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A comparative study of urban fragmentation patterns in small and mid-sized cities of Idaho

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A Correction to this article was published on 25 October 2018

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Abstract

Urbanization has a massive impact on ecological function and impedes the provisioning of environmental services. The interaction between urbanization and the environment has been researched extensively. However, the existing research focused on the urbanization characteristics of large metropolitan areas. In this paper, we investigate the urban fragmentation patterns of small and mid-sized cities in Idaho, USA. To capture the urban morphology for each site within the study we use both concentric ring and transect analysis as well as several spatial/landscape metrics. Our results show that the characteristics of urbanization in small and mid-sized cities (and those in second-tier regions that attract relatively little scholarly attention) are consistent with growth phase theory of urbanization, urbanization along a gradient, and urbanization patterns of metropolises.

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Change history

  • 25 October 2018

    The Acknowledgements contained an error: In the original statement “This research was supported by the National Science Foundation award IIA – 1301792 from the National Science Foundation Idaho Environmental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Program.”

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation award number IIA – 1301792 from the National Science Foundation Idaho Environmental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Program. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Science Foundation. We would also like to thank Colden Baxter, Sue Parsons, Li Huang, and Stephan Joy who offered guidance and insight during the progression of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, Boise State University, 1910 W University Dr, Boise, ID, 83725, USA

    Christopher Felt

  2. Department of Economics, Boise State University, 1910 W University Dr, Boise, ID, 83725, USA

    Michail Fragkias

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 S 8th Ave, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA

    Danelle Larson & Kathleen A. Lohse

  4. Department of Geography, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA

    Haifeng Liao

  5. Department of Political Science, Idaho State University, 921 S 8th Ave, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA

    Donna Lybecker

Authors
  1. Christopher Felt
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  2. Michail Fragkias
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  3. Danelle Larson
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  4. Haifeng Liao
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  5. Kathleen A. Lohse
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  6. Donna Lybecker
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Correspondence to Christopher Felt.

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Felt, C., Fragkias, M., Larson, D. et al. A comparative study of urban fragmentation patterns in small and mid-sized cities of Idaho. Urban Ecosyst 21, 805–816 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-018-0770-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-018-0770-x

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