These metrics were patch density (DEN), mean patch size (MPS), largest patch index (LPI), mean edge density (MED), mean twist number (TWI), corrected perimeter-to-area ratio (CPA), fractal dimension (FDI), and fragmentation index (FRG).
Fig. 1 shows the results for the mean edge density <img src="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?id=info?doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0012884.e090.PNG" class= inline-graphic"/>.
There may be subgraphs with an internal edge density higher than the average edge density of the whole network, but they originate from stochastic fluctuations (noise).
For each year and watershed, landscape heterogeneity and a set of class-level metrics (i.e. percentage of the landscape, area-weighted mean patch size, patch density, area-weighted mean shape index, edge density, and aggregation index) were also measured at different scales using random sampling techniques, and the results were summarized by using scalograms.
Using the fragstats spatial pattern analysis program, we calculated the number of patches, mean patch size, patch density, edge density, mean shape index, nearest neighbor distance, and an interspersion/juxtaposition index.
Fig. 2 Landscape metrics describing fragmentation and connectivity in five deforestation patterns in the lowland tropical forests in Bolivia: proportion of natural vegetation (a), patch density (b), mean patch area (c), edge density (d), mean nearest neighbour distance (e) and connectivity (f).
Weak positive and negative correlations between NDVI and landscape structure were observed at all three spatial scales for the metrics Class Area, Mean Patch Size, Edge Density, and Interspersion/Juxtaposition Index.
The framework is applied on data covering the UK and Ireland at 250 m resolution, evaluating a variety of indicators including mean patch size, edge density and Shannon diversity at window sizes ranging from 2.5 km to 80 km.
Among others, the mean edge weight and density features of the weighted network rank among top 3 in both lists.
Landscape analysis indicated a larger area of optimal habitat at the park with larger mean patch size, lower edge density, and shorter mean nearest neighbor distance than in the Sierra Diablo mountain range.
This study has found that three landscape metrics (edge density, mean perimeter-area ratio and percentage of landscape) were good indicators for the three coastal features, while mean shape index was only for beaches and gulfs.
