Traditional evaluations of habitat quality fail in their spatial incompleteness, their lack of contextual information and their poor consideration of urban environments. These issues are addressed here through the derivation and application of an urban-specific multi-criteria Habitat Value Index (HVI), providing relevant data in a straightforward, rapid and replicable manner. Both the current distribution and projected changes in landscape HVI are shown using the IDRISI Geographical Information System, providing quantitative information to land-management decision-makers. Using an urban-specific habitat classification in combination with aerial photographic interpretation habitat patches were identified in study areas in the West and South of Wolverhampton. The classification and location of the habitat patches were fieldchecked then each patch was evaluated using four criteria: structural elements, indicator species, general habitat structure and aesthetics. Using a tick-list approach the total number of structural elements and indicator species from pre-determined lists was noted in the field. General habitat structure and aesthetics were also evaluated in the field with each patch assigned to a single category for each. The criteria details for each patch were then transferred onto a GIS and for each criterion a map was generated showing its spatial distribution over the study area. The structural elements and indicator species totals were converted to scores based on scoreclasses, while the categories for general structure, aesthetics and the specific habitat type classification were used as weights by determining each to be either quality (weight = 2) or non-quality (weight = 1). For each habitat patch the structural elements and indicator species scores were then combined with the total weights to produce an HVI. All the habitat patch values for the study area were displayed in map form to give a contextual view of the distribution of ecological 'value' within the area. An additional, simple measure was also devised for measuring the status and quality of connectivity and contiguity within the study area. Sample criteria totals were then used predictively to quantitatively demonstrate the effects of landscape alteration on both the spatial distribution of the HVI and the connectivity and contiguity measures.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:323145 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Young, Christopher |
| Publisher | University of Wolverhampton |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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