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Cl�assi��cation o� l�andscape diversity as a so�rce of the qualitative and quantitative information
Gal�ina I. Martsinkevic�
Belarusian State University, �insk. Belarus halina�ar@�ail.ru
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Abstract. Being one of ways of syste�atisation of scientific data, classification plays especially i�portant role in the landscape science. Classifications help to aggregate ob��ects, to set up their spatial and taxano�ic hierarchy. �he Belarusian Landscape Classification is developed at scale 1:600.000 in a for� of a typological landscape �ap. It has seven hierarchy levels; four of the� are principal and three are inter�ediate. Each level is based on pri�ary (�ostly qualitative) indicators.
For exa�ple, the classification indicators for the level of class are large �orphostructural attributes of the territory and landscape zones that represent the area; the type of landscape should belong to one of the landscape zones; the genus of landscape (rod) is recognized by the genesis and ti�e of landscape origin; specie (vid) asse�bles the areas with si�ilar topography (for�s of �ezorelief) and soil/vegetation cover.
�he quantitative infor�ation in classification �ay “hide” behind qualitative characteristics and often can be derived fro�
the indirect attributes. For exa�ple, genesis of relief in the zone of glacial accu�ulation usually correlates well with
�orphological para�eters of the relief, podzol content in the soil - with either pH level in the hu�us horizon and the depth of the horizon. On the other hand, classifications and the �aps based on the classifications allow to calculate the areas of each contour, to �ake the analysis of landscape structure at any classification level and to assess the landscape diversity (L�). �he concept of landscape diversity (L�) i�plies several levels of landscape diversity assess�ent. Variations in the approaches to the assess�ent are caused by co�plexity of landscape as an ob��ect of study, its hierarchical structure and syste� organization. In the view of the syste� approach, landscape diversity can be considered as variability of co�plexes of s�aller ranks within a larger syste�. Landscape diversity is expressed by an index, which reflects ob��ective funda�ental characteristics of geographical space: the index contains the infor�ation on spatial structure; correlates with the levels of entropy and dispersion in the syste� and represents the �etric characteristic of a landscape in general. �he two levels can be distinguished in the L� structure with different specifics of landscape diversity on each level: (1) �orphological, i.e.
variability of ele�entary associations (faciya) and sites (urochische) within the landscape; (2) taxono�ic, i.e. variability of landscape species (vid) within the genus (rod) and types (type) of landscapes. �he assess�ent of landscape diversity is
�ade on the taxono�ic level using indexes of various authors.
Key words: natural landscapes, landscape classification, landscape diversity, the assess�ent of landscape diversity
Introduction
Belarusian geographers started research in landscape in 1960th. �t that ti�e the ter� “landscape” had been defined only as a “natural co�plexes” �issing of all anthropogenic ele�ents. �s a result in Belarus the landscape
�aps of different scale reflecting structure of natural landscapes of the country in whole and ad�inistrative regions were developed and published. �hese �aps have been used as an basis for assess�ent of landscape diversity of Belarus.
�he ter� «landscape diversity» has appeared in connection with alar� of biologists and ecologists concerning decrease in a biological diversity and necessity of its protection. �ccepted in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro the Klasyfikacja krajobrazu. Teoria i praktyka. Problemy Ekologii Krajobrazu. 2008, t. XX. 35-43.
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International Convention on a biological diversity has suggested the idea, that biodiversity conservation is i�possible without protection of habitats of ani�als and plants, e.g. landscapes. �herefore in 1995 the Council of Europe has accepted «Pan-European strategy of conservation of a biological and landscape diversity», and in 2000 the European convention on landscapes is opened for signing. �herefore the proble� of landscape diversity is one of focused proble�s of the �odern funda�ental and applied researches, allowing to receive new scientific and practical results in the field of wildlife �anage�ent and protection of the environ�ent.
�he ter� “diversity” was widely used in biology and ecology in 50-60th of XX century. Under the title «an ecological diversity» it was used by R. �argalef (1951), J. Hutchinson (1957) and P. Whitteker (1965). �he last researcher has developed the concept of an ecological diversity providing three levels of its existence: an alpha diversity or genetic, beta diversity (specie), ga��a diversity (ecosyste�) (Whitteker 1980). � genetic diversity is the su� of the genetic infor�ation containing in genes of individuals of plants, ani�als and the �icroorganis�s living on the Earth. � specie diversity is �easured by quantity of kinds, ecosyste� – quantity of habitats, biotic co��unities and ecological processes.
�he ter� «landscape diversity» (L�) began to be used in 1990th firstly in landscape ecology (Loehle, 1994), and then in the field of funda�ental landscape science. One of the first definitions of ter� L� is given in Pan-European Strategy of conservation of a biological and landscape diversity where it is noticed, that this concept reflects the nu�erous relations existing between separate co�ponents or a society and topographical deter�inants of territory. �hese relations are result of actions of natural and hu�an forces.
