Conservation corridors, areas of land connecting patches of natural land cover, are frequently cited and implemented as a restorative strategy to counteract fragmentation. Current corridor ecology focuses on experimental corridor systems or designed and built conservation corridors to assess functionality. Such systems and designs are typically short, straight swaths of homogenous land cover with unambiguous transitions between patches. Quantifying the degree to which amorphous landscape configurations, tortuosity, and heterogeneity of land cover and land uses within the corridor has on functional connectedness is a crucial yet overlooked component of corridor efficacy studies. Corridor literature lacks a robust and repeatable methodology for delineating existing landscape elements, recognizing arbitrary edges, and identifying the start and end of ambiguous transitions between the patches and corridor. Using a set of landscapes being studied as part of a global assessment of corridor efficacy, I designed a workflow that standardizes the boundary of corridor-patch interfaces. The proposed method is a quantitative and repeatable approach that minimizes the subjectivity in corridor delineations. This research investigates the degree to which the existence of a corridor modifies the structural and functional connectivity between patches connected by a corridor compared to an intact reference area.

Die fortlaufenden Veränderungen von Landnutzung und Landschaftsstruktur in Europa und weltweit beeinflussen zunehmend die Fähigkeit der Landschaft, Ökosystemleistungen (Versorgungs-, Regulierungs- und kulturelle Leistungen) bereitzustellen, und führen zum Verlust historisch gewachsener Kulturlandschaften. Dabei haben Geschwindigkeit und Intensität dieser Veränderungsprozesse seit den 1960er Jahren deutlich zugenommen und die Verfügbarkeit und Qualität von Ökosystemleistungen signifikant verändert. In den in dieser Arbeit untersuchten Agrarräumen hat sich zum Beispiel das Erosionsrisiko (im Sinne eines Verlustes an natürlichem Erosionsschutz als Indikator für Regulierungsleistung) durch die Ausräumung der Landschaft und Bildung großflächiger Agrarflächen wesentlich erhöht und das natürliche Ertragspotential (Indikator für Versorgungsleistung) wurde durch zunehmende Bodendegradation gemindert. Das Risiko von Biodiversitätsabnahme (Indikator für kulturelle Leistung) ist durch Habitatverlust und zunehmender Homogenisierung der Standorte sowie durch veränderte Bewirtschaftungspraktiken (Technisierung und Chemisierung) stark angestiegen. Dabei kommt der Biodiversität eine Schlüsselrolle bei der Nahrungsmittelproduktion, bei Nährstoff- und Wasserkreisläufen oder dem Erosionsschutz sowie der Gesundheitsfürsorge (z. B. Erholung) zu. Andererseits konnten durch Meliorationsmaßnahmen und unter Einsatz neuer Bewirtschaftungspraktiken die Getreideerträge (Indikator für Versorgungsleistung) seit Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts verdoppelt werden. Zielsetzung der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, anhand von zwei ausgewählten Untersuchungsgebieten räumlich explizit und quantitativ Veränderungen in der Landnutzung und der Landschaftsstruktur und die Auswirkungen dieser Veränderungen auf ausgewählte bodenbezogene Ökosystemleistungen für den Zeitraum von 1750 bis 2018 zu analysieren. Damit soll ein Beitrag geleistet werden, historische und heutige Landnutzungsänderungen im Kontext gesellschaftspolitischer und ökonomischer Rahmenbedingungen zu verstehen und hinsichtlich ihrer Auswirkungen auf eine nachhaltige Landnutzung, auf die Erhaltung der Biodiversität sowie auf die Vermeidung von Landschafts- und Bodendegradation zu bewerten und entsprechende Handlungsempfehlungen ableiten zu können.:Zusammenfassung II Abstract IV Danksagung VI Inhaltsverzeichnis VII Abbildungs- und Tabellenverzeichnis VIII 1 Einführung 1 1.1 Einfluss von Landschaftsveränderungen auf Ökosystemleistungen 1 1.2 Rekonstruktion historischer Landschaftszustände seit 1750 als Ausgangspunkt einer historisch-ökologischen Landschaftsanalyse 5 1.3 Von der Landschaftsanalyse zur Bewertung von Ökosystemleistungen 15 2 Ergebnisse und Diskussion 18 2.1 Veränderung der Landschaftsstruktur und treibende Kräfte 18 2.2 Veränderung der Ökosystemleistungen 25 2.3 Methodische Herausforderungen bei historischen Analysen 33 3 Schlussfolgerung 35 Literatur 37 Anhang X A1: Changes in landscape structure and ecosystem services since 1850 analyzed using landscape metrics in two German municipalities. X A2: Land use change in an agricultural landscape causing degradation of soil based ecosystem services XXIV A3: Changes of landscape structure and soil production function since the 18th century in northwest Saxony XXXVI A4: Landschaftsdynamik und Produktionsfunktion im Kontext gesellschaftlicher und ökonomischer Veränderungen seit dem 18. Jahrhundert im Raum Taucha-Eilenburg L A5: Erklärung zur Autorenschaft LXXXVI A6: Bibliographische Informationen LXXXIX / Ongoing changes in land use and landscape structure in Europe and worldwide are increasingly affecting the ability of the landscape to provide ecosystem services (provisioning, regulation and cultural services). Furthermore, they lead to the loss of historically cultural landscapes. In the process, the speed and intensity of these change processes have increased markedly since the 1960s and significantly affecting the availability and quality of ecosystem services. In the agricultural areas studied in this paper, for example, the risk of erosion (indicator of regulating service) has increased substantially due to the clearing of the countryside and formation of large-scale agricultural areas, and the natural yield potential (indicators of provisioning service) has been reduced by increasing soil degradation. The risk of biodiversity (indicator of cultural service) decline has greatly increased due to habitat loss and increasing homogenisation of sites, and changes in farming practices (mechanisation and chemicalisation). In this context, biodiversity plays a key role in food production, nutrient and water cycles or erosion control, as well as health care (e.g. recreation). On the other hand, improvement measures and the use of new farming practices have doubled cereal yields (indicators of provisioning service) since the beginning of the 20th century. The objective of this paper is to spatially and quantitatively analyse changes in land use and landscape structure and the effects of these changes on selected soil-related ecosystem services for the period from 1750 to 2018, using two selected study areas. The aim is to contribute to understanding historical and present-day land use changes in the context of socio-political and economic framework conditions and to evaluate them with regard to their effects on sustainable land use, on the conservation of biodiversity, and on the prevention of landscape and soil degradation, and to be able to derive respective recommendations for action.:Zusammenfassung II Abstract IV Danksagung VI Inhaltsverzeichnis VII Abbildungs- und Tabellenverzeichnis VIII 1 Einführung 1 1.1 Einfluss von Landschaftsveränderungen auf Ökosystemleistungen 1 1.2 Rekonstruktion historischer Landschaftszustände seit 1750 als Ausgangspunkt einer historisch-ökologischen Landschaftsanalyse 5 1.3 Von der Landschaftsanalyse zur Bewertung von Ökosystemleistungen 15 2 Ergebnisse und Diskussion 18 2.1 Veränderung der Landschaftsstruktur und treibende Kräfte 18 2.2 Veränderung der Ökosystemleistungen 25 2.3 Methodische Herausforderungen bei historischen Analysen 33 3 Schlussfolgerung 35 Literatur 37 Anhang X A1: Changes in landscape structure and ecosystem services since 1850 analyzed using landscape metrics in two German municipalities. X A2: Land use change in an agricultural landscape causing degradation of soil based ecosystem services XXIV A3: Changes of landscape structure and soil production function since the 18th century in northwest Saxony XXXVI A4: Landschaftsdynamik und Produktionsfunktion im Kontext gesellschaftlicher und ökonomischer Veränderungen seit dem 18. Jahrhundert im Raum Taucha-Eilenburg L A5: Erklärung zur Autorenschaft LXXXVI A6: Bibliographische Informationen LXXXIX

