Patch analysis of forest vegetation in Tottori prefecture [Japan] using GIS
2004
Nagasawa, R. (Tottori Univ. (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Suzuki, K.
Summary This study discusses the characteristics of forest vegetation patches on the basis of a quantative analysis using the Geographic Information System (GIS). For this purpose, land use and vegetation maps were prepared for the detection of forest patches, then the patches were measured in size and shape according to the forest type (coniferous, deciduous and mixed forest). The study covers the total area of 3,500 square km in the Tottori Prefecture. As a result of study, 8,474 patches were identified with a ratio of deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests of 36.4%, 35.5% and 22.4%, respectively. The average patch size of patch was largest for coniferous, followed by mixed forest and deciduous. The number of patches was largest for deciduous, followed by mixed forest arid coniferous. The deciduous patches were the most-finely fragmented, especially in the eastern and western part of the prefecture. The shape index value such as compactness, elongation and grain shape index are also measured using GIS tools and the relations between these were analyzed. Compactness can be used as a shape index for patch evaluation in terms of wildlife habitats. In this study, a biogeographical examination of wildlife birds in conjunction with deciduous patches was also attempted as an example.
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