scholarly journals Evaluating the Relationships between Riparian Land Cover Characteristics and Biological Integrity of Streams Using Random Forest Algorithms

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3182
Author(s):  
Se-Rin Park ◽  
Suyeon Kim ◽  
Sang-Woo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Random Forest ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Biological Integrity ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Assessment Index ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Partial Dependence

The relationships between land cover characteristics in riparian areas and the biological integrity of rivers and streams are critical in riparian area management decision-making. This study aims to evaluate such relationships using the Trophic Diatom Index (TDI), Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index (BMI), Fish Assessment Index (FAI), and random forest regression, which can capture nonlinear and complex relationships with limited training datasets. Our results indicate that the proportions of land cover types in riparian areas, including urban, agricultural, and forested areas, have greater impacts on the biological communities in streams than those offered by land cover spatial patterns. The proportion of forests in riparian areas has the greatest influence on the biological integrity of streams. Partial dependence plots indicate that the biological integrity of streams gradually improves until the proportion of riparian forest areas reach about 60%; it rapidly decreases until riparian urban areas reach 25%, and declines significantly when the riparian agricultural area ranges from 20% to 40%. Overall, this study highlights the importance of riparian forests in the planning, restoration, and management of streams, and suggests that partial dependence plots may serve to provide insightful quantitative criteria for defining specific objectives that managers and decision-makers can use to improve stream conditions.

scholarly journals Métodos de avaliação da influência das áreas ripárias na sustentabilidade hidrológica em bacias hidrográficas no nordeste do estado do Pará / Assessment methods of the influence of riparian areas in hydrologic sustainability (...)

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (45) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Priscilla Flores Leão Ferreira Tamasauskas ◽  
Larisse Fernanda Pereira de Souza ◽  
Aline Maria Meiguins de Lima ◽  
Márcia Aparecida da Silva Pimentel ◽  
Edson José Paulino da Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Land Occupation ◽  
Sustainability Index ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Northeastern State

<p>As bacias hidrográficas do rio Caripi e do Igarapé Açu localizam-se nos municípios de Marapanim e Igarapé Açu, compondo o conjunto de bacias costeiras de comportamento fluvio-estuarino que drenam a região nordeste do estado do Pará. O processo de uso e ocupação do solo na região tem mostrado uma tendência de ameaça a manutenção do potencial hídrico destas bacias, por esta razão este trabalho objetivou avaliar diferentes métodos de determinação da área de floresta ripária e sua relação com a sustentabilidade hídrica. A metodologia consistiu em definir as áreas de floresta ripária a partir de dois métodos de análise espacial e a aplicação do resultado no cálculo do Índice de Sustentabilidade Hídrica. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que as bacias encontram-se em situação de moderada sustentabilidade, porém a distribuição das classes de cobertura e uso do solo indicam que existe a fragmentação dos sistemas florestais e a redução das áreas que deveria ser de floresta ripária. As técnicas adotadas diferem quanto a nível de cobertura da informação, indicando que a proximidade do modelo hidrológico da bacia depende das variáveis consideradas e da precisão do processo de análise espacial adotado.</p><p><strong>Palavras–chave:</strong> análise espacial, paisagem, uso e cobertura do solo.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract </strong></p><p>The basins of Caripi and Igarapé Açu rivers belong to the municipalities of Marapanim and Igarapé Açu in Para state. They are part of the coastal catchment system with fluvial-estuarine behavior that drain the northeastern state of Para. The process of land use and land occupation represent a threat on the potential of water maintenance in these basins. Therefore, this study evaluated different methods for determining the riparian forest area and its relation to water sustainability. The methodology adopted aimed to identify the areas of riparian forest with two spatial analysis methods and applies the Hydric Sustainability Index. The results obtained show that the basins are in a situation of moderate sustainability, but the distribution of land cover and land use indicates a fragmentation of forest systems and the reduction of areas that should be a riparian forest. The adopted techniques differ in the level of coverage of information, where the precision of hydrological model depends on the chosen variables and the accuracy of the spatial analysis process used.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: spatial analysis, landscape, land use and land cover.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Europe’s Green Arteries—A Continental Dataset of Riparian Zones

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christof J. Weissteiner ◽  
Martin Ickerott ◽  
Hannes Ott ◽  
Markus Probeck ◽  
Gernot Ramminger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Earth Observation Data