Abstract :The main goal of this stud y was to quantify the effect s of landscape structure on the abundance of Ruby-throate d Hummingbird s (Archilochus colubris) in forest patches and this, while accounting for its indirect effects on open flower community an d the occurrence of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker s (Sphympicus varius), a potential commensal of hummingbirds. We sampled 40 forest patches (0. 5 to >10 0 ha ) where we had installed 2 nectar feeders (forest edge and 40 m within forest ) during 2 breeding season s (2006 and 2007) . We visited forest patches weekly and recorded the number of hummingbirds detected within 10 m of feeders during 10 min. Mean daily artificial nectar consumption by hummingbirds, as well as their relative total abundance an d the respective relative abundance of adult males and females, were all affected by forest cover. Except for the relative total abundance, this effect of forest cover depended upon the size of forest patches. Nectar consumption and abundance generally peaked in forest patches of intermediate size found in landscapes characterized by intermediate forest cover. Mea n daily artificial nectar consumption and the relative total abundance, a s well as that of males, were higher at feeders located on the forest edge compared to 40 m inside forest patches. Regarding indirect landscape effects, landscape structure influenced the structure of open flower communities surrounding feeders, which in turn, affected the relative total abundance of hummingbirds, a s well as that of adult males. On the other hand, we failed to find strong evidence that landscape structure affected the occurrence of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers or that the latter influenced Ruby-throated Hummingbird abundance patterns. These results support the idea that landscape structure may affect the abundance pattern of a species directly as well as through mechanisms which are themselves dependent upon the composition and configuration of landscapes //Résumé : La structure des paysages peut influencer l'écologie d'une espèce directement, en contraignant ses mouvements, par exemple, de même qu'indirectement en affectant, entre autres, l'abondance de ses proies ou prédateurs. Quoique plusieurs études aient tenté de quantifier l'influence de la structure du paysage sur les patrons d'abondance, rares sont celles qui ont mesuré simultanément les effets directs et indirects du paysage. L'objectif de ce mémoire consiste à modéliser simultanément les effets directs de la structure du paysage sur l'abondance relative du Colibri à gorge rubis ( Archilochus colubris ) et sa consommation de nectar artificiel ainsi que les effets indirects par lesquels le paysage peut aussi agir tels la disponibilité en ressources alimentaires (communautés floristiques) et la relation interspécifique de commensalisme avec le Pic maculé ( Sphyrapicus varius ). Pour ce faire, j'ai échantillonné 40 îlots forestiers (0,5 à >100 ha) dans la région de l'Estrie (Québec, Canada). À chacun d'eux, j'ai installé deux abreuvoirs (en bordure et 40 m à l'intérieur) durant les étés 2006 et 2007 et ont été visités de façon hebdomadaire. J'ai détecté une relation quadratique du couvert forestier dans le paysage avec l'abondance totale relative, celle des mâles et des femelles ainsi que pour la consommation quotidienne moyenne. Ces effets varient en fonction de la taille d'îlot sauf pour l'abondance relative totale. Les valeurs maximales se situent à des niveaux intermédiaires de couvert forestier et de taille d'îlots. Certaines caractéristiques mesurées étaient à l'échelle locale comme la position de l'abreuvoir dans l'îlot forestier ou la structure de la végétation. J'ai détecté un effet de bordure pour toutes les variables sauf l'abondance des femelles. L'indice de structure de végétation n'avait d'influence que sur l'abondance des mâles. Concernant les effets indirects, l'ensemble des variables du paysage explique 69,61% de l'indice de communauté floristique et ce dernier a un effet significatif sur l'abondance totale et l'abondance des colibris mâles. Pour la relation avec le pic, les variables du paysage mesurées n'ont pas permis de détecter un effet. De plus, bien qu'étant une variable non significative, les modèles incluant la présence du Pic maculé étaient généralement parmi les plus performants. L'ensemble de ces résultats soutient l'importance de combiner l'écologie du paysage et l'écologie comportementale dans les mêmes modèles afin de tenir compte non seulement des effets directs mais aussi des effets indirects du paysage //

Invasões biológicas representam atualmente a segunda maior ameaça à biodiversidade e dois fatores são considerados os mais importantes para o sucesso de invasões: pressão de propágulos e distúrbios. Um tipo de distúrbio antrópico que pode promover invasões, por mudar a quantidade de habitats alterados e a extensão de bordas entre eles e habitats nativos, é a perda de habitat. Apesar da reconhecida importância da pressão de propágulos e dos distúrbios, poucos estudos os investigaram simultaneamente e, os que o fizeram, apresentam limitações, como escalas espaciais pequenas e correlações entre os determinantes, dificultando a compreensão da importância relativa e interações entre eles. Cachorros são os carnívoros mais abundantes no mundo. Em áreas rurais, a maioria mantém comportamento de animal de vida de livre, interagindo com e afetando espécies nativas através de predação, transmissão de doenças e competição. Usando um banco de dados obtido através de armadilhas fotográficas e censo da população de cachorros em uma região de Mata Atlântica de 300,000 ha, avaliamos a importância relativa e interações entre pressão de propágulos e distúrbios para a invasão por cachorros. Selecionamos 12 paisagens de 2830 ha cada, variando de 10 a 50% de floresta nativa remanescente. Em cada uma, alocamos através de amostragem aleatória estratificada 8 pontos de amostragem em florestas nativas, onde uma armadilha fotográfica foi instalada por ∼42 dias consecutivos. Todos os domicílios em cada paisagem foram visitados para a contagem do número de cachorros. A pressão de propágulos foi quantificada como a densidade de cachorros criados e a média e mediana das distâncias entre os locais de criação e a floresta nativa mais próxima; e distúrbios, como a proporção da paisagem ocupada por floresta nativa e total (nativa e exótica) e a extensão de bordas entre florestas nativas e áreas abertas. Através da identificação de cachorros nas fotos e considerando cada paisagem como uma unidade amostral, nós comparamos por AICc modelos de abundância (N-mixture) para estimar a abundância de cachorros em florestas nativas, considerando a detecção imperfeita. O único modelo selecionado indica que a abundância de cachorros em florestas nativas é maior onde a densidade de cachorros é mais alta e a cobertura florestal total é menor (ωi=0.82). A densidade de cachorros criados foi mais importante que a distribuição espacial dos indivíduos, e a cobertura floresta total mais importante que a extensão de bordas, para a abundância de cachorros invasores. A abundância estimada de cachorros variou de 12 a 79 (30.9 ± 19.5), e a proporção de cachorros criados que invadem florestas de 6 a 21% (12 ± 6%), entre as paisagens. Nossos resultados indicam que a perda de habitat é tão importante quanto a pressão de propágulos para a invasão de florestas nativas por cachorros, mas seus efeitos são aditivos em vez de sinérgicos. Dado que cachorros frequentemente realizam movimentos longos em áreas abertas, nós levantamos a hipótese de que a capacidade de deslocamento é a causa do efeito desprezível da distribuição espacial dos indivíduos criados sobre a invasão, e que florestas representam barreiras a estes movimentos, tornando o efeito da cobertura florestal mais importante do que o efeito da extensão de bordas (mais relacionada a extensão de acesso a floresta). Além disso, o número e proporção de cachorros invasores são expressivos, colocando o cachorro na posição de carnívoro mais abundante em remanescentes florestais. Junto com os conhecidos impactos severos de cachorros sobre espécies nativas, estes números sugerem a urgência de planos de ação para controlar a invasão por cachorros. Além dos métodos tradicionais de controle populacional, o contexto da paisagem deve ser levado em conta nestes planos. Paisagens muito desmatadas devem ser priorizadas, e manter e restaurar florestas também devem ser valorizados pelos efeitos negativos sobre invasões biológicas. Por fim, dada a associação da invasão por cachorros com a perda de habitat e com a densidade de cachorros e da população humana, sugerimos que pelo menos parte dos efeitos negativos sobre mamíferos nativos usualmente atribuídos ao desmatamento e a caça podem ser causados pela invasão por cachorros / Biological invasions are currently the second main threat to biodiversity and two drivers are considered as the most important for invasions success: propagule pressure and disturbance. An anthropogenic disturbance that can promote invasions, by changing the amount of altered habitats and the extension of edges between altered and native habitats, is habitat loss. Despite the recognized importance of propagule pressure and disturbance, few studies have simultaneously investigated these factors, and those that did so present limitations, such as small spatial scales and correlations between drivers, impairing our understanding of the relative importance and interactions between these drivers. Dogs are the most abundant carnivores worldwide; in rural areas, most are free ranging, interacting and affecting native species through predation, disease transmission and competition. Using a camera trap dataset and censuses of dog populations obtained across a 300,000-ha Atlantic forest region, we evaluated the relative importance and interactions of propagule pressure and disturbance as drivers of dog invasion. We selected 12 2830-ha landscapes, ranging from 10 to 50% remaining native forest. Within each, we selected through a random-stratified sample 8 forest sites where a camera trap was set for ∼42 consecutive days. All households in each landscape were visited to count the number of dogs. Propagule pressure was quantified as the density of raised dogs, and mean and median distances between locations where dogs were raised and the nearest forest; and disturbance as the proportion of the landscape occupied by native forest and by total forest (native and exotic), and edge extension between native forest and open areas. By identifying individual dogs in the photos and considering each landscape as a sampling unit, we compared through AICc N-mixture models to estimate the abundance of dogs within forests, considering imperfect detection. The only selected model indicates that dog abundance in forests is higher where the density of raised dogs is higher and where total forest cover is lower (ωi=0.82). Density of raised dogs was more important than the spatial distribution of individuals, and total forest cover more important than edge extension, in determining the abundance of invading dogs. The estimated dog abundance varied from 12 to 79 (30.9 ± 19.5), and the proportion of raised dogs that invade forests from 6 to 21% (12 ± 6%), across landscapes. Our results indicate that habitat loss is as important as propagule pressure in driving the invasion of native forests by dogs, but their effects are additive rather than synergic. Given that dogs frequently make long movements in open areas, we hypothesize that dog vagility is the cause of the negligible effect of spatial distribution of raised individuals on invasion, and that forests represent barriers to these movements, making the effect of forest cover more important than the effect of edge extension (more related to the extension of access to forests). Moreover, the number and proportion of invading dogs are impressive, ranking dogs as the most abundant carnivore in forest remnants. Together with the known severe impacts of dogs on native species, these numbers suggest the urgency of action plans for controlling dog invasion. Beyond the traditional population control, landscape context should be taken into account within strategies to reduce impacts of dogs. Highly-deforested landscapes should be prioritized, and maintaining and restoring forests should be valued also by their negative effects on biological invasions. Finally, given the observed associations between dog invasion and both habitat loss and density of dogs and human populations, we suggest that at least part of the negative effects on native mammals currently attributed to deforestation and hunting can be caused by dog invasion

