浙江西门岛湿地景观格局与人为干扰度动态变化

基于西门岛湿地2007和 2010年两期SPOT 5影像(空间分辨率均为5 m)数据,结合西门岛湿地土地利用现状,参考《全国土地利用分类》（试行）、海域使用分类海洋行业标准以及综合考虑遥感数据特性,建立西门岛湿地人为干扰类型分类系统;应用景观格局指数法、GIS空间分析法,得到景观指数和人为干扰度指数,探讨了西门岛湿地景观格局与人为干扰度动态变化.结果表明: 研究期间,西门岛湿地景观异质性、破碎度和优势度降低,景观形状复杂度降低.西门岛湿地人为干扰中心由分散发展到集中;干扰中心主要贡献景观类型是裸地和居民点;干扰总程度由海域向陆地逐渐加重,居民点、码头、交通用地干扰总程度最高.滩涂养殖、泥滩地、浮筏养殖景观的人为干扰度跳跃性大.水陆交错带出现干扰总程度较低但干扰极不平稳的现象.无干扰、半干扰和全干扰型景观的斑块数量下降.无干扰、半干扰景观的平均斑块面积增加,全干扰景观的平均斑块面积减少.无干扰景观的平均形状指数下降,半干扰型和全干扰型景观形状有复杂化趋势.     

三峡库区低山丘陵区多尺度景观指数响应及适宜粒度

景观格局具有典型的空间异质性和尺度依赖性。在对景观格局进行分析研究时需跨越多个尺度,空间粒度大小在尺度聚合分析中至关重要。三峡库区低山丘陵区斑块破碎、景观格复杂性显著、景观格局特征及尺度变异规律仍待明确,本文以三峡库区秭归县为研究区,设定1—400m内23个粒度梯度水平,定量评估县域、乡镇以及小流域不同幅度上的景观格局指数以及拟合函数,探讨多空间幅度景观格局指数随粒度大小的变化特征。基于景观指数的粒度效应特征和拟合函数的曲线特征(最大曲率点、极值点),明确适宜不同幅度的山地景观格局指数研究的粒度阈值,以揭示库区低山丘陵区景观结构的复杂性和变异性。结果表明：不同景观指数对空间粒度变化和空间幅度变化的响应存在差异,不同景观指数的空间粒度响应主要呈现增加、降低、波动和无明显规律变化的趋势,其中斑块密度、最大斑块面积等指数对斑块形状和大小的变化敏感,而多样性指数的粒度变化敏感度较低;部分指数如斑块密度、边缘密度、周长面积分维数等对空间幅度的变化并不敏感,而最大斑块面积、景观形状指数、散布与并列指数、分离度等指数对空间幅度的变化敏感,适合进行不同幅度适宜粒度阈值的推定;边缘密度、平均斑块大小、景...     

平潭海坛岛景观格局动态变化及其生态效应分析

以平潭海坛岛为研究区,基于1990 年landsat TM 和2010 年ALOS 遥感影像,在ArcGIS 和Fragstats 等软件平台支持下,运用马尔科夫转移矩阵和动态度模型,以及景观格局指数,对20 年来研究区景观格局时空动态变化及其生态效应进行了定量分析。研究结果表明:近20 年来景观格局动态变化显著。建设用地和居民地增长幅度最大,农用地和沙滩则降幅最显著。研究区景观格局主要景观类型为农用地和林地,景观类型转移主要表现为农用地与林地的相互转化,以及二者向城镇用地(居民地、建设用地和道路交通)转化。从类型水平上看,各类型斑块均趋于破碎化;在景观水平上,研究区景观格局向着多样化方向发展,景观的异质性增强,景观呈破碎化程度加深;从景观生态效应空间变化看,人为活动的影响沿着交通干线、城镇区在整个研究区蔓延扩展。     