Riparian zones represent ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and are of utmost importance to biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Modelling/mapping of these valuable and fragile areas is needed for an improved ecosystem management, based on an accounting of changes and on monitoring of their functioning in time. In Europe, the main legislative driver behind this goal is the European Commission&rsquo;s Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, on one hand aiming at reducing biodiversity loss, on the other hand enhancing ecosystem services by 2020, and restoring them as far as feasible. A model, based on Earth Observation data, including Digital Elevation Models, hydrological, soil, land cover/land use data, and vegetation indices is employed in a multi-modular and stratified approach, based on fuzzy logic and object based image analysis, to delineate potential, observed and actual riparian zones. The approach is designed in an open modular way, allowing future modifications and repeatability. The results represent a first step of a future monitoring and assessment campaign for European riparian zones and their implications on biodiversity and on ecosystem functions and services. Considering the complexity and the enormous extent of the area, covering 39 European countries, including Turkey, the level of detail is unprecedented. Depending on the accounting modus, 0.95%&ndash;1.19% of the study area can be attributed as actual riparian area (considering Strahler&rsquo;s stream orders 3-8, based on the Copernicus EU-Hydro dataset), corresponding to 55,558&ndash;69.128 km2. Similarly depending on the accounting approach, the potential riparian zones are accounted for about 3-5 times larger. Land cover/land use in detected riparian areas was mainly of semi-natural characteristics, while the potential riparian areas are predominately covered by agriculture, followed by semi-natural and urban areas.

scholarly journals Land-cover change threatens tropical forests and biodiversity in the Littoral Region, Cameroon

Oryx ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 882-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud I. Mahmoud ◽  
Mason J. Campbell ◽  
Sean Sloan ◽  
Mohammed Alamgir ◽  
William F. Laurance
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Land Cover Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Littoral Region ◽  
Equatorial Africa ◽  
Forest Regions ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Major Factors

AbstractTropical forest regions in equatorial Africa are threatened with degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss as a result of land-cover change. We investigated historical land-cover dynamics in unprotected forested areas of the Littoral Region in south-western Cameroon during 1975–2017, to detect changes that may influence this important biodiversity and wildlife area. Processed Landsat imagery was used to map and monitor changes in land use and land cover. From 1975 to 2017 the area of high-value forest landscapes decreased by c. 420,000 ha, and increasing forest fragmentation caused a decline of c. 12% in the largest patch index. Conversely, disturbed vegetation, cleared areas and urban areas all expanded in extent, by 32% (c. 400,000 ha), 5.6% (c. 26,800 ha) and 6.6% (c. 78,631 ha), respectively. The greatest increase was in the area converted to oil palm plantations (c. 26,893 ha), followed by logging and land clearing (c. 34,838 ha), all of which were the major factors driving deforestation in the study area. Our findings highlight the increasing threats facing the wider Littoral Region, which includes Mount Nlonako and Ebo Forest, both of which are critical areas for regional conservation and the latter a proposed National Park and the only sizable area of intact forest in the region. Intact forest in the Littoral Region, and in particular at Ebo, merits urgent protection.

scholarly journals Spatial-Temporal Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Urban Areas Using Remote Sensing Images and GIS Analysis: The Case Study of Opole, Poland

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Barbara Wiatkowska ◽  
Janusz Słodczyk ◽  
Aleksandra Stokowska
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Management Procedures

Urban expansion is a dynamic and complex phenomenon, often involving adverse changes in land use and land cover (LULC). This paper uses satellite imagery from Landsat-5 TM, Landsat-8 OLI, Sentinel-2 MSI, and GIS technology to analyse LULC changes in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. The research was carried out in Opole, the capital of the Opole Agglomeration (south-western Poland). Maps produced from supervised spectral classification of remote sensing data revealed that in 20 years, built-up areas have increased about 40%, mainly at the expense of agricultural land. Detection of changes in the spatial pattern of LULC showed that the highest average rate of increase in built-up areas occurred in the zone 3–6 km (11.7%) and above 6 km (10.4%) from the centre of Opole. The analysis of the increase of built-up land in relation to the decreasing population (SDG 11.3.1) has confirmed the ongoing process of demographic suburbanisation. The paper shows that satellite imagery and GIS can be a valuable tool for local authorities and planners to monitor the scale of urbanisation processes for the purpose of adapting space management procedures to the changing environment.

scholarly journals Ecological Connectivity in Agricultural Green Infrastructure:  Suggested Criteria for Fine Scale Assessment and Planning

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 807
Author(s):  
Simone Valeri ◽  
Laura Zavattero ◽  
Giulia Capotorti
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Spatial Pattern Analysis ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Unique Type

In promoting biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service capacity, landscape connectivity is considered a critical feature to counteract the negative effects of fragmentation. Under a Green Infrastructure (GI) perspective, this is especially true in rural and peri-urban areas where a high degree of connectivity may be associated with the enhancement of agriculture multifunctionality and sustainability. With respect to GI planning and connectivity assessment, the role of dispersal traits of tree species is gaining increasing attention. However, little evidence is available on how to select plant species to be primarily favored, as well as on the role of landscape heterogeneity and habitat quality in driving the dispersal success. The present work is aimed at suggesting a methodological approach for addressing these knowledge gaps, at fine scales and for peri-urban agricultural landscapes, by means of a case study in the Metropolitan City of Rome. The study area was stratified into Environmental Units, each supporting a unique type of Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV), and a multi-step procedure was designed for setting priorities aimed at enhancing connectivity. First, GI components were defined based on the selection of the target species to be supported, on a fine scale land cover mapping and on the assessment of land cover type naturalness. Second, the study area was characterized by a Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) and connectivity was assessed by Number of Components (NC) and functional connectivity metrics. Third, conservation and restoration measures have been prioritized and statistically validated. Notwithstanding the recognized limits, the approach proved to be functional in the considered context and at the adopted level of detail. Therefore, it could give useful methodological hints for the requalification of transitional urban–rural areas and for the achievement of related sustainable development goals in metropolitan regions.