Os efeitos de borda e a alteração da estrutura das paisagens constituem consequências negativas da fragmentação florestal responsáveis por transformações nos processos ecológicos. Decorrentes da expansão desordenada de atividades antrópicas, estas alterações podem comprometer o futuro dos remanescentes florestais e a manutenção dos recursos naturais na superfície terrestre. Nesta dissertação a dinâmica da vegetação arbórea foi analisada em oito transectos perpendiculares às bordas de seis remanescentes florestais entre 1996 e 2012. As paisagens do entorno destes transectos foram caracterizadas a partir de imagens orbitais de 1995 e 2011 para a verificação das mudanças ocorridas no uso do solo e para a investigação da influência de seus parâmetros físicos e estruturais sobre as taxas de mortalidade e recrutamento de espécies. Os resultados indicaram que, ao longo do tempo, a influência das bordas se pronunciou em direção ao interior dos remanescentes florestais, enquanto que o contraste entre a borda e o interior se atenuou. A distância média da borda das espécies: pioneiras/iniciais, anemocóricas e de dossel foi significativamente maior em 2012 do que em 1996. A comunidade arbórea apresentou menor similaridade em sua composição ao longo do tempo a menores distâncias da borda. Apesar da dinâmica verificada no uso do solo, a proporcionalidade dos parâmetros físicos e estruturais das paisagens se manteve entre 1995 e 2011. De maneira geral, estes parâmetros apresentaram pouca influência sobre a dinâmica da comunidade arbórea. Apenas as taxas de mortalidade das espécies exóticas e as taxas de recrutamento das espécies pioneiras/inicias apresentam forte relação com o tamanho e o número dos fragmentos florestais nas paisagens. Estes resultados indicam que os efeitos de borda precisam ser atenuados e que o contexto das paisagens deve ser incorporado às estratégias conservacionistas para que estas sejam efetivas e o futuro dos remanescentes florestais não seja comprometido. / Edge effects and landscape structure alterations are among the negative consequences of forest fragmentation responsible for ecological process alterations on the earths surface. Originated from the disordered expansion of anthropogenic activities these alterations may endanger the remaining forest patches future and the maintenance of natural resources. This dissertation was pledged to analyze the vegetation dynamics at forest edges and its relations with landscape features. The vegetation dynamics was examined through eight perpendicular-to-edge transects within six forest patches and the alterations on the arboreal community distribution and composition were assessed between 1996 and 2012. The surrounding landscapes of the analyzed transects were characterized from 1995 and 2011 orbital images and its land use changes were evaluated. Landscape structure and physical parameters influence were analyzed over species recruitment and mortality. The results indicated that the distance of edge influence increased over time while its magnitude was attenuated. The average distance from the edge of pioneer/earlysuccessional species, wind-dispersed and canopy species in 2012 became significantly larger than in 1996. Over time lower similarities in species composition were found to be closer to the edges. Although the observed land use changes in the surrounding landscapes of the edge transects landscape structure and physical parameters proportionality was maintained between 1995 and 2011. Overall the arboreal community dynamics were poorly associated with landscape features. A strong relation of the variables was only found between the exotic and pioneer/early-successional species mortality and recruitment and the size and the amount of forest patches within the landscapes. These results indicate that to be effective conservation planning must tackled edge effects and incorporate the landscape context otherwise they will fail for the maintenance of the future of forest patches.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T18:15:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elisana Milan.pdf: 8974732 bytes, checksum: f039bad3efb50788c9cc5dc59ba00f59 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Ecotones are transition zones between adjacent ecological systems with a number of characteristics uniquely defined by spatial and temporal scales and intensity of interactions between these systems. Once this ecological concept of ecotone is multiscalar, it was considered whole the Escarpa Devoniana Environmental Protection Area region as ecotonal, since it is configured as a transition area between grassland and forest habitats. Moreover, the high biological and environment diversity characterize the region as supporting great ecological significance within the Atlantic Forest Biome, arising studies to understand the regional reality in order to minimize impacts, balancing use and conservation. In this sense, this study aims to analyze the landscape structure through spatial patterns as resulted from ecological processes involved in field-forest ecotones within the region. So, through the perspective of the landscape ecology, it was analyzed the composition and structure of six selected areas: two conservation units (control areas) and four managed areas (sample areas). Through the geoprocessing Envi 4.7 and ArcGIS 9.3 softwares, the images were prepared to perform Guidos 1.3 and Fragstats 2.0 softwares. The results point to a highly fragmented forest landscape, providing opportunities for a multitude of potential ecotones with the grassland matrix. The patches are mostly of small size, under 10 ha, isodiametrics, however, few representative in terms of occupied area in the landscape. On the other hand, some large patches, over 100 ha, stand out in the landscape. From the ecological perspective, large patches can act maintaining biodiversity by acting as source areas, whereas small one would act as stepping-stones, refuges or forest nucleators. Geomorphology is the main controlling factor of the structural conformation of the patches and almost 41% of the landscape are under ecotones. / Ecótonos constituem uma zona de transição entre sistemas ecológicos adjacentes com uma série de características definidas exclusivamente por escalas espaciais e temporais e pela intensidade das interações entre estes sistemas. Sendo este conceito ecológico multiescalar, considera-se toda a região da Área de Proteção Ambiental da Escarpa Devoniana um ecótono, uma vez que a mesma se configura como uma área de transição entre habitats campestres e florestais. Além disso, a elevada diversidade biológica e de ambientes caracteriza a região como sendo de grande relevância ecológica dentro do Bioma Mata Atlântica, suscitando estudos para a compreensão da realidade regional no intuito de minimizar impactos, equilibrando o uso e a conservação. Neste sentido, este estudo busca analisar a estrutura da paisagem através dos padrões espaciais resultantes de processos ecológicos envolvidos no ecótono campo-floresta da região. Para tanto, através da ótica da Ecologia da Paisagem, analisou-se a composição e estrutura da paisagem em seis áreas selecionadas: duas unidades de conservação (áreas controle) e quatro áreas manejadas (áreas amostrais). Por meio de geoprocessamento nos programas Envi 4.7 e ArcGis 9.3, as imagens foram preparadas para a análise da paisagem nos programas Guidos 1.3 e Fragstats 2.0. Os resultados apontam para uma paisagem florestal bastante fragmentada, oportunizando uma multiplicidade de ecótonos potenciais com a matriz campestre. A maioria dos fragmentos é de tamanho pequeno, inferior a 10 ha, isodiamétricos, apresentando, entretanto, pouca abrangência em termos de área ocupada na paisagem. Por outro lado, em número muito reduzido, destacam-se na paisagem os fragmentos grandes, superiores a 100 ha. Do ponto de vista ecológico, os grandes fragmentos podem agir mantendo a diversidade biológica ao funcionar como áreas fontes, ao passo que os fragmentos pequenos atuariam como trampolins ecológicos, refúgios ou ainda, especula-se, na nucleação florestal. A geomorfologia é o principal fator controlador da conformação estrutural dos fragmentos e cerca de 41% da paisagem suportam ecótonos campo-floresta.

Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) is a disease caused by Hantavirus, which are negative-sense RNA viruses in the family Bunyaviridae. These viruses are highly virulent to humans, taking about 50% of infected people to death. The main Hantavirus reservoir is constituded by generalist rodents species, which increase in abundance in agricultural and fragmented landscapes, potencially augmenting the transmission risk of the disease. Climate can also affect rodent population dynamics and the virus survival in the environment, as well as the time it remains virulent, while social factors may regulate the processes of transmitting viruses from reservoirs to humans. However, despite the high virulence of these viruses and the lack of vaccine is not yet well established how these different factors linked to landscape structure, climate and social conditions affect the dynamics of transmission of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) identify which social and ecological factors affect the transmission of HCPS, identifying the areas of greatest risk in the state of São Paulo and 2) predict how climate change (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and expansion of sugarcane scenarios influence the transmission of HCPS. To answer these questions the study system corresponded to the 645 municipalities that compose the state of São Paulo. To achieve our goals, in a first chapter, we conducted a literature review to understand how landscape structure and climate variables affect the risk of HCPS. In a second chapter we used a Bayesian model to quantify the association between HCPS annual incidence in the state of São Paulo, obtained by the number of cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health, between the years 1993-2012, and climate variables (total annual precipitation and mean annual temperature), landscape structure (percentage of native vegetation, number of fragments and percentage of area occupied with sugarcane), chosen in the literature review, and social factors (number of rural men over 14 years - risk population, and the Human Development Index - HDI). We build separate models for the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. In both biomes, the risk of HCPS increased mainly with the proportion of land cultivated with sugarcane and the HDI, but the proportion of native habitat, mean annual temperatures and risk population also showed positive relationships to Atlantic Forest. The average risk of HCPS for the state of São Paulo was 1.3%, with 6% of the municipalities being classified as medium to high risk (>= 5%). In a third chapter we used sugarcane expansion and extracted temperature anomalies of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios of general circulation models (GCMs) of IPCC5 to predict HCPS risk. With sugarcane expansion, average risk for HCPS increases from 1.3 to 1.5%, while RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios increased the risk to 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively. RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios alone are responsible for the largest increase in the maximum risk of infection (46.1% to 51.4% and 51.7%), while the sugarcane expansion combined with climate scenarios are causing the larger expansion in the number of municipalities at high risk, which goes to 7%. Our analyzes provide the first evidence on the action of landscape, climate and social factors in HCPS incidence in the Neotropics. Moreover, our risk maps can be used to optimize the correct allocation of resources, allowing actions to be taken to reduce the impacts of sugarcane expansion and climate change over this disease propagation / A Síndrome Cardiopulmonar por Hantavirose (HCPS) é uma doença causada por Hantavírus, um conjunto de vírus com RNA negativo pertencentes à família Bunyaviridae. Esses vírus são altamente virulentos para os seres humanos, levando cerca de 50% dos infectados a óbito. O principal reservatório de HCPS é constituído por espécies de roedores generalistas, que aumentam em abundância em paisagens agrícolas e fragmentadas, potencialmente elevando o risco de transmissão dessa doença. O clima também pode afetar a dinâmica populacional dos roedores e a sobrevivência do vírus no ambiente, assim como o tempo em que este se mantém virulento, enquanto que fatores sociais podem regular os processos de transmissão dos vírus dos reservatórios para os seres humanos. No entanto, apesar da alta virulência destes vírus e da falta de vacina, não está ainda bem estabelecido como esses diferentes fatores ligados à estrutura da paisagem, ao clima e às condições sociais afetam a dinâmica de transmissão dessa doença. O presente trabalho teve assim como objetivos: 1) identificar quais fatores ecológicos e sociais afetam a transmissão de HCPS, identificando as áreas de maior risco no estado de São Paulo e 2) prever como cenários de mudanças climáticas (RCP4.5 e RCP8.5) e de expansão de cana-de-açúcar influenciam a transmissão de HCPS. Para responder aos nossos objetivos, o sistema de estudo compreendeu os 645 municípios que compõe o estado de São Paulo. Num primeiro capítulo, realizamos uma revisão bibliográfica para entender como as variáveis de paisagem e de clima afetam o risco de HCPS. Num segundo capítulo, utilizamos um modelo Bayesiano para quantificar a associação entre a incidência anual de HCPS no estado de São Paulo, obtida através do número de casos confirmados pelo Ministério da Saúde, entre os anos de 1993 a 2012, e as variáveis de clima (precipitação total anual e temperatura anual média), estrutura da paisagem (porcentagem de vegetação nativa, número de fragmentos e porcentagem de área ocupada com cana-de-açúcar), escolhidas na revisão bibliográfica, além de fatores sociais (número de homens rurais acima de 14 anos - população de risco, e o Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano - IDH). Construimos modelos separados para a Mata Atlântica e o Cerrado. Em ambos os biomas, o risco de HCPS aumentou principalmente com a proporção de terra cultivada com cana-de-açúcar e com o IDH, mas a proporção de habitat nativo, temperatura anual média e população de risco também mostraram relações positivas para Mata Atlântica. O risco médio de HCPS para o estado de São Paulo foi de 1.3%, com 6% dos municípios sendo classificados como de médio a alto risco (>= 5%). Num terceiro capítulo, utilizamos cenários de expansão de cana-de-açúcar e anomalias de temperatura extraidas dos cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 de 32 modelos de circulação geral (GCMs) do IPCC5 para prever os riscos futuros de HCPS. Com a expansão de cana-de-açúcar, o risco médio de HCPS para o estado aumenta de 1.3 para 1.5%, enquanto que os cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 aumentam o risco para 1.6% e 1.7%, respectivamente. RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 sozinhos são os cenários que mais aumentam o risco máximo de infecção (46.1% para 51.4% e 51.7%), enquanto que a expansão de cana-de-açúcar combinada com os cenários climáticos são os que mais provocam o aumento da expansão do risco no estado de São Paulo, expandindo o número de municípios em alto risco para 7%. Nossas análises fornecem as primeiras evidências sobre a ação de fatores da paisagem, climáticos e sociais na incidência de HCPS nos Neotrópicos. Também, nossos mapas de risco podem ser utilizados para otimizar a correta alocação de recursos, permitindo que ações sejam tomadas para reduzir os impactos da expansão da cana e das mudanças climáticas sobre a propagação da doença

