Quantitative measurement of geodiversity uniqueness: research implications and conservation applications
Alahuhta, Janne; García-Girón, Jorge; Hjort, Jan; Salminen, Henriikka; Tukiainen, Helena; Heino, Jani (2024-02-12)
Alahuhta, Janne
García-Girón, Jorge
Hjort, Jan
Salminen, Henriikka
Tukiainen, Helena
Heino, Jani
Royal Society Publishing
12.02.2024
Alahuhta J, García-Girón J,Hjort J, Salminen H, Tukiainen H, Heino J. 2024 Quantitative measurement of geodiversity uniqueness: research implications and conservation applications. Phil.Trans.R.Soc.A382:20230056. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0056
https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
© 2024 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
© 2024 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202402231973
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202402231973
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Quantitative approaches are needed to complement qualitative explorations to identify sites with unique geodiversity and thereby guide geoconservation and geoheritage programmes. Here, we introduce the concept and associated index of ‘geodiversity uniqueness’. This index is based on a numerical analysis of geofeatures and allows the identification of sites with unique geodiversity in a study area. We applied this approach to geofeature data from three areas in Finland. Our results showed that patterns of geodiversity uniqueness varied profoundly among the three study areas and across sites within each area. This was due to different sets of geofeatures and distinct characteristics of each study area. More importantly, the approach presented here was robust across the datasets and selection criteria for sets of sites, showing potential for geoconservation in each study area. The geodiversity uniqueness approach is a promising starting point to identify and map sites with unique geodiversity that can be further verified using field observations. To improve our knowledge of geodiversity variation, complementary approaches providing objective information on contributions to total beta geodiversity are needed to advance geoconservation programmes across areas and different spatial scales.
Quantitative approaches are needed to complement qualitative explorations to identify sites with unique geodiversity and thereby guide geoconservation and geoheritage programmes. Here, we introduce the concept and associated index of ‘geodiversity uniqueness’. This index is based on a numerical analysis of geofeatures and allows the identification of sites with unique geodiversity in a study area. We applied this approach to geofeature data from three areas in Finland. Our results showed that patterns of geodiversity uniqueness varied profoundly among the three study areas and across sites within each area. This was due to different sets of geofeatures and distinct characteristics of each study area. More importantly, the approach presented here was robust across the datasets and selection criteria for sets of sites, showing potential for geoconservation in each study area. The geodiversity uniqueness approach is a promising starting point to identify and map sites with unique geodiversity that can be further verified using field observations. To improve our knowledge of geodiversity variation, complementary approaches providing objective information on contributions to total beta geodiversity are needed to advance geoconservation programmes across areas and different spatial scales.
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