庙岛群岛南五岛生态系统净初级生产力空间分布及其影响因子

净初级生产力(NPP)估算对于海岛碳源/汇研究具有重要意义。以庙岛群岛南五岛为例,结合CASA模型和区域特征构建NPP估算模型,借助RS和GIS技术进行NPP估算,进而分析南五岛NPP空间分布特征及其影响因子。结果表明:南五岛NPP总量为11043.52 t C/a,平均密度为340.19 g C m~(-2)a~(-1),处于全国平均水平,高于同纬度的西部地区,低于东部沿海大陆地区;夏季NPP总量占全年的80%左右,春季和秋季分别占11%和7%,冬季仅占1.3%;不同海岛的NPP平均密度由大到小依次为大黑山岛、北长山岛、庙岛、南长山岛和小黑山岛,各岛NPP平均密度与建设用地比例呈明显负相关;不同地表覆盖类型的NPP平均密度由大到小依次为阔叶林、针叶林、农田、草地、建设用地和裸地,林地具有较高的NPP值,说明南五岛的人工林建设具有重要生态作用;NDVI和地表覆盖类型是NPP最主要的影响参数,地形参数通过影响NDVI和地表覆盖类型间接作用于NPP结果;NPP与土壤p H、有效磷、全磷、全钾呈显著负相关,与全氮、总碳、总有机碳呈显著正相关,与含水量、速效钾和含盐量之间相关关系不明显。     

海岛植被景观异质性空间特征对地形变化的响应——以大长山岛为例

海岛植被景观异质性作为海岛生态系统健康状况的重要表现形式之一,其变化过程与机制影响着海岛生态系统生态学过程。本文利用遥感技术和景观生态学方法,以大长山岛作为研究对象,识别了海岛植被景观异质性空间变异对地形因子的响应规律。结果表明:1)高程、坡度与植被景观异质性参数在空间上显著相关,并具有相似的变化趋势,与其负相关依次为:面积加权平均斑块分维数(AWMPFD)总边缘长度(TE)斑块数量(NP)面积加权平均形状指数(AWMSI),与其呈正相关的为:平均斑块大小(MPS)平均斑块边缘密度(MPE)。2)坡向对植被景观异质性影响不明显,在小尺度区域内,坡向与TE、MPE相关性不显著,与其他4个景观指数弱相关。     

二维与三维景观格局指数在山区县域景观格局分析中的应用

景观格局指数是景观格局分析中常用的定量分析工具,而传统二维景观格局指数却忽略了地形对景观的影响,在定量描述山区景观格局时可能存在一定局限.本文以典型山地丘陵区山东栖霞市为研究区,在地形结构分析的基础上,选择面积/密度(类型面积、平均斑块大小)、边缘/形状(边缘密度、景观形状指数、平均斑块分维数)、多样性(香农多样性指数、香农均匀度指数)、聚散性(聚集度)4个方面的8个景观格局指数,比较分析传统二维景观格局指数与三维景观格局指数对山区景观格局及其动态变化定量描述的差异.结果表明:三维类型面积、平均斑块大小和边缘密度与其相应二维指数差异显著,三维景观形状指数、平均斑块分维数、香农多样性指数和香农均匀度指数与其相应二维指数差异不显著,三维聚集度与二维聚集度无差别.由于采用斑块表面面积和表面周长计算三维景观格局指数,采用各斑块的投影面积和投影周长计算二维景观格局指数,所以在描述山区景观面积、密度、边界等指标时三维景观格局指数相对精确,但在测定景观形状、多样性和聚散性等指数时,则与传统的二维景观格局指数差异不显著.三维景观格局指数引入了地形特征,对景观格局及其动态变化的反映相对精确.     

河口湿地人为干扰度时空动态及景观响应——以大洋河口为例

以大洋河河口湿地作为研究对象,利用1958年、1970年、1984年航摄影像(空间分辨率:2.0 m)和2008年SPOT5影像(空间分辨率:5.0 m)作为数据源,借助人为干扰度指数(HI)、景观格局分析、GIS空间分析方法,探讨大洋河河口湿地人为干扰度时空动态分异及景观格局指数的响应机制。结论:1)全干扰类型面积从1958年的4.16 km2上升至9.16 km2;半干扰类型从115.82 km2上升至180.57 km2;而无干扰类型面积从1958年的291.23 km2下降至221.13 km2,人为干扰度在不同历史时期呈非均质化变化,人类活动干扰中心逐渐由陆向海过度;围海养殖是人类干扰度变化的主控景观因子;2)在时间上,人类干扰过程(全干扰、半干扰)会导致斑块数量(NP)、边缘密度指数(ED)、平均形状指数(MSI)和面积加权的平均斑块分形指数(AWMPFD)总体在1958年—2008年间呈下降趋势;3)空间上,人为干扰度指数与景观格局指数空间分布相关性大小依次为:斑块数量(NP)边缘密度指数(ED)面积加权的平均斑块分形指数(AWMPFD),呈正相关,平均形状指数(MSI)与人为干扰度相关性不显著。     