Soumis à une pression anthropique croissante, les paysages naturels en Algérie subissent à l’heure actuelle des modifications importantes dans leur composition et leur structure. Ce travail vise à comprendre les transformations des paysages végétaux et mettre en évidence leurs dynamiques spatio-temporelles. Le parc national de Taza (3807 ha), haut lieu de la biodiversité en Algérie et Réserve de la Biosphère a servi de site d’expérimentation à la modélisation proposée. L’utilisation conjointe de la statistique et de la géomatique a offert des outils performants pour analyser et modéliser les changements de structure et de composition des habitats naturels. Dans un premier temps les relevés floristiques ont permis de caractériser leur composition. Six associations végétales ont été identifiées avec une tendance à la matorralisation des formations forestières. Le recours dans un second temps aux images satellites Landsat a permis de réaliser un suivi des Land use/Cover Changes entre 2003 et 2011. On y constate une augmentation de 15,22 % des surfaces de matorral contre un recul de 188,57 ha de forêts sclérophylles et de 348,15 ha de forêts à chêne caduc. La calibration du modèle de simulation s’est révélée délicate d'autant plus que l’évaluation des relations entre les changements observés et les facteurs explicatifs a mis en relief la complexité des interdépendances au sein des écosystèmes méditerranéens. L’évaluation du modèle a fait ressortir la complexité des phénomènes étudiés et les limites des données disponibles. Néanmoins, cela nous a permis de confirmer les tendances d’évolution paysagère observées. Globalement, ce travail a permis d’établir une cartographie récente de l’occupation du sol, de mettre en place une base de données sur les habitats naturels et les LUCC et de développer un modèle de simulation prospective des paysages végétaux. Malgré les limites rencontrées, cette étude a voulu faire le pari d'une approche pertinente des dynamiques paysagères par modélisation prospectives en Algérie, qui sera extrêmement utile dans la gestion des espaces naturels sensibles. / Under increasing human pressure, natural landscapes in Algeria currently undergoing changes in their composition and structure. This work aims to understand the transformation of landscape plants and highlight their spatio-temporal dynamics. Taza National Park (3807 ha) high biodiversity hotspot in Algeria and Biosphere Reserve served as an experimental site for the proposed modeling. The joint use of statistics and geomatics has provided powerful tools to analyze and model the changes in the structure and composition of natural habitats. Initially the floristic surveys were used to characterize their composition. Six vegetation associations were identified with a tendency to matorralisation forest formations. The use in a second time of Landsat images has achieved a track record Land use / Cover Changes between 2003 and 2011. It has been noticed that there has been an increase of 15.22% surfaces scrub against a decline of 188.57 ha of sclerophyllous forests and 348.15 ha of forest deciduous oak. The calibration of the simulation model proved difficult especially as the evaluation of the relationship between observed and explanatory factors highlighted the complexity of interdependencies in Mediterranean ecosystems. The model evaluation highlighted the studied phenomena complexity and the limitations of available data. Nevertheless, this has allowed us to confirm the trends observed landscape evolution.Overall, this work has enabled a recent mapping of the land, establishing a database on natural habitats and LUCC and developing a forward simulation model of landscape plants.Despite the limitations encountered, this study wanted to be a relevant approach by prospective landscape dynamics modeling in Algeria, which will be extremely useful in the management of sensitive natural areas.

Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) is a disease caused by Hantavirus, which are negative-sense RNA viruses in the family Bunyaviridae. These viruses are highly virulent to humans, taking about 50% of infected people to death. The main Hantavirus reservoir is constituded by generalist rodents species, which increase in abundance in agricultural and fragmented landscapes, potencially augmenting the transmission risk of the disease. Climate can also affect rodent population dynamics and the virus survival in the environment, as well as the time it remains virulent, while social factors may regulate the processes of transmitting viruses from reservoirs to humans. However, despite the high virulence of these viruses and the lack of vaccine is not yet well established how these different factors linked to landscape structure, climate and social conditions affect the dynamics of transmission of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) identify which social and ecological factors affect the transmission of HCPS, identifying the areas of greatest risk in the state of São Paulo and 2) predict how climate change (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and expansion of sugarcane scenarios influence the transmission of HCPS. To answer these questions the study system corresponded to the 645 municipalities that compose the state of São Paulo. To achieve our goals, in a first chapter, we conducted a literature review to understand how landscape structure and climate variables affect the risk of HCPS. In a second chapter we used a Bayesian model to quantify the association between HCPS annual incidence in the state of São Paulo, obtained by the number of cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health, between the years 1993-2012, and climate variables (total annual precipitation and mean annual temperature), landscape structure (percentage of native vegetation, number of fragments and percentage of area occupied with sugarcane), chosen in the literature review, and social factors (number of rural men over 14 years - risk population, and the Human Development Index - HDI). We build separate models for the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. In both biomes, the risk of HCPS increased mainly with the proportion of land cultivated with sugarcane and the HDI, but the proportion of native habitat, mean annual temperatures and risk population also showed positive relationships to Atlantic Forest. The average risk of HCPS for the state of São Paulo was 1.3%, with 6% of the municipalities being classified as medium to high risk (>= 5%). In a third chapter we used sugarcane expansion and extracted temperature anomalies of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios of general circulation models (GCMs) of IPCC5 to predict HCPS risk. With sugarcane expansion, average risk for HCPS increases from 1.3 to 1.5%, while RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios increased the risk to 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively. RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios alone are responsible for the largest increase in the maximum risk of infection (46.1% to 51.4% and 51.7%), while the sugarcane expansion combined with climate scenarios are causing the larger expansion in the number of municipalities at high risk, which goes to 7%. Our analyzes provide the first evidence on the action of landscape, climate and social factors in HCPS incidence in the Neotropics. Moreover, our risk maps can be used to optimize the correct allocation of resources, allowing actions to be taken to reduce the impacts of sugarcane expansion and climate change over this disease propagation / A Síndrome Cardiopulmonar por Hantavirose (HCPS) é uma doença causada por Hantavírus, um conjunto de vírus com RNA negativo pertencentes à família Bunyaviridae. Esses vírus são altamente virulentos para os seres humanos, levando cerca