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Effects of Increasing Urbanization on the Ecological Integrity of Open Space Preserves

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Abstract

This article analyzes the effects of increasing urbanization on open space preserves within the metropolitan area of Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Time series analysis is used in 10-year increments over 40 years to study urban landscape change. Three landscape metrics—(1) matrix utility (measures intensity of adjacent land uses), (2) isolation (measures distances to other open space patches), and (3) connectivity (measures physical links to other open space patches and corridors)—are used to assess changes in landscape patterns and serve as indicators of urban ecological integrity of the open space preserves. Results show that in the case of both open space preserves, general decline in indicators of urban ecological integrity was evident. The matrix utility analysis demonstrated that increasing intensity of land uses adjacent to preserve is likely to increase edge effects, reducing the habitat value of interior or core habitat areas. Isolation analysis showed that both preserves have experienced increasing isolation from other open space elements over time. Also, connectivity analysis indicated that terrestrial connections to other open space elements have also deteriorated. Conclusions of this research demonstrate that while preservation of natural areas as open space is important in an urban context, intense development of surrounding areas reduces the urban ecological integrity significantly.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the staff of the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department for sharing invaluable information with regards to the mountain preserves and to Landiscor Aerial Photography for providing the aerials. The authors also greatly appreciate the thorough review of three anonymous reviewers and their comments that helped improve this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Architecture, Landscape Architecture Department, Istanbul Technical University, Taskisla-Taksim, Istanbul, 34437, Turkey

    Hayriye Esbah

  2. College of Design, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1905, USA

    Edward A. Cook & Joseph Ewan

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  1. Hayriye Esbah
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  2. Edward A. Cook
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Correspondence to Hayriye Esbah.

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Esbah, H., Cook, E.A. & Ewan, J. Effects of Increasing Urbanization on the Ecological Integrity of Open Space Preserves. Environmental Management 43, 846–862 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-009-9274-z

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