Entwicklung der Landschaftszerschneidung in Sachsen-Anhalt am Beispiel des Saalkreises und der kreisfreien Stadt Halle

Abstract

Marks, T.; Lausch, A.; Arndt, E.: Development of landscape fragmentation in two districts of Saxony- Anhalt (Saalkreis and Halle/Saale). – Hercynia N.F. 39 (2006): 1–10.The present paper gives an overview of the historical development and present situation of landscape fragmentation in two districts of Saxony-Anhalt (Saalkreis and Halle/Saale). Analogous to the methods used in Esswein et al. (2002) we analysed ATKIS data and digitalized historical maps to evaluate the landscape fragmentation in different years. The landscape fragmentation is measured with the index “Effective mesh size” (meff). The results show a strong fragmentation of the considered area. The Effective mesh size is 7.08 km² in 2003 (without consideration of municipality connection roads). Including municipality connection roads the effective mesh size decreases 37% to 4.44 km². The landscape fragmentation has been increased in the considered area continuously since 1938. The effective mesh size (using so-called “cutting out method”, without municipality connection roads) decreased in Halle/Saale 48% between 1938 and 2003 and even more in the Saalkreis during the same period (-58%). Including municipality connection roads, the ranking of the two districts turns back: effective mesh size decreased in the Saalkreis 39% between 1938 and 2003, but 45% in Halle/Saale. These results are compared with two reference areas in Baden-Württemberg. The assumption of a stronger increase of landscape fragmentation as a result of the re-union compared with earlier periods and with the situation in Western Germany is confirmed in the rural areas of the Saalkreis. However, the effect of stronger fragmentation after the re-union is lower than expected.