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On the definitions and interpretations of Entropy in Landscape ecology: A review
Vranken, Isabelle
2013First Congress of the Society for Urban Ecology (SURE)
 

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Keywords :
landscape ecology; entropy; pattern analysis; thermodynamics; spatial heterogeneity; unpredictability; scale influence
Abstract :
[en] Landscape ecology studies the structure of landscapes as interacting ecosystems over space and time. Thanks to Turner's Pattern / process paradigm, it allows inferring ecological impacts of disturbances observable through land use change. The purpose of this research is to use landscape ecology techniques based on remote sensing to assess the ecological impacts of anthropogenic effects such as urban growth and agriculture extension on subtropical African landscapes, characterised by fast unplanned growth and subsequent prevailing menace on the rich local environmental resources and biodiversity. Taken from information theory and generally used to assess disturbances of any kind, the concept of entropy is important in landscape ecology and also used in many other disciplines for other purposes. It turns out however that it is used in many different ways and interpreted within various, sometimes opposed definitions and that the context in which it is used is not always explicit. The purpose of the present intervention is therefore to review the different interpretations and applications of entropy in landscape ecology and sort them into different clearly defined categories. Forty landscape ecology articles and book chapters using or discussing entropy have been surveyed and classified by keywords, variables and indexes mentioned to relate entropy. The connection relevance between those interpretations has also been examined through this literature sample and other reference works on entropy. Particularly, the thermodynamic component of entropy in landscape ecology and its different interpretations as for landscape structure and evolution is questioned. This fundamental research issue represents a preliminary survey to researches on the structural impact of anthropogenic disturbances. Indeed, according to the Naiman habitat heterogeneity hypothesis, a higher spatial heterogeneity within the landscape would have a positive influence on species diversity. This has important outcomes to study ecosystem resilience to anthropogenic disturbances and combine human development with biological conservation.
Research center :
SURE, HU Berlin
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Vranken, Isabelle ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Biodiversité et Paysage
Language :
English
Title :
On the definitions and interpretations of Entropy in Landscape ecology: A review
Publication date :
July 2013
Number of pages :
1
Event name :
First Congress of the Society for Urban Ecology (SURE)
Event organizer :
Society for URban Ecology, Humboldt University
Event place :
Berlin, Germany
Event date :
25 juillet 2013 au 27 juillet 2013
Audience :
International
References of the abstract :
Edited by Salman Qureshi, Dagmar Haase, Nadja Kabisch. Landscape Ecology, HU Berlin
Name of the research project :
Impact assessment of anthropogenic effects
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
Commentary :
This consisted in a 10-15 min oral presentaton followed by questions
Available on ORBi :
since 30 July 2013

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