Monitoring and Recording Changes in Natural Landscapes: A Case Study from Two Coastal Wetlands in SE Italy

Abstract

This study analyzed and evaluated the changes that occurred in two coastal wetlands, characterized by complex and fragmented landscape patterns, in Southern Italy, which were monitored over a period of seven years from 2007 to 2014. Furthermore, the performances of two Land Cover (LC) and habitat taxonomies, compared for their suitability in mapping the identified changes, were assessed. A post-mapping method was adopted to detect the habitat/LC changes that occurred in the study period. Various changes were identified, both inter-class changes (class conversions) and intra-class changes (class modifications), and quantified by means of transition matrices. Conversions were easily mapped, while the modification mapping depended on the taxonomy adopted: the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) allowed the detection of morpho-structural changes in woody vegetation, but the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) showed a higher thematic resolution for the salt marsh types. The detected changes were related to specific impacts, pressures and underlying factors. Landscape indices highlighted different trends in landscape richness and complexity in the two sites. Changes are occurring very quickly in the observed coastal sites and the ongoing dynamics are strictly related to their small size and complexity. For effective monitoring and detection of change in these environments, the coupling of EUNIS and LCCS is suggested.

Edible Halophytes and Halo-Tolerant Species in Apulia Region (Southeastern Italy): Biogeography, Traditional Food Use and Potential Sustainable Crops

“…Increasing human pressure (e.g., urbanization, exploitation of natural resources, plant invasion) is causing degradation of coastal areas, along with the reduction, fragmentation and isolation of their habitats [ 57 , 188 ]. Land claims, agricultural intensification and hydrological modifications are the main drivers of changes [ 189 , 190 , 191 , 192 ]. Marine and coastal ecosystems provide a wide range of services to human society including supporting, regulating, cultural and provisioning services; among the provisioning services, the provisioning of cultivated crops (“nutrition”) and of genetic materials (“materials”), especially of genetic resources for new crops, are included [ 193 , 194 , 195 , 196 ].…”

Wind–Wave Conditions and Change in Coastal Landforms at the Beach–Dune Barrier of Cesine Lagoon (South Italy)

“…Such human activities likely determined a loss of sand comparable to that removed by natural processes, while the dune morphology was considerably altered [12]. As a matter of fact, the dune vegetation of the Cesine Lagoon barrier system is currently affected by the loss and fragmentation of habitat types, and characterized by a pioneer vegetation including sand couch grass (Elytrigia juncea) [20,21].…”

Changing landscapes: habitat monitoring and land transformation in a long-time used Mediterranean coastal wetland

“…LC classes were de ned on the base of the FAO-Land Cover Classi cation System (LCCS) taxonomy (Di Gregorio and Jansen 2005) which potentialities in mapping Mediterranean coastal wetlands have been explored in previous papers. Indeed, by comparing the effectiveness of different LC and habitat taxonomies in monitoring coastal wetlands emerged that, for long-term habitat monitoring and change detection, the coupling EUNIS and LCCS is highly recommended (Adamo et al 2014(Adamo et al , 2016Tomaselli et al 2013Tomaselli et al , 2016Tomaselli et al , 2021.…”

“…To describe the conversion size of habitat types in different periods, the transition matrix approach was used (Tomaselli et al 2021). The transition matrix indicates the amount of different habitat types that remain unchanged and change in the study period.…”