TY - JOUR

T1 - Spatial-temporal changes in trees outside forests

T2 - Case study from the Czech Republic 1953–2014

AU - Novotný, M.

AU - Skaloš, J.

AU - Plieninger, T.

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Trees outside forests act as ecologically valuable elements in the rural landscapes of Europe. This study proposes a new classification system for trees outside forest elements based on the shape and size of the patches and their location in fields. Using this system, the study evaluates the spatial-temporal dynamics of different subcategories of trees outside forests in context with land cover changes of the Czech Republic. The analysis is based on the re-evaluation of change trajectories of individual landscape elements. Historical black and white aerial photographs from 1953 and colour orthophoto maps from 2014 were used as data sources. Although the results show an increased area of trees outside forests, lost and recent elements exceed persistent elements in all subcategories. Regardless of subcategory, most of the lost elements were replaced by forest and the majority of recent elements were created at the expanse of arable land or grasslands. Most of the patches of persistent elements got larger due to spontaneous succession during the study period. Riparian vegetation was found to be the most stable category of trees outside forest. Reasons underlaying the documented changes are discussed based on the existing literature. In general, the dynamics of trees outside forests are linked to changes in the fine-grained microstructure of historical landscapes. The applied method enables us to analyse spatio-temporal changes on the level of individual elements, which allows for monitoring of changes in landscape processes.

AB - Trees outside forests act as ecologically valuable elements in the rural landscapes of Europe. This study proposes a new classification system for trees outside forest elements based on the shape and size of the patches and their location in fields. Using this system, the study evaluates the spatial-temporal dynamics of different subcategories of trees outside forests in context with land cover changes of the Czech Republic. The analysis is based on the re-evaluation of change trajectories of individual landscape elements. Historical black and white aerial photographs from 1953 and colour orthophoto maps from 2014 were used as data sources. Although the results show an increased area of trees outside forests, lost and recent elements exceed persistent elements in all subcategories. Regardless of subcategory, most of the lost elements were replaced by forest and the majority of recent elements were created at the expanse of arable land or grasslands. Most of the patches of persistent elements got larger due to spontaneous succession during the study period. Riparian vegetation was found to be the most stable category of trees outside forest. Reasons underlaying the documented changes are discussed based on the existing literature. In general, the dynamics of trees outside forests are linked to changes in the fine-grained microstructure of historical landscapes. The applied method enables us to analyse spatio-temporal changes on the level of individual elements, which allows for monitoring of changes in landscape processes.

KW - Change trajectories

KW - Habitat continuity

KW - Land cover history

KW - Trees outside forests

U2 - 10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.07.005

DO - 10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.07.005

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85029359838

VL - 87

SP - 139

EP - 148

JO - Applied Geography

JF - Applied Geography

SN - 0143-6228

ER -