Research into the sensitivity of fragmentation metrics

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Forest- and landscape fragmentation is being quantified by fragmentation metrics (landscape metrics) in landscape ecology and forest inventory. These metrics base upon measurable attributes such as area and perimeter length. They are used as operational indicators for large area biodiversity assessment and monitoring. Calculation of fragmentation metrics is sensitive to factors like (1) spatial resolution (horizontal and vertical), (2) class- and (3) edge-definition and (4) topography. It is contended that fragmentation metrics need to be interpreted in the context of their sensitivity to these factors.Objective of the proposed study is to improve the interpretability of fragmentation metrics through analysing their sensitivity to the above factors. This is of particular importance when metrics are to be compared (either from different regions or from the same region at different points in time). In the proposed study, at first simulation studies will be carried out on theoretical geometrical grounds. Then, focus is then on fragmented forest landscapes in Costa Rica that will be analysed from remote sensing imagery (including DLR data of the new German radar satellite TerraSAR-X) and field data. Application examples will be elaborated (relationship to biodiversity data within the study sites; and analysis of time series of fragmentation metrics).Close cooperation with Costa Rican partners is (CATIE and UNA) is agreed. The study has a methodological focus; findings apply to any land cover class.