This study attempt to consider domestic studies on biotope so as to derive problems and to find solutions based on landscape ecology theory..
As the following 3 steps, this study was processed. Firstly, to derive problems by analizing the previous s...
This study attempt to consider domestic studies on biotope so as to derive problems and to find solutions based on landscape ecology theory..
As the following 3 steps, this study was processed. Firstly, to derive problems by analizing the previous study cases. Secondly, to bulid landscape ecological evaluation method of individual biotope a landscape ecological classification biotope type. And lastly, to derive characteristics of this method.
The analysis of existing study cases at home relevant to biotope found problems such as lack of quantitative criteria for evaluation; failure to reflect diverse values of biotope in evaluation results due to the evaluation criteria focusing on plant species; and absence of evaluation of individual biotopes on account of limited time and cost. To make up for such problems, diverse theories and study methods based on landscape ecology were applied, i. e. a quantitative analysis using landscape index, an empirical study cases conducted from a variety of aspects and GIS-based spatial analysis technologies.
The study site chosen here was Shiheung City, Gyeonggi-do, whose diversity of biotope types was found high among those of other case sites where the existing study methods were used to evaluate individual biotopes.
Land use, land cover and actual vegetation in the study site were examined to build a biotope map and classification biotope type. From the perspective of landscape ecology, based on the cause and origin of biotope, biotopes were classified into 5 types: residual type, regeneration type, introduction type, environment type and distribution type. This classification was intended to proceed with evaluation in accordance with the characteristics of each type.
Individual biotopes were evaluated based on landscape ecology by setting 9 detail evaluation items in terms of structure, function and change and using a quantitative method.
In terms of structure, area was evaluated based on a species-area curve. Shape index was used to evaluate shapes based on complexity and fragmentation. Edge was evaluated based on edge and relations between the core area and inhabitant species.
To evaluate function, a concept of contribution was devised. The nearest neighbour distance was analyzed to find out contribution to connectivity. Area and perimeter were used to determine contribution to cohesion. Diversity index was used to evaluate contribution to diversity.
In view of change, time-series and tree-ring analyses were used to evaluate development period. LiDAR Data were also used to evaluate the vertical structure and biomass of vegetation.
To sum up the results of each detail item evaluation, evaluation grades were derived from 3 perspectives: structure, function and change. Likewise, by putting the results of evaluation of 9 detail items together, the grade for the individual biotope was derived from the comprehensive evaluation. Then, the class derived from the comprehensive evaluation and the one from the existing evaluation were comparatively analyzed to present characteristics of the landscape ecological evaluation method of individual biotopes and its application.
Based on the field survey on the study site, biotopes classified included 13 categories, 27 divisions and 61 sections. The types of biotopes classified into sections included 5 remain types, 8 environment types, 9 regeneration types, 15 introduction types and 24 distribution types from the perspective of landscape ecology.
The evaluation of individual biotopes based on landscape ecology found that structurally stabilized biotopes were valued high as the habitat for species from the perspective of structure evaluation; and that biotopes contributing to connectivity, coherence and diversity of habitats within urban area were evaluated high in respect of function. In regard of change, high-biomass spots closely related to the quality of urban environment were evaluated high. Such evaluation considering diverse aspects allowed even identical types of individual biotopes to fall under various grades depending on their values.
Unlike exsisting study results, this study found that even biotopes relevant to natural forest were not necessarily evaluated high but that some types were evaluated low in terms of their values. Also, even biotopes relevant to artificial forest, green space and agricultural area were possibly evaluated as high as natural forest.
The comparative analyses between results here and existing ones found the fitness of the evaluation of urban green space as well as the characteristics of detailed evaluation grades of individual biotopes. As even identical types of biotopes evaluated with detailed grades, this method is expected to be highly applicable to many fields. Urban green space including buffer green space and parks, to which existing evaluations focusing on plant species had not paid attention, was valued on account of the evaluation approach reflecting diverse values. This fits the purpose of biotope maps made and used for managing urban environment.
To apply the findings here properly, it is important to understand and use the significance of evaluation results. Even the meaning of an identical grades from the comprehensive evaluation varies depending on different grades of the detailed item evaluation. Hence, the results of the comprehensive evaluation is appropriate to apply to understanding the total environmental quality of the study site, considering regional conservation and development based on local differences. To establish management details and plans for urban environment, it is necessary to apply the evaluation results in terms of structure, function and change.