空间粒度变化对景观格局分析的影响

认识空间异质性的多尺度依赖性和景观格局特征对尺度效应关系的影响是进行空间尺度推绎的基础。以2种真实景观(中国广东粤北植被景观与美国凤凰城城市景观)和SIMMAP景观中性模型产生的27种模拟景观为对象。利用景观格局分析软件FRAGSTATS对18种常用景观指数的尺度效应进行了系统的分析。根据这些指数对空间粒度变化的响应曲线和尺度效应关系,18种景观指数可分为3类。第1类指数随空间粒度的增大单调减小。具有比较明确的尺度效应关系(幂函数下降),尺度效应关系受景观空间格局特征的影响较小;这类指数包括缀块数、缀块密度、边界总长、边界密度、景观形状指数、缀块面积变异系数、面积加权平均缀块形状指数、平均缀块分维数和面积加权平均缀块分维数。第2类指数随空间粒度的增大将最终下降。但不是单调下降的;尺度效应关系比较多样,可表现为幂函数下降、直线下降或阶梯形下降。主要受缀块空间分布方式和缀块类优势度的交互影响;这类指数有5种：平均缀块形状指数、双对数回归分维数、缀块丰度、缀块丰度密度和Shannon多样性指数。第3类指数随空间粒度的变粗而增加。随缀块类优势度均等性的增加。尺度效应关系由阶梯形增加、对数函数增加、直线增加向幂函数增加过渡。尺度效应关系主要受缀块类优势度的影响;此类指数包括平均缀块面积、缀块面积标准差、最大缀块指数与聚集度。景观指数随空间粒度变化是一种1临界现象,当粒度大于或小于1临界值时,景观指数对空间粒度变化非常敏感。变化速率非常大。绝大部分情况下。真实景观粒度效应关系和曲线形状与模拟景观所得分析结果相似。说明模拟景观具有很好的代表性。文中也讨论了本研究结果与前人研究的异同。分析了造成差异的原因。景观指数的粒度效应关系与指数本身所反映的景观格局信息有一定关系,总体上来说。随粒度增加。缀块数、边界长度、缀块形状的复杂性、多样性将减小,而平均缀块面积和聚集度将增加。一系列的尺度效应图和不同景观指数的尺度效应关系可作为景观格局分析时指数选择、分析结果的解释和进行空间尺度推绎的参考。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区景观格局对流域侵蚀产沙过程的影响——斑块类型水平

在黄土丘陵沟壑区,景观格局对侵蚀产沙过程有着复杂的影响,且与尺度密切相关。选取河口-龙门区间内42个水文站控制流域为研究对象,以侵蚀模数、输沙模数和泥沙输移比作为表征各流域单元内土壤侵蚀、产沙及泥沙输移过程的特征指标,运用景观指数和CCA排序,系统分析了斑块类型水平上景观格局对流域侵蚀产沙过程的影响。结果表明:流域侵蚀产沙及泥沙输移过程中,空间分异特征随景观类型不同而异;对于不同用地类型,影响"过程"空间分异的景观格局指标不同,显著影响流域侵蚀产沙及泥沙输移过程的景观指数有草地平均斑块面积(AREA_MN3)、居民建设用地景观面积百分比(PLAND5)、居民建设用地和其它类型用地景观的斑块密度(PD5和PD6),其中斑块密度(PD)是影响流域侵蚀产沙及泥沙输移过程的共性指标;草地、居民建设用地、其它类型用地的景观格局特征对"过程"变化的解释程度要高于其它景观类型。开展景观格局与生态过程关系研究时,不仅需要考虑景观格局的整体效应,更应关注单一景观类型及其格局特征对一些生态过程的指示意义。     

基于生态景观格局的松材线虫病分析及风险预测——以宜昌市为例

三峡库区周边县市松材线虫病疫情严重,给生态环境造成极大压力,传统的疫情处治方式需耗费大量的物力人力且效果小。利用景观生态学基本理论,以松材线虫病年均发生面积为统计基础,研究其与景观斑块和景观格局之间的关系,并据此进行疫情风险分析。通过宜昌全市和夷陵区、宜都市、市辖区两个尺度下斑块面积、斑块密度、形状指数、景观丰富度指数和Shannon多样性指数等斑块和景观格局指数评价景观现状,建立其与疫情之间的Pearson相关性,再据此对宜昌市辖区、宜都市和夷陵区进行插值风险分析。结果表明,夷陵区和宜都市疫情较为严重。研究区寄主斑块的面积和形状复杂程度和疫情有显著正相关性,相关系数为0.826和0.818;人为活动斑块和疫情间没有显著相关性;基于寄主斑块的插值风险分析表明,各区域需要对点状的大面积寄主斑块和形状复杂程度高的斑块进行重点清理,减小物力和财力的支出。     