Land Cover and Soil Consumption Monitoring with a FOS Geoportal in Five Italian Big Urban Areas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Brovelli ◽  
M. Crespi ◽  
C. E. Kilsedar ◽  
M. Munafo ◽  
R. Ravanelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Soil Consumption

scholarly journals Quantifying the Independent Influences of Land Cover and Humidity on Microscale Urban Air Temperature Variation in Hot Summer: Methods of Path Analysis and Genetic SVR

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1377
Author(s):  
Weifang Shi ◽  
Nan Wang ◽  
Aixuan Xin ◽  
Linglan Liu ◽  
Jiaqi Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Temperature Variation ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Urban Air ◽  
Air Temperatures

Mitigating high air temperatures and heat waves is vital for decreasing air pollution and protecting public health. To improve understanding of microscale urban air temperature variation, this paper performed measurements of air temperature and relative humidity in a field of Wuhan City in the afternoon of hot summer days, and used path analysis and genetic support vector regression (SVR) to quantify the independent influences of land cover and humidity on air temperature variation. The path analysis shows that most effect of the land cover is mediated through relative humidity difference, more than four times as much as the direct effect, and that the direct effect of relative humidity difference is nearly six times that of land cover, even larger than the total effect of the land cover. The SVR simulation illustrates that land cover and relative humidity independently contribute 16.3% and 83.7%, on average, to the rise of the air temperature over the land without vegetation in the study site. An alternative strategy of increasing the humidity artificially is proposed to reduce high air temperatures in urban areas. The study would provide scientific support for the regulation of the microclimate and the mitigation of the high air temperature in urban areas.

scholarly journals A Modified Bare Soil Index to Identify Bare Land Features during Agricultural Fallow-Period in Southeast Asia Using Landsat 8

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Can Trong Nguyen ◽  
Amnat Chidthaisong ◽  
Phan Kieu Diem ◽  
Lian-Zhi Huo
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Fallow Period

Bare soil is a critical element in the urban landscape and plays an essential role in urban environments. Yet, the separation of bare soil and other land cover types using remote sensing techniques remains a significant challenge. There are several remote sensing-based spectral indices for barren detection, but their effectiveness varies depending on land cover patterns and climate conditions. Within this research, we introduced a modified bare soil index (MBI) using shortwave infrared (SWIR) and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths derived from Landsat 8 (OLI—Operational Land Imager). The proposed bare soil index was tested in two different bare soil patterns in Thailand and Vietnam, where there are large areas of bare soil during the agricultural fallow period, obstructing the separation between bare soil and urban areas. Bare soil extracted from the MBI achieved higher overall accuracy of about 98% and a kappa coefficient over 0.96, compared to bare soil index (BSI), normalized different bare soil index (NDBaI), and dry bare soil index (DBSI). The results also revealed that MBI considerably contributes to the accuracy of land cover classification. We suggest using the MBI for bare soil detection in tropical climatic regions.

Optimizing mixed spectra generation for regression-based unmixing of land cover in urban areas

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik Priem ◽  
Frank Canters ◽  
Akpona Okujeni ◽  
Sebastian van der Linden
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas

scholarly journals Health Risk Assessment Indicators for the Left-Behind Elderly in Rural China: A Delphi Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruzhen Luo ◽  
Chunmei Zhang ◽  
Yanhui Liu
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Index System ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Assessment Index ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Assessment Index System

In China, many young and middle-aged rural residents move to urban areas each year. The rural elderly are left behind. The number of the rural left-behind elderly is increasing with urbanization, but it is unclear which indicators can be used to assess their health condition. The health risk assessment index system was developed to improve the health level of the rural left-behind elderly. A two-round web-based Delphi process was used to organize the recommendations from fifteen Chinese experts in geriatrics, health management, social psychology who participated in this study. Meaningfulness, importance, modifiability, and comprehensive value of the health risk assessment indicators in the index system were evaluated. The effective recovery rates of the two-round Delphi were 86.67% and 92.31%, respectively. The judgement coefficient and the authority coefficient were 0.87 and 0.82, respectively. The expert familiarity was 0.76. Ultimately, the health risk assessment index system for the rural left-behind elderly consisted of five first-level indicators, thirteen second-level indicators, and sixty-six third-level indicators. The final indicators can be used to evaluate the health of the rural left-behind elderly and provide the basis for additional health risk interventions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document