�ccording to Ukrainian researcher V.�. Grinevetsky (Grinevetsky 2000), the landscape diversity is a real-life set of landscape co�plexes of any size and a hierarchical level on the surface of Earth – fro� landscape facia and natural boundaries to landscape sphere of the Earth, created by nature (and to so�e extent under anthropogenic i�pact). �his definition considers only one di�ension of L� concept, na�ely – hierarchy of landscape sphere, excluding its spatial �osaic.
J.G. Puzachenko, �.N. ���akonov, G.�. �leshchenko (Puzachenko et al. 2002) provided in their study wider understanding of the ter�. �uthors believe that the concept «landscape diversity» should consider all levels of the syste� organisation of landscape, and also the hierarchical organisation of landscapes of various territories.
One of the fullest concepts of landscape diversity belongs to �.�. Grodzinsky (Grodzinsky 1999). �his known Ukrainian researcher distinguishes four aspects of use of ter� L�: traditional-landscape (classical), anthropogenic, biocentrical, hu�anitarian. �he first of the� assu�es that natural landscapes, their �orphological or taxono�ic structure are focuses of L� assess�ent. �he study of influence of hierarchical structure of a landscape on a diversity of vegetation and faunistic co��unities and ecosyste� as a whole is the focus of biocentrical aspect of L�. �he anthropogenic interpretation of L� is associated with the assess�ent of natural-anthropogenic and technogenic co�plexes, hu�anitarian approach – with the assess�ent of cultural landscapes. Hu�anitarian interpretation of landscape diversity is reduced to perception by the person of a landscape as the natural pheno�enon including ele�ents of �aterial and spiritual culture of the person. In the situation of existing threat of loss of natural and a cultural heritage, decrease in a biological diversity, conservation, �aintenance and increase of a landscape diversity gets special i�portance.
General� c�aracteristics o� Bel�ar�sian Landscape Cl�assi��cation
�he Belarusian Landscape Classification is developed at scale 1: 600 000 in a for� of a typological landscape
�ap. It has seven hierarchy levels; four of the� are principal and three are inter�ediate. Each level is based on different key qualitative and quantitative indicators (�artsinkevich G.I., �licunova N.�. 1989).
�he class of landscape is the highest classification level. �he classification indicators for the level of class are large �orphostructural attributes of the territory and landscape zones that represent the area. �hese attributes co�bine both zonal and non zonal approaches and therefore the highest unit of classification has the �ost generalized character. Landscapes of Belarus belong to class of flat landscapes since the territory of country is located within East-European platfor� with flat relief and precisely expressed structure of landscape zones.
�he zonal principle is used to segregate types and sub-types of landscapes. �he following factors as location Martsinkevich G.
Classification and ...
37 of Belarus in one landscape zone with te�peral-continental cli�ate, west transfer of air �ass and do�inant forest vegetation deter�ine the te�peral-continental forest type of landscapes. Since the territory of Republic stretches fro� north to south �ore than 500 k�, so�e cli�atic and biotic distinctions between northern and southern areas are found out. Values of total solar radiation (fro� 3580 to 4100 �J/�2) and annual radiating balance (fro� 1530 to 1840 �J/�2) increase in this direction, defining a trend of so�e other �eteorological indicators. In the result the total photosynthetic active radiation is higher in the south than in the north on 140–
170 �J/�2, average te�peratures of July – on 1–2о, the su� of te�peratures of air above 10о on 300–400о, and the annual su� of precipitation, on the opposite, on 50–100 �� lower. �he hu�idity coefficient defines hydrother�al conditions during war� period. It changes fro� 1,1 in the north to 0,8 in the south.
�hese cli�ate conditions influence type of vegetation cover. �he �ain forest types in Belarus are fir-tree and oak. �he spatial distribution of these species is well defined and characterized by the following law: (1) the reduction with 16 to 0,5 % of a share of fir fro� the north to the south; (2) the increase (fro� 1,6 to 9,9 %) relative density of oak forests, (3) the replace�ent of ele�ents of boreal florae by West European florae in an underbrush. �he southern border of distribution of fir-tree on East-European plain stretches in the northern border of Polesse lowland. �his border divides all landscapes into two sub-types: boreal subtaiga and subboreal polesse. �long this border other natural borders as cli�atic, orographical, tectonic, floristic are deter�ined. �n isoline of the su� of �onthly average te�peratures of air above 10, which equal 24000, southern border of a fir-tree distribution, a sets of the deep faults getting into rocks of a platfor� and dividing low tectonic structures of the south of Belarus and high structures of its central part are the exa�ples of these borders. � border of sozh (riss-2) glacier passes near the �entioned line of superregional and regional faults. �he orographical border separating Polesse lowland fro� plains of Pre-polesse is detected for the sa�e region along isohypse of 150 �.
