Anthropogenic effect on landscapes: spatial structure, ecological impact, entropy

Structural and thermodynamic applications of entropy related to spatial heterogeneity under growing anthropogenic pressure have been examined. 16 zones from classified LANDSAT TM scenes presenting different anthropogenic effect intensities have been used. Anthropogenic effects, compositional and configurational entropy have been measured. The scatter plot shows bell curves with maximal entropy at intermediate anthropogenic effects. Distinction of natural and anthropogenic classes shows opposed tendencies according to class and compositional/configurational type. These results have been interpreted as spatial transformation processes, energy production and release, and linked to the habitat heterogeneity and intermediate disturbance hypotheses.