The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil
Estimates of tropical deforestation and forest degradation are misleading, partly because different studies make use of different forest definitions. This paper investigates the influence of this confusion on the assessment of forest extent and its spatial distribution, by means of fine-scaled land...
| Autor principal: | Colson, Filip |
|---|---|
| Outros Autores: | Bogaert, Jan, Carneiro Filho, Arnaldo, Nelson, Bruce Walker, Pinagé, Ekena Rangel, Ceulemans, Reinhart J. |
| Grau: | Artigo |
| Idioma: | English |
| Publicado em: |
Ecological Indicators
2020
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| Assuntos: | |
| Acesso em linha: |
https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/18397 |
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oai:repositorio:1-18397 |
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dspace |
| spelling |
oai:repositorio:1-18397 The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil Colson, Filip Bogaert, Jan Carneiro Filho, Arnaldo Nelson, Bruce Walker Pinagé, Ekena Rangel Ceulemans, Reinhart J. Amazon Basin Grass/r.Le Software Landscape Metrics Thematic Resolution Tropical Deforestation Ecosystems Landforms Tropics Urban Planning Deforestation Connectivity Deforestation Forest Cover Fragmentation Landscape Structure Patch Size Rainforest Savanna Software Spatial Distribution Basins Cities Computer Programs Deforestation Ecology Ecosystems Forest Canopy Forestry Geography Planning Plants Statistics Trees Amazon Basin Brasil Rondonia South America Estimates of tropical deforestation and forest degradation are misleading, partly because different studies make use of different forest definitions. This paper investigates the influence of this confusion on the assessment of forest extent and its spatial distribution, by means of fine-scaled land cover maps and landscape metrics. The state of Rondônia, Brazil, located in the southwestern part of the Amazon basin and known for its fishbone-like pattern of deforestation, is used as a study area. A 1:250 000 vector data product from the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE), describing the land cover type in a three-step hierarchy specifying canopy density, topography, and dominant life forms, was rasterized and analyzed. Forest subcategories were aggregated into a seven level gradient, ranging from a level that is very specific and only includes dense multi-layered rain forest, to less strict levels containing open forest systems, secondary vegetation, and tree savannas. We show that there is a consistent difference between the initial class aggregation level, and all other levels, which gradually broaden the forest definition and are characterized by very distinct ecological parameters, such as a higher mean patch size, increased levels of landscape connectivity and slightly more irregularly shaped patches. We recommend a harmonization of the major forest definitions in use today, while taking care not to lose the relevant ecological information that can be extracted from its most detailed classification level. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 2020-06-15T21:54:29Z 2020-06-15T21:54:29Z 2009 Artigo https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/18397 10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.02.001 en Volume 9, Número 6, Pags. 1163-1168 Restrito Ecological Indicators |
| institution |
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - Repositório Institucional |
| collection |
INPA-RI |
| language |
English |
| topic |
Amazon Basin Grass/r.Le Software Landscape Metrics Thematic Resolution Tropical Deforestation Ecosystems Landforms Tropics Urban Planning Deforestation Connectivity Deforestation Forest Cover Fragmentation Landscape Structure Patch Size Rainforest Savanna Software Spatial Distribution Basins Cities Computer Programs Deforestation Ecology Ecosystems Forest Canopy Forestry Geography Planning Plants Statistics Trees Amazon Basin Brasil Rondonia South America |
| spellingShingle |
Amazon Basin Grass/r.Le Software Landscape Metrics Thematic Resolution Tropical Deforestation Ecosystems Landforms Tropics Urban Planning Deforestation Connectivity Deforestation Forest Cover Fragmentation Landscape Structure Patch Size Rainforest Savanna Software Spatial Distribution Basins Cities Computer Programs Deforestation Ecology Ecosystems Forest Canopy Forestry Geography Planning Plants Statistics Trees Amazon Basin Brasil Rondonia South America Colson, Filip The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil |
| topic_facet |
Amazon Basin Grass/r.Le Software Landscape Metrics Thematic Resolution Tropical Deforestation Ecosystems Landforms Tropics Urban Planning Deforestation Connectivity Deforestation Forest Cover Fragmentation Landscape Structure Patch Size Rainforest Savanna Software Spatial Distribution Basins Cities Computer Programs Deforestation Ecology Ecosystems Forest Canopy Forestry Geography Planning Plants Statistics Trees Amazon Basin Brasil Rondonia South America |
| description |
Estimates of tropical deforestation and forest degradation are misleading, partly because different studies make use of different forest definitions. This paper investigates the influence of this confusion on the assessment of forest extent and its spatial distribution, by means of fine-scaled land cover maps and landscape metrics. The state of Rondônia, Brazil, located in the southwestern part of the Amazon basin and known for its fishbone-like pattern of deforestation, is used as a study area. A 1:250 000 vector data product from the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE), describing the land cover type in a three-step hierarchy specifying canopy density, topography, and dominant life forms, was rasterized and analyzed. Forest subcategories were aggregated into a seven level gradient, ranging from a level that is very specific and only includes dense multi-layered rain forest, to less strict levels containing open forest systems, secondary vegetation, and tree savannas. We show that there is a consistent difference between the initial class aggregation level, and all other levels, which gradually broaden the forest definition and are characterized by very distinct ecological parameters, such as a higher mean patch size, increased levels of landscape connectivity and slightly more irregularly shaped patches. We recommend a harmonization of the major forest definitions in use today, while taking care not to lose the relevant ecological information that can be extracted from its most detailed classification level. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
| format |
Artigo |
| author |
Colson, Filip |
| author2 |
Bogaert, Jan Carneiro Filho, Arnaldo Nelson, Bruce Walker Pinagé, Ekena Rangel Ceulemans, Reinhart J. |
| author2Str |
Bogaert, Jan Carneiro Filho, Arnaldo Nelson, Bruce Walker Pinagé, Ekena Rangel Ceulemans, Reinhart J. |
| title |
The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_short |
The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_full |
The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_fullStr |
The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in Rondônia, Brazil |
| title_sort |
influence of forest definition on landscape fragmentation assessment in rondônia, brazil |
| publisher |
Ecological Indicators |
| publishDate |
2020 |
| url |
https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/18397 |
| _version_ |
1787144139067883520 |
| score |
11.755432 |