Monitoring Landscape Spatial Patterns: Morphological Concepts and Biodiversity Related Applications

A theoretical and application framework for monitoring the state and dynamics of forest spatial pattern is presented. Starting from a binary forest map, forested pixels are classified as "perforated", "edge", "patch", "core", "connector" and "branch". These six spatial pattern classes contribute information related to fragmentation and structural connectivity. Fragmentation processes are related to the size and frequency distribution of core forest units, and the proportion and type of edges, perforation and patches. Structural connectivity is addressed with the amount and type of connectors and branches. Spatial pattern information is then analyzed together with movement pathways of an interior forest species to investigate the relation of structural patterns and functional behavior.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard