CHANGES IN THE SECONDARY LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE AND THEIR CONNECTION WITH ECOLOGICAL STABILITY: THE CASES OF TWO MODEL AREAS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

• Published in: Ekológia Bratislava Vol. 31; no. 1; p. 33
• Main Authors: Skokanová, Hana, Eremiásová, Renata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bratislava Institute of Landscape Ecology 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Biodiversity; Habitats; Land use; Czech Republic
• ISSN: 1335-342X; 1337-947X
• DOI: 10.4149/ekol_2012_01_33

This paper characterizes changes in the secondary landscape structure over the past 170 years in two model areas in the Czech Republic, and investigates the following question "Is there is a connection between these changes and the ecological stability of identified biotopes?" Analyses show that there are no areas within the Dunajovické kopce hills model area that can be characterized simultaneously by high ecological stability and stability of land use and land cover. On the other hand, areas of high or very high ecological stability exist in the alluvial plain model area without concurrent change in land use or land cover, these regions comprise almost one-quarter of the entire studied area. In the Dunajovické kopce hills, 6.8% of the area was stable from the land use/land cover viewpoint during the considered period. In the alluvial plain area, meanwhile, this figure was approximately eight times greater, at 58.7%. This difference was mainly due to variations in landscape character and land use. The Dunajovické kopce hills present a landscape intensively used for agriculture, and in particular vineyards, while the alluvial plain is an example of one of the best preserved forest areas in the Czech Republic. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]