The pattern analysis of landscape boundary network in the upper reaches of Minjiang River

Spatial pattern and processes are two most important aspects of landscape ecological study. Compared with patch-based studies, boundary-based studies provide new perspectives in understanding landscape processes. We analyzed data from TM image, forest stand map, land use map and field investigation using GIS, RS, and Fragstats software. With an example from the upper reaches of Minjiang River, we analyzed landscape boundary network pattern change and the related ecological processes. The main results are: From 1974 to 2000, human disturbance made the structure of landscape boundary network in this area more complex than the prior period, with increased boundary length and network connectivity at the beginning, and decreased landscape network connectivity at the later stage. This is because the rates of boundary number and node number increases are faster than that of the boundary length. The boundary length between forest and other landscape types at lower slope positions decreased, indicating that forest boundaries at lower elevations moved upwards. Before 1986, farmland-forest boundaries increased and after 1986 they decreased, whereas farmland-shrub boundaries increased during the period. The shrinkage of forest area resulted in simpler forest landscape pattern and more complex spatial patterns of shrub, grassland and farmland landscapes.