de 50% dos infectados a óbito. O principal reservatório de HCPS é constituído por espécies de roedores generalistas, que aumentam em abundância em paisagens agrícolas e fragmentadas, potencialmente elevando o risco de transmissão dessa doença. O clima também pode afetar a dinâmica populacional dos roedores e a sobrevivência do vírus no ambiente, assim como o tempo em que este se mantém virulento, enquanto que fatores sociais podem regular os processos de transmissão dos vírus dos reservatórios para os seres humanos. No entanto, apesar da alta virulência destes vírus e da falta de vacina, não está ainda bem estabelecido como esses diferentes fatores ligados à estrutura da paisagem, ao clima e às condições sociais afetam a dinâmica de transmissão dessa doença. O presente trabalho teve assim como objetivos: 1) identificar quais fatores ecológicos e sociais afetam a transmissão de HCPS, identificando as áreas de maior risco no estado de São Paulo e 2) prever como cenários de mudanças climáticas (RCP4.5 e RCP8.5) e de expansão de cana-de-açúcar influenciam a transmissão de HCPS. Para responder aos nossos objetivos, o sistema de estudo compreendeu os 645 municípios que compõe o estado de São Paulo. Num primeiro capítulo, realizamos uma revisão bibliográfica para entender como as variáveis de paisagem e de clima afetam o risco de HCPS. Num segundo capítulo, utilizamos um modelo Bayesiano para quantificar a associação entre a incidência anual de HCPS no estado de São Paulo, obtida através do número de casos confirmados pelo Ministério da Saúde, entre os anos de 1993 a 2012, e as variáveis de clima (precipitação total anual e temperatura anual média), estrutura da paisagem (porcentagem de vegetação nativa, número de fragmentos e porcentagem de área ocupada com cana-de-açúcar), escolhidas na revisão bibliográfica, além de fatores sociais (número de homens rurais acima de 14 anos - população de risco, e o Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano - IDH). Construimos modelos separados para a Mata Atlântica e o Cerrado. Em ambos os biomas, o risco de HCPS aumentou principalmente com a proporção de terra cultivada com cana-de-açúcar e com o IDH, mas a proporção de habitat nativo, temperatura anual média e população de risco também mostraram relações positivas para Mata Atlântica. O risco médio de HCPS para o estado de São Paulo foi de 1.3%, com 6% dos municípios sendo classificados como de médio a alto risco (>= 5%). Num terceiro capítulo, utilizamos cenários de expansão de cana-de-açúcar e anomalias de temperatura extraidas dos cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 de 32 modelos de circulação geral (GCMs) do IPCC5 para prever os riscos futuros de HCPS. Com a expansão de cana-de-açúcar, o risco médio de HCPS para o estado aumenta de 1.3 para 1.5%, enquanto que os cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 aumentam o risco para 1.6% e 1.7%, respectivamente. RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 sozinhos são os cenários que mais aumentam o risco máximo de infecção (46.1% para 51.4% e 51.7%), enquanto que a expansão de cana-de-açúcar combinada com os cenários climáticos são os que mais provocam o aumento da expansão do risco no estado de São Paulo, expandindo o número de municípios em alto risco para 7%. Nossas análises fornecem as primeiras evidências sobre a ação de fatores da paisagem, climáticos e sociais na incidência de HCPS nos Neotrópicos. Também, nossos mapas de risco podem ser utilizados para otimizar a correta alocação de recursos, permitindo que ações sejam tomadas para reduzir os impactos da expansão da cana e das mudanças climáticas sobre a propagação da doença

Habitat variation is considered as an expression of biodiversity at landscape level in addition to genetic variation and species variation. Thus, effective methods for measuring habitat pattern at landscape level can be used to evaluate the status of biological conservation. However, the commonly used model (i.e. patch-corridor-matrix) for spatial pattern analysis has deficiencies. This model assumes discrete structures within the landscape without explicit consideration of “transitional zones” or “gradients” between patches. The transitional zones, often called “ecotones”, are dynamic and have a profound influence on adjacent ecosystems. Besides, this model takes landscape as a flat surface without consideration of the third spatial dimension (elevation). This will underestimate the patches’ size and perimeter as well as distances between patches especially in mountainous regions. Thus, the mosaic model needs to be adapted for more realistic and more precise representation of habitat pattern regarding to biodiversity assessment. Another part of information that has often been ignored is “small biotopes” inside patches (e.g. hedgerows, tree rows, copse, and scattered trees), which leads to within-patch heterogeneity being underestimated. The present work originates from the integration of the third spatial dimension in land-cover classification and landscape structure analysis. From the aspect of data processing, an integrated approach of Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) and Pixel-Based Image Analysis (PBIA) is developed and applied on multi-source data set (RapidEye images and Lidar data). At first, a general OBIA procedure is developed according to spectral object features based on RapidEye images for producing land-cover maps. Then, based on the classified maps, pixel-based algorithms are designed for detection of the small biotopes and ecotones using a Normalized Digital Surface Model (NDSM) which is derived from Lidar data. For describing habitat pattern under three-dimensional condition, several 3D-metrics (measuring e.g. landscape diversity, fragmentation/connectivity, and contrast) are proposed with spatial consideration of the ecological functions of small biotopes and ecotones. The proposed methodology is applied in two real-world examples in Germany and China. The results are twofold. First, it shows that the integrated approach of object-based and pixel-based image processing is effective for land-cover classification on different spatial scales. The overall classification accuracies of the main land-cover maps are 92 % in the German test site and 87 % in the Chinese test site. The developed Red Edge Vegetation Index (REVI) which is calculated from RapidEye images has been proved more efficient than the traditionally used Normalized Differenced Vegetation Index (NDVI) for vegetation classification, especially for the extraction of the forest mask. Using NDSM data, the third dimension is helpful for the identification of small biotopes and height gradient on forest boundary. The pixel-based algorithm so-called “buffering and shrinking” is developed for the detection of tree rows and ecotones on forest/field boundary. As a result the accuracy of detecting small biotopes is 80 % and four different types of ecotones are detected in the test site. Second, applications of 3D-metrics in two varied test sites show the frequently-used landscape diversity indices (i.e. Shannon’s diversity (SHDI) and Simpson’s diversity (SIDI)) are not sufficient for describing the habitats diversity, as they quantify only the habitats composition without consideration on habitats spatial distribution. The modified 3D-version of Effective Mesh Size (MESH) that takes ecotones into account leads to a realistic quantification of habitat fragmentation. In addition, two elevation-based contrast indices (i.e. Area-Weighted Edge Contrast (AWEC) and Total Edge Contrast Index (TECI)) are used as supplement to fragmentation metrics. Both ecotones and small biotopes are incorporated into the contrast metrics to take into