Ecosystem Viability Assessment And Fragmentation Analysis In Bale Mountains National Park (emphasis On Afro-alpine Ecosystem)

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Human population growth is fragmenting pristine ecosystems and impacting biologicalrndiversity worldwide. Like many National Parks forest fragmentation and degradation duernto agricultural expansion are the greatest threats to biodiversity in BMNP. However,rndespite the presence of fragmentation, there are still opportunities for conserving thernremaining ecosystem blocks (Patches) with information on the viable and fragmentedrnPatches. Thus, the objective of this research is to suggest a ranking of ecosystemrnpatches according to their degree of viability (i.e. their capability to preserve its integrityrnand host its original biodiversity). This study used Pearson correlation coupled with PCArnfor objective selection of representative metrics among 109 and 72 at Class and patchrnlevel, respectively. Pearson correlation (|r|>0.95) reduced 56% of the class and 14%rnPatch metrics. Then PCA identified 6 and 7 components explaining 96% and 94% of thernvariance in class and patch metrics, respectively. Accordingly, patch elongation, patchrnsize, core area, contiguity, proximity and Euclidean Nearest Neighbor were selected thern7 PCA components for ecosystem viability assessment. Weighted sum equationsrncombining representative metrics using percent of variance explained by each axes ofrnthe PCA gave fragmentation Index and ecosystem viability map ranking classes andrnpatches as high, moderate and low, respectively. This systematic approach of creatingrna fragmentation index and ecosystem viability assessment is not only a useful methodrnthat can be replicated in other regions, but the information provided in the form of mapsrncan also be valuable guide to ecologists, natural resource managers, and planners tornorient land use planning for optimal allocation of land resources.rnKeywords: Ecosystem fragmentation, Ecosystem Viability, PCA, Bale Mountains National Park.

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Ecosystem Viability Assessment And Fragmentation Analysis In Bale Mountains National Park (emphasis On Afro-alpine Ecosystem)

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