Evolution on oceanic islands: molecular phylogenetic approaches to understanding pattern and process

By their very nature oceanic island ecosystems offer great opportunities for the study of evolution and have for a long time been recognized as natural laboratories for studying evolution owing to their discrete geographical nature and diversity of species and habitats. The development of molecular genetic methods for phylogenetic reconstruction has been a significant advance for evolutionary biologists, providing a tool for answering questions about the diversity among the flora and fauna on such islands. These questions relate to both the origin and causes of species diversity both within an archipelago and on individual islands. Within a phylogenetic framework one can answer fundamental questions such as whether ecologically and/or morphologically similar species on different islands are the result of island colonization or convergent evolution. Testing hypotheses about ages of the individual species groups or entire community assemblages is also possible within a phylogenetic framework. Evolutionary biologists and ecologists are increasingly turning to molecular phylogenetics for studying oceanic island plant and animal communities and it is important to review what has been attempted and achieved so far, with some cautionary notes about interpreting phylogeographical pattern on oceanic islands.     

西安市景观格局与城市热岛效应的耦合关系

基于西安市2000、2006和2015年3期遥感数据,进行景观分类和温度反演,建立两者的回归模型,探讨景观格局对城市热岛效应的影响及预测作用.结果表明:不同尺度上的景观格局指数与温度具有不同的相关性,在景观尺度上,景观形状指数(LSI)、景观分割指数(DIVISION)和Shannon多样性指数(SHDI)与温度显著相关;在类型尺度上,CA₁、PD₁、LSI₁、AI₁、LPI₂、AI₂、CA₃、DIVISION₃、LPI₃、AI₄ (其中,1代表建设用地、2代表耕地、3代表林地、4代表草地;CA指斑块类型面积,PD指斑块密度,LSI指景观形状指数,AI指聚集指数,DIVISION指景观分割指数,LPI指最大斑块指数)与温度显著相关.景观格局是影响热岛效应的主要因子,对城市热岛效应响应明显.部分景观指数可以表征地表温度,合理的景观配置对缓解城市热岛效应具有长远意义.通过不同尺度上建立的多元线性回归模型预测,2030年的热岛效应同比2015年有所回落,但减幅不明显,依旧强于2006年的热岛状况.热岛效应先由主城区蔓延,以点向面扩展,随后主城区呈现减弱趋势,而周围区(县)热岛出现明显增幅.     

Nestedness in island faunas: novel insights into island biogeography through butterfly community profiles of colonization ability and migration capacity

Aim To relate variation in the migration capacity and colonization ability of island communities to island geography and species island occupancy. Location Islands off mainland Britain and Ireland. Methods Mean migration (transfer) capacity and colonization (establishment) ability (ecological indices), indexed from 12 ecological variables for 56 butterfly species living on 103 islands, were related to species nestedness, island and mainland source geography and indices using linear regression models, RLQ analysis and fourth‐corner analysis. Random creation of faunas from source species, rank correlation and rank regression were used to examine differences between island and source ecological indices, and relationships to island geography. Results Island butterfly faunas are highly nested. The two ecological indices related closely to island occupancy, nestedness rank of species, island richness and geography. The key variables related to migration capacity were island area and isolation; for colonization ability they were area, isolation and longitude. Compared with colonization ability, migration capacity was found to correlate more strongly with island species occupancy and species richness. For island faunas, the means for both ecological indices decreased, and variation increased, with increasing island species richness. Mean colonization ability and migration capacity values were significantly higher for island faunas than for mainland source faunas, but these differences decreased with island latitude. Main conclusions The nested pattern of butterfly species on islands off mainland Britain and Ireland relates strongly to colonization ability but especially to migration capacity. Differences in colonization ability among species are most obvious for large, topographically varied islands. Generalists with abundant multiple resources and greater migration capacity are found on all islands, whereas specialists are restricted to large islands with varied and long‐lived biotopes, and islands close to shore. The inference is that source–sink dynamics dominate butterfly distributions on British and Irish islands; species are capable of dispersing to new areas, but, with the exception of large and northern islands, facilities (resources) for permanent colonization are limited. The pattern of colonization ability and migration capacity is likely to be repeated for mainland areas, where such indices should provide useful independent measures for assessing the conservation status of faunas within spatial units.     