�hus, series of natural boundaries of a zone and nonzonal origin can be defined in southern Belarus that allows to conclude that the �ain landscape boundary of the country stretches there.
�he level of clarity indicates the sharp and nonsharp type of natural borders. Sharp, distinct edges characterise
�ostly geological (faults, reverse faults) and geo�orphological (types of relief) borders. However, there are predo�inantly indistinct boundaries such as cli�atic, geobotanical and soil contours. Landscape boundaries can be both sharp, and nonsharp. If borders of landscapes coincide with distinctly expressed geology- geo�orphological border, they have, as a rule, sharp edge. In a case of co�bination of indistinct natural boundaries with landscape, the last take a nonsharp boundary.
�he described natural borders of the southern part of Belarus of a zonal and nonzonal origin are expressed nonsharply. �herefore the landscape boundary which is representing itself as synthesising, also is nonsharp. In reality this border looks like as a transitive strip where a reduction and disappearance of features of landscapes of subtaiga subtype and accu�ulation of specific features of polesse landscapes occur.
�he nonzonal features widespread display in type and subtype of landscapes. �hese factors are �ain characteristics of two principal (the genus and specie) and two inter�ediate level (group of genus and subgenus) of classification units. �he genus of landscapes co�bines the sites of si�ilar on genesis and ti�e of origin. For exa�ple, a �oraine landscapes with hills and lakes and a �oraine landscapes with ka�e and lakes has been for�ed in an accu�ulation zone of Poozersky (vur�) glacier. � �oraine landscapes with eroded hills and a
�oraine landscapes with eroded ka�e has been developed for the si�ilar sites of a zone of riss glacier.
� �oraine landscape with lake is typical within the area of develop�ent of basic �oraine of vur� glacier;
secondary-�oraine – of sozh and dnepr glacier. �n alluvial terraces prevaile in the area of fluvial accu�ulation and glacial landscapes with lake - in the area of glacial accu�ulation with lakes.
�he genus of landscapes differs a�ong each other not only by genesis, but also by the degree of drainage (poorly, �oderately, intensively drainage), types of soil and vegetation cover. �hese features were used as additional indicators to define the genuses. �he co�parison of natural-territorial co�plexes (N�C), for�ed in the area of the sa�e genesis, but differed in ti�e of origin, represents obvious distinctions between the�. For exa�ple, the �oraine landscape with hills and lakes is characterized by frequent alternation of drainage and weak drainage sites, co�plex soil cover and vegetation with prevalence of fir-tree and speckled alder forests on high ele�ents of a relief and lowland �eadows – on low ele�ents of relief. �rainage areas, soddy-podzol soil, spruce-broad-leaved forests are inherent attributes for �oraine landscapes with eroded hills.
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Fig. 1. �he landscape �ap of Belarus (1 – �oraine landscape with hills and lakes; 2 – �oraine landscape with eroded hills;
3 – �oraine landscape with ka�e and lakes; 4 – �oraine landscapes with eroded ka�e; 5 – loess; 6 – �oraine landscape with lakes; 7 – secondary-�oraine landscapes; 8 – �oraine-sandr landscapes; 9 – flivial-glacial with lakes;
10 – secondary fluvial-glacial; 11 – alluvial landscapes with lakes; 12 – glacial landscapes with lakes; 13 – alluvial terraces; 14 – landscapes of floadplane; 15 – the landscape of �arshes; 16 – the landscapes of river valleys)
Martsinkevich G.
�he spatial distribution of genuses of landscapes in territory of Belarus is characterized by the certain law: �any patterns of this hierarhy level replace each other in latitude direction. For exa�ple, the glacial landscapes with lake, �oraine landscapes with hills and lakes of the north are replaced by secondary-�oraine and secondary fluvial-glacial in the central part and by alluvial landscapes with lakes and alluvial terraces in the south. �his distribution can be explained by zonal genetic types of relief and quarternary deposits in the area of glacial accu�ulation.
�t the sa�e ti�e the genuses of landscape change each other also fro� the west to the east. �his law especially expressed in the �iddle part of territory of Belarus. �he �oraine landscapes with eroded hills has been for�ed in the west part of Belarus, secondary fluvial-glacial landscapes - in the central, and secondary-�oraine and loess landscapes in the east part of Belarus (fig.1).
�he genus of landscapes occupies the certain absolute height and for�s three altitude-landscape steps. �he landscapes of low altitude step have absolute heights of 100-150 � and it is presented by group of six genus of landscapes. �he landscapes of �iddle altitude step have absolute heights of 150–200 � and do�inate in Belarus, occupying al�ost half of its territory. Landscapes which are the �ost typical for a zone of the �ixed woods do�inate there. �he landscapes of the high step reach heights of 200-346 � and are presented by group of five genus of landscapes. Hence, the nonzonal pheno�enon – vertical differentiation of landscapes is classification indicator of group of genus of landscapes.
