Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Cartography of Landscape Dynamics in
Central Spain
N. López-Estébanez, F. Allende, P. Fernández-Sañudo,
M.J. Roldán Martín and P. De Las Heras
Additional information is available at the end of the chapter
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/47841
1. Introduction
Ecological and spatial analysis helps us to characterize the territory and know the spatio-
temporal relationship between different components of the landscape. Landscape ecology
has developed several methods of assessment and analysis of indicators by using
Geographical Information Systems [1-4]. Such methods allow characterization of changes in
land structure and land uses, as well as the interpretation of the ecological consequences of
these dynamics [5]. They also facilitate analysis of the territory, trying to recognize and
compare different spatial configurations, using patches of different shapes, numbers,
classes, etc. [6-8].
Several authors have carried out research attempting to integrate the study of territorial
dynamics, from an ecological perspective, using Geographic Information Systems [9, 10].
The landscape is influenced by natural and anthropic processes, and the effects of both
factors are expressed either at local or regional scale on the territory, showing changes in
their structure and composition [11]. Clearly, the landscape appears to us as a complex of
many different elements that can reach a great diversity [12]. In Mediterranean areas, the
landscape is characterized by a heterogeneous mosaic of land uses and vegetation, where
natural subsystems coexist adjacent to other systems at different degrees of perturbation
due to human intervention and, therefore, with different degree of ecological maturity,
separated by clear boundaries [13, 14]. The intense dynamic of land use changes occurred in
these areas over recent decades has caused important changes in the structure of the
landscape, as a result of fragmentation processes [14-19]. This influences various ecological
processes, including those relating to the matter and energy flows between patches, by
altering the composition and distribution of communities, the survival and coexistence of
species, and species diversity [20-25].