黄土丘陵区生物结皮空间分布的代表性景观指数

景观指数可量化表征生物结皮的分布特征,但景观指数存在数量众多、冗余度较高的问题。本研究以位于典型黄土丘陵区的陕西省吴起县合沟小流域不同分布格局的58个样方的生物结皮为对象,计算其15个常用景观格局指数,基于相关分析、因子分析和敏感性分析,筛选出可描述生物结皮景观格局、具有特定生态学意义的代表性景观指数,并以陕西省定边县杨井镇鹰窝山涧小流域退耕地不同盖度的生物结皮为例,检验所选景观格局指数的可靠性和合理性。结果表明: 15个景观指数中,10个指数之间具有显著相关关系,而边缘长度(TE)和边缘密度(ED)分别与斑块数量(NP)、斑块密度(PD)、丛生度(CLUMPY)和散布与并列指数(IJI)无显著相关性。斑块占景观比例(PLAND)、ED、斑块连结度(COHESION)和分离度(SPLIT),分别从盖度、长度、连通度和破碎度方面描述了生物结皮空间分布特征,其代表的3个公因子在刻画生物结皮空间分布格局时累计贡献率达91.6%。本研究确定了可量化生物结皮空间分布复杂性的代表性景观指数,为研究生物结皮格局变化及其与生态过程的关系提供了理论依据。     

基于景观格局的海岛开发潜在生态风险评价

海岛生态系统是一种相对独立的生态系统,与岛外的信息交流比较少,甚至是没有,一旦对海岛造成损害是很难恢复的,因此,对海岛进行风险评价是海岛保护和管理的重要依据.海岛风险评价通常有两个方面,海岛自然灾害风险评价和海岛开发利用风险评价.针对海岛开发利用风险评价,应用遥感手段分析了海岛景观格局与海岛开发利用风险程度的关系,定义了海岛开发利用威胁指数和强度指数,建立了基于景观格局的海岛开发利用风险评价模型.然后,以2005年4月5日获取的5m分辨率的SPOT遥感影像为数据源,将提出的模型应用到渤海海域庙岛群岛中的大黑山岛、小黑山岛、北长山岛、南长山岛和庙岛进行评价,由现场调查情况分析可知评价结果是合理的.与传统的风险评价模型相比,本模型的优势在于应用遥感影像作为数据源,大大降低了对实地调查数据的需求.     

近40年艾比湖湿地自然保护区生态干扰度时空动态及景观格局变化

以新疆艾比湖湿地为研究区,利用1972、1998、2007年及2013年4个时期的Landsat遥感影像作为数据源,并结合湿地的土地覆被状况,参考《全国土地利用分类》建立艾比湖湿地生态干扰类型分类系统。借助生态干扰度指数、景观格局指数以及GIS空间分析方法,探讨艾比湖湿地的生态干扰度的时空动态及景观响应机制。结果表明:(1)1972—2013年,研究区的生态干扰度总体呈现较为稳定的趋势,但其空间分布发生变化。生态干扰度类型之间的转化速率有加快的趋势。(2)1972—2013年,边缘密度指数(ED),平均形状指数(MSI),面积加权的平均斑块分形指数(AWMPFD)及景观分离度(DIVISION)4项景观格局指数大体呈上升的趋势,2013年区域的景观指数较为稳定。(3)景观格局指数与生态干扰程度有密切的一致性。生态干扰度与景观格局指数空间分布相关性大小依次为:边缘密度指数(ED)景观丰度密度(PRD)香农多样性指数(SHDI)平均形状指数(MSI)面积加权的平均斑块分形指数(AWMPFD)景观分离度(DIVISION)。客观系统的认识和评价艾比湖湿地的生态系统及环境,可为干旱区实现自然环境的保护,协调土地利用及环境保护之间的关系提供较为实用的参考。     

Ilex Canariensis Poir. (Aquifoliaceae) Post-dispersal Seed Predation in the Canary Islands

