MODELING SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ECOTONES IN GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 2, 637-644 pp

ABSTRACT

The landscape structure, its components and their developments are possible to monitor from several, mutually complementary aspects: arrangement of gradients (abiotic and biotic) across the territory without significant and sharp boundaries; arrangement of
areas in the mosaic of the landscape; network of areas and corridors; system of boundaries and rims in the landscape mosaic [1]. The investigation into ecotones enabled a better understanding of the causal relationships between certain landscape elements, landscape utilisation categories and ecotones. By studying ecotones, we
wanted to expand understanding of patterns having an influence on the landscape condition, structure, functions, landscape elements and their relationships. For better understanding and modelling of ecotones was applied fuzzy approach. Using Markov chains and fuzzy theory, dynamic modelling (modelling for prediction) was used and
the main result is the map outputs. Ecotones may serve as one of the distinctive indicators of the impact humans have on the landscape.

Keywords: ecotones, spatial modelling, fuzzy theory, landscape, GIS