Abstract

MAS, Jean-François  and  CORREA SANDOVAL, Jorge. Analysis of landscape fragmentation in the "Los Petenes" protected area, Campeche, Mexico. Invest. Geog [online]. 2000, n.43, pp.42-59. ISSN 2448-7279.

Tropical rainforests are undergoing rapid deforestation and fragmentation processes which have led to the extinction of many plant and animal species, that is, to a loss of biodiversity. In the "Los Petenes" region located in the Campeche State, Mexico, the forest vegetation is distributed as islands, called petenes, constituting a naturally fragmented landscape. A characterization of fragmentation patterns was carried out through the calculation of mathematical indices, and petenes were classified into various categories. The utility of the indices applied for studying the landscape in this region was discussed it was found that petenes display a considerable variation in size, shape and degree of isolation. For this reason, they constitute particularly interesting areas for studying the relationship between habitat fragmentation and biodiversity.

Keywords : Landscape ecology; biodiversity; indices of fragmentation; Geographic Information Systems.