes, erosion gullies, etc. features per area unit;
change in soil and water coloration according to Munsell scale
6 Indicators for Monitoring Climate Change-Induced Effects on Habitats. . .
81