account their edge effect in habitat pattern. This can be considered as a further step after fragmentation analysis with additional consideration of the edge permeability in the landscape structure analysis. Furthermore, a vector-based algorithm called “multi-buffer” approach is suggested for analyzing ecological networks based on land-cover maps. It considers small biotopes as stepping stones to establish connections between patches. Then, corresponding metrics (e.g. Effective Connected Mesh Size (ECMS)) are proposed based on the ecological networks. The network analysis shows the response of habitat connectivity to different dispersal distances in a simple way. Those connections through stepping stones act as ecological indicators of the “health” of the system, indicating the interpatch communications among habitats. In summary, it can be stated that habitat diversity is an essential level of biodiversity and methods for quantifying habitat pattern need to be improved and adapted to meet the demands for landscape monitoring and biodiversity conservation. The approaches presented in this work serve as possible methodical solution for fine-scale landscape structure analysis and function as “stepping stones” for further methodical developments to gain more insights into the habitat pattern. / Die Lebensraumvielfalt ist neben der genetischen Vielfalt und der Artenvielfalt eine wesentliche Ebene der Biodiversität. Da diese Ebenen miteinander verknüpft sind, können Methoden zur Messung der Muster von Lebensräumen auf Landschaftsebene erfolgreich angewandt werden, um den Zustand der Biodiversität zu bewerten. Das zur räumlichen Musteranalyse auf Landschaftsebene häufig verwendete Patch-Korridor-Matrix-Modell weist allerdings einige Defizite auf. Dieses Modell geht von diskreten Strukturen in der Landschaft aus, ohne explizite Berücksichtigung von „Übergangszonen“ oder „Gradienten“ zwischen den einzelnen Landschaftselementen („Patches“). Diese Übergangszonen, welche auch als „Ökotone“ bezeichnet werden, sind dynamisch und haben einen starken Einfluss auf benachbarte Ökosysteme. Außerdem wird die Landschaft in diesem Modell als ebene Fläche ohne Berücksichtigung der dritten räumlichen Dimension (Höhe) betrachtet. Das führt dazu, dass die Flächengrößen und Umfänge der Patches sowie Distanzen zwischen den Patches besonders in reliefreichen Regionen unterschätzt werden. Daher muss das Patch-Korridor-Matrix-Modell für eine realistische und präzise Darstellung der Lebensraummuster für die Bewertung der biologischen Vielfalt angepasst werden. Ein weiterer Teil der Informationen, die häufig in Untersuchungen ignoriert werden, sind „Kleinbiotope“ innerhalb größerer Patches (z. B. Feldhecken, Baumreihen, Feldgehölze oder Einzelbäume). Dadurch wird die Heterogenität innerhalb von Patches unterschätzt. Die vorliegende Arbeit basiert auf der Integration der dritten räumlichen Dimension in die Landbedeckungsklassifikation und die Landschaftsstrukturanalyse. Mit Methoden der räumlichen Datenverarbeitung wurde ein integrierter Ansatz von objektbasierter Bildanalyse (OBIA) und pixelbasierter Bildanalyse (PBIA) entwickelt und auf einen Datensatz aus verschiedenen Quellen (RapidEye-Satellitenbilder und Lidar-Daten) angewendet. Dazu wird zunächst ein OBIA-Verfahren für die Ableitung von Hauptlandbedeckungsklassen entsprechend spektraler Objekteigenschaften basierend auf RapidEye-Bilddaten angewandt. Anschließend wurde basierend auf den klassifizierten Karten, ein pixelbasierter Algorithmus für die Erkennung von kleinen Biotopen und Ökotonen mit Hilfe eines normalisierten digitalen Oberflächenmodells (NDSM), welches das aus LIDAR-Daten abgeleitet wurde, entwickelt. Zur Beschreibung der dreidimensionalen Charakteristika der Lebensraummuster unter der räumlichen Betrachtung der ökologischen Funktionen von kleinen Biotopen und Ökotonen, werden mehrere 3D-Maße (z. B. Maße zur landschaftlichen Vielfalt, zur Fragmentierung bzw. Konnektivität und zum Kontrast) vorgeschlagen. Die vorgeschlagene Methodik wird an zwei realen Beispielen in Deutschland und China angewandt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen zweierlei. Erstens zeigt es sich, dass der integrierte Ansatz der objektbasierten und pixelbasierten Bildverarbeitung effektiv für die Landbedeckungsklassifikation auf unterschiedlichen räumlichen Skalen ist. Die Klassifikationsgüte insgesamt für die Hauptlandbedeckungstypen beträgt 92 % im deutschen und 87 % im chinesischen Testgebiet. Der eigens entwickelte Red Edge-Vegetationsindex (REVI), der sich aus RapidEye-Bilddaten berechnen lässt, erwies sich für die Vegetationsklassifizierung als effizienter verglichen mit dem traditionell verwendeten Normalized Differenced Vegetation Index (NDVI), insbesondere für die Gewinnung der Waldmaske. Im Rahmen der Verwendung von NDSM-Daten erwies sich die dritte Dimension als hilfreich für die Identifizierung von kleinen Biotopen und dem Höhengradienten, beispielsweise an der Wald/Feld-Grenze. Für den Nachweis von Baumreihen und Ökotonen an der Wald/Feld-Grenze wurde der sogenannte pixelbasierte Algorithmus „Pufferung und Schrumpfung“ entwickelt. Im Ergebnis konnten kleine Biotope mit einer Genauigkeit von 80 % und vier verschiedene Ökotontypen im Testgebiet detektiert werden. Zweitens zeigen die Ergebnisse der Anwendung der 3D-Maße in den zwei unterschiedlichen Testgebieten, dass die häufig genutzten Landschaftsstrukturmaße Shannon-Diversität (SHDI) und Simpson-Diversität (SIDI) nicht ausreichend für die Beschreibung der Lebensraumvielfalt sind. Sie quantifizieren lediglich die Zusammensetzung der Lebensräume, ohne Berücksichtigung der räumlichen Verteilung und Anordnung. Eine modifizierte 3D-Version der Effektiven Maschenweite (MESH), welche die Ökotone integriert, führt zu einer realistischen Quantifizierung der Fragmentierung von Lebensräumen. Darüber hinaus wurden zwei höhenbasierte Kontrastindizes, der flächengewichtete Kantenkontrast (AWEC) und der Gesamt-Kantenkontrast Index (TECI), als Ergänzung der Fragmentierungsmaße entwickelt. Sowohl Ökotone als auch Kleinbiotope wurden in den Berechnungen der Kontrastmaße integriert, um deren Randeffekte im Lebensraummuster zu berücksichtigen. Damit kann als ein weiterer Schritt nach der Fragmentierungsanalyse die Randdurchlässigkeit zusätzlich in die Landschaftsstrukturanalyse einbezogen werden. Außerdem wird ein vektorbasierter Algorithmus namens „Multi-Puffer“-Ansatz für die Analyse von ökologischen Netzwerken auf Basis von Landbedeckungskarten vorgeschlagen. Er berücksichtigt Kleinbiotope als Trittsteine, um Verbindungen zwischen Patches herzustellen. Weiterhin werden entsprechende Maße, z. B. die Effective Connected Mesh Size (ECMS), für die Analyse der ökologischen Netzwerke vorgeschlagen. Diese zeigen die Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher angenommener Ausbreitungsdistanzen von Organismen bei der Ableitung von Biotopverbundnetzen in einfacher Weise. Diese Verbindungen zwischen Lebensräumen über Trittsteine hinweg dienen als ökologische Indikatoren für den „gesunden Zustand“ des Systems und zeigen die gegenseitigen Verbindungen zwischen den Lebensräumen. Zusammenfassend kann gesagt werden, dass die Vielfalt der Lebensräume eine wesentliche Ebene der Biodiversität ist. Die Methoden zur Quantifizierung der Lebensraummuster müssen verbessert und angepasst werden, um den Anforderungen an ein Landschaftsmonitoring und die Erhaltung der biologischen Vielfalt gerecht zu werden. Die in dieser Arbeit vorgestellten Ansätze dienen als mögliche methodische Lösung für eine feinteilige Landschaftsstrukturanalyse und fungieren als ein „Trittsteine” auf dem Weg zu weiteren methodischen Entwicklungen für einen tieferen Einblick in die Muster von Lebensräumen.