Spatial simulation analysis of the landscape under edge effect

Abstract

This work had as objective to understand and to analyze the actual stage of the forest fragment from Canguiri Experimental Farm and its temporal sustainability in the landscape matrix through the landscape metrics, and under the different intensities of the edge effect simulation. The area of study was the Canguiri Experimental Farm located in Pinhais (PR), with an area of 440 ha. Three edge effect intensities were simulated the 10, 30 and 50 meters and for each scenery 11 landscape indexes were calculated. The fragility classes were determined by the cluster analysis using the ward method and Euclidean distance based on the FRAG index. The results showed that edge effect simulation promoted changing in the landscape, where the number of fragments was 14 in actual stage and it changed to 19 (10 m); 18 (30 m) and 9 (50 m). The fragments were classified in 3 classes of the fragmentation fragility by the cluster analysis. The edge effect simulation combined with the calculated landscape indexes guided to determine which fragments were more fragile to the fragmentation process.