Luis Francisco Madriñán, PhD
Concordia University, Department of Geography, planning and Environment. Office H1261.00. 1455 blvd de Maisonneve west, Montreal, Quebec. H3G 1M8, Canada. madrinan@alcor.concordia.ca
Concordia University, Department of Geography, planning and Environment. Office H1261.00. 1455 blvd de Maisonneve west, Montreal, Quebec. H3G 1M8, Canada. madrinan@alcor.concordia.ca
Landscape fragmentation due to transportation infrastructure has a
number of ecological effects. It contributes to the loss of wildlife
populations and to the increasing endangerment of species (e.g., by the
dissection of populations and the isolation of habitats) and affects
the water regime, the scenery, and the recreational quality.
My project investigates the causes that contribute to an increased or decreased degree of landscape fragmentation and determines their relative importance. Current metrics of landscape fragmentation need to be interpreted within the context of regional socio-economic and biophysical states to make a comparative assessment of fragmentation. Policy and land planning will be much better served by these comparative, rather than absolute, measures of fragmentation which take account of the relevant socio-economic conditions. The main task of the project is to prepare a statistical model that predicts the degree of landscape fragmentation for regions in Europe based on physical and socio-economic characteristics of these regions.
My project investigates the causes that contribute to an increased or decreased degree of landscape fragmentation and determines their relative importance. Current metrics of landscape fragmentation need to be interpreted within the context of regional socio-economic and biophysical states to make a comparative assessment of fragmentation. Policy and land planning will be much better served by these comparative, rather than absolute, measures of fragmentation which take account of the relevant socio-economic conditions. The main task of the project is to prepare a statistical model that predicts the degree of landscape fragmentation for regions in Europe based on physical and socio-economic characteristics of these regions.
