Landscape pattern metrics and regional assessment

The combination of remote imagery data, geographic information systems soft ware, and landscape ecology theory provides a unique basis for monitoring a nd assessing large-scale ecological systems. The unique feature of the work has been the need to develop and interpret quantitative measures of spatia l pattern-the landscape indices. This article reviews what is known about t he statistical properties of these pattern metrics and suggests some additi onal metrics based on island biogeography, percolation theory, hierarchy th eory, and economic geography. Assessment applications of this approach have required interpreting the pattern metrics in terms of specific environment al endpoints, such as wildlife and water quality, and research into how to represent synergystic effects of many overlapping sources of stress.