Alien species have many negative effects on insular ecosystems worldwide. We investigated Ilex canariensis post-dispersal seed predation by introduced rats (Rattus spp.) in relict forests of the Canary Islands at different spatial scales: among microhabitats within the same forest, among forest types within the same island, and among different islands of the archipelago. Seed predation intensity was very high (>70%) in all cases considered, irrespective of the spatial scale. We did not find significant differences between forest interior, edges or gaps, as well as between different forest types in four islands of the archipelago. Comparatively low predation intensity was found in El Hierro island, where more than 50% of the seeds survived at the end of the experiment, while highest seed predation was observed in Tenerife island. It is concluded that post-dispersal seed predation by rats, due to its extent and intensity, could have an important effect on Ilex canariensis recruitment, especially in successional areas where this light tolerant tree can naturally establish.     

Island biogeography and the species richness of introduced mammals on New Zealand offshore islands

Aim To investigate and establish the significance of various island biogeographic relationships (geographical, ecological and anthropological) with the species richness of introduced mammals on offshore islands. Location The 297 offshore islands of the New Zealand archipelago (latitude: 34–47°S; longitude: 166–179°E). Methods Data on New Zealand offshore islands and the introduced mammals on them were collated from published surveys and maps. The species richness of small and large introduced mammals were calculated for islands with complete censuses and regressed on island characteristics using a Poisson distributed error generalized linear model. To estimate the ‘z‐value’ for introduced mammals on New Zealand islands, least‐squares regression was used [log₁₀ S vs. log₁₀ A]. Results High collinearity was found between the area, habitat diversity and elevation of islands. The island characteristics related to the species richness of introduced mammals differed predictably between large and small mammals. The species richness of introduced large mammals was mostly related to human activities on islands, whereas species richness of introduced small mammals was mostly related to island biogeographical parameters. The ‘z‐value’ for total species richness is found to be expectedly low for introduced mammals. Main conclusions Distance appears to have become ecologically trivial as a filter for introduced mammal presence on New Zealand offshore islands. There is strong evidence of a ‘small island’ effect on New Zealand offshore islands. The species richness of both small and large introduced mammals on these islands appears to be most predominantly related to human use, although there is some evidence of natural dispersal for smaller species. The ecological complexity of some islands appears to make them less invasible to introduced mammals. Some human activities have an interactive effect on species richness. A small number of islands have outlying species richness values above what the models predict, suggesting that the presence of some species may be related to events not accounted for in the models.     

A mesoscale analysis of floristic patterns in the south-west Finnish Archipelago

Aim To identify the ecological gradients based on the flora on a mesoscale in an archipelago. To interpret the results of the ordination and the classification of a grid cell‐based botanical data set, with several environmental and geographical attributes. To compare the mesoscale distribution patterns of vascular plants with patterns previously observed on an island scale, and to develop a floristic zonation of the study area. Location The south‐west Finnish Archipelago. Methods Vascular plant species‐lists from over 1500 localities were assigned to 5 × 5 km grid cells. The grid cell‐based floristic data were subjected to both unconstrained [detrended correspondence analysis (DCA)] and constrained [detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA)] gradient analyses. The results of DCA were interpreted with calculated weighted averages of Ellenberg's indicator values for vascular plants, the number of occurring taxa and indices for the strength of human influence and the occurrence of limestone. The results of DCCA were interpreted with geographical attributes of the grid cells and the occurrence of limestone. The grid cells were clustered using two‐way indicator species analysis (twinspan ). Results Both the unconstrained and the constrained ordinations gave consistent and interpretable results. The main ecological gradient runs from the grid cells containing species‐rich islands with high human impact to grid cells containing species‐poor islands with low human impact. This gradient also represents the continuum from areas with large islands near the mainland, to the outermost areas at the edge of the open sea. The secondary gradient was shown to be a gradient of soil reaction. twinspan gave a clustering primarily based on the location of the grid cells on an inner–outer archipelago gradient, but the occurrence of limestone also influenced the classification. The archipelago was divided into five non‐homogeneous areas based on the twinspan clusters. The detected gradients correspond well with the gradients detected in a similar island‐level analysis. Main conclusions The two major ecological gradients in the study area seem to be robust, which is indicated by the similar results obtained both on an island and on a mesoscale. A shift from local and regional processes to broader geographical gradients probably starts to occur at the applied scale. The distribution patterns are strongly affected by the inner–outer archipelago gradient and the occurrence of limestone.