Process- Versus Pattern-Based Measures of Fragmentation: A Simulated Sensitivity Analysis

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dc.contributor.advisorRemmel, Tarmo
dc.contributor.authorKerr, Barbara
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-18T21:26:35Z
dc.date.available2024-07-18T21:26:35Z
dc.date.copyright2024-04-29
dc.date.issued2024-07-18
dc.date.updated2024-07-18T21:26:35Z
dc.degree.disciplineGeography
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractLandscape fragmentation, which has demonstrated links to habitat loss, increased isolation, a loss of connectivity, decreased biodiversity, and reduced connectivity is difficult to quantify. Traditional metrics have been calculated using landscape patterns of composition and configuration. The objective of this study was to examine an alternative process-based approach using the cost of traversing a landscape as a proxy for fragmentation and compare it with the traditional approach. One thousand binary landscapes varying in composition and configuration were simulated, and least-cost path analysis provided the data to calculate the process-based metrics, which were compared with the computed pattern-based metrics. The process-based quantification of landscape fragmentation was more sensitive to landscape fragmentation than a pattern-based quantification. My study provides a methodological foundation for further studies as it is not associated with a specific species or ecological process, and thus can be easily adapted to numerous settings.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/42187
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectPhysical geography
dc.subjectGeographic information science
dc.subject.keywordsLandscape ecology
dc.subject.keywordsFragmentation
dc.subject.keywordsSimulation
dc.subject.keywordsLeast-cost path
dc.subject.keywordsCost-distance
dc.titleProcess- Versus Pattern-Based Measures of Fragmentation: A Simulated Sensitivity Analysis
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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