Loss and fragmentation of terrestrial habitats by urbanization in Incheon, South Korea

초록

Reduction and fragmentation of habitats by worldwide urbanization have seriously threatened biodiversity and ecosystem service in the urban area. We compared the land cover patterns of Incheon between 1975 and 2013 to investigate the changes in terrestrial habitats for wildlife during the rapid urbanization. All types of the terrestrial habitats have been decreased and fragmented in Incheon. As a potential habitat, croplands were more damaged than forests. The paddy fields were more severely damaged than the upland fields in the croplands. Even the upland fields were most fragmented in 2013. The terrestrial habitats for wildlife were more clumped and localized in 2013 compared to 1975 in Incheon. Our results suggested that it is important to conserve the cropland as well as the forest in urban planning for the biodiversity and ecosystem service in the rapidly urbanized area.