Landscape pattern and eco-hydrological charactedstics at the upstream of Minjiang River,China

Based on three scenes of Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite images acquired on June 26,1994,12 land cover types were identified by the supervised classification techniques.The precipitation,runoff,and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data of six catchments were accumulated from April to September in 1992,1993,and 1995.A new eco-hydrological index,expressed by the difference between precipitation and runoff divided by the product of precipitation and NDVI,was used in this study to represent the eco-hydrological functions of different catchments.The results were:(1) The selected six catchments at the upstream of Minjiang River,China were different in landscape patterns in terms of landscape type and cover.There were higher contagion,lower edge density and diversity index in the Shouxi catchments and lower contagion,higher edge density and diversity index in the Zagunao catchments.(2)Eco-hydrological indexes had remarkable differences among different catchments.The highest eco-hydrological index was found in the Shouxi catchments,which indicated higher precipitation holding capacity of vegetation therein.While the lower eco-hydrological index was found in the Zagunao catchments,which indicated its lower precipitation holding capacity of vegetation.(3) High correlation was detected between the landscape indexes and eco-hydrological indexes.Eco-hydrological index was positively correlated with landscape contagion in contrast with the negative correlation with landscape diversity and edge density.     

岷江上游景观格局及生态水文特征分析

基于1994年岷江上游TM遥感影像分类,结合6个不同集水区1992、1993、1995年植被生长季降雨、径流及同期NOAA/AVHRR的N DVI数据,构建了植被保水指数作为表征植被生态水文功能分析的指标。并用此对岷江上游6个不同集水区景观格局与生态水文特征进行分析。结果表明:不同集水区植被组成及景观结构有显著差异;不同集水区植被保蓄降雨能力即保水指数有明显差异;不同集水区景观结构指数与保水指数之间具有很高相关性,其中边界密度、多样性指数与保水指数呈负相关,聚集度指数与保水指数呈正相关。保水指数的构建对植被建设具有一定的科学意义     

A study on the relationship between vegetation pattern and environment in the upstream of Minjiang River, China

The vegetation pattern in the upstream of Minjiang River, and its relationship with environment factors, such as landscape position (elevation, slope, aspect), precipitation and temperature and soil are analyzed in this paper. The data used in this paper were based on the landscape map derived from 1994 TM imagery. The results were as follows: 1) dominant landscape types were forest, shrub land and grassland, which were very similar in terms of area ratio (32.87%, 31.85% and 28.44%, respectively); 2) the patch shape of conifer forest and mixed forest was complicated while that of broad-leaved forest and cultivated land was simple; 3) the fragmentation of conifer forest and mixed forest was serious in contrast with low fragmentation of broad-leaved forest and cultivated land; and 4) closed scrub and grassland had a high contagion and good connectivity while mixed forest had a lower contagion and bad connectivity. In addition, the vegetation distribution pattern of upstream of Minjiang River was closely related with elevation and temperature, but the relationship between vegetation and precipitation was not statistically significant. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 2005,41(4) [译自: 北京师范大学学报(自然科学版), 2005,41(4)]     

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.     

Predicting interactions between wetland vegetation and the soil-water and surface-water environment using diversity, abundance and attribute values

This study investigated the response of freshwater wetland vegetation to hydrological driving factors by assessing collective vegetation variables, traits of dominant plant populations and hydrological and hydrochemical variables, repeat-sampled within wetland sites across Scotland and northern England. Sampling was conducted at 55 permanent sample stations located along 11 independent transects. Eco-hydrological interactions were investigated using a regression-based modelling approach. Facets of the water-table dynamic (e.g., level of drawdown, level of fluctuation), along with vegetation abundance (e.g., biomass, stem density) and diversity (e.g., species richness) values, were used to build predictive models. Of the models predicting vegetation characteristics, the greatest predictive power was R ² = 0.67 (p < 0.001) for a model predicting stem density (m⁻²). Conversely, vegetation variables proved useful for predicting characteristics of the water-table environment. In this instance, the greatest predictive power was R ² = 0.79 (p < 0.001) for a model predicting minimum water table level (i.e. maximum level of drawdown). The models were tested using data collected during 2000 from repeat sites and independent sites. This approach might be successfully applied for the purposes of integrated eco-hydrological management and monitoring of freshwater wetland vegetation.     

全球气候变暖胁迫下的雅鲁藏布江流域植被覆盖度变化驱动机制探讨

为了解雅鲁藏布江流域内植被变化对气候变化响应的时空差异性,引入重心模型,分析和探讨了2002-2014年雅鲁藏布江流域植被的变化特点与气候因子的相关性。结果表明,植被的NDVI(归一化植被指数,Normalized difference vegetation index)重心与降水重心年际迁移方向具有正相关性。雅鲁藏布江流域的月植被NDVI受前0-1月降水影响最大,而不同季节植被的NDVI对降水影响表现出一定的滞后性,其中春季和冬季的植被NDVI均与前一季的降水呈现正相关性。该流域中乔木、灌木对降水反应的滞后性比草本植物要大;生长季的温度变化与植被的生长具有相关性。植被NDVI与月均温的正相关性达到最大的时间段差异较大。因此,植被NDVI和气候因子间的时空异质性研究对于雅鲁藏布江流域的生态环境保护具有重要意义。     

Correlation analysis of Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI) difference series and climate variables in the Xilingole steppe, China from 1983 to 1999

There is a crucial need in the study of global change to understand how terrestrial ecosystems respond to the climate system. It has been demonstrated by many researches that Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series from remotely sensed data, which provide effective information of vegetation conditions on a large scale with highly temporal resolution, have a good relation with meteorological factors. However, few of these studies have taken the cumulative property of NDVI time series into account. In this study, NDVI difference series were proposed to replace the original NDVI time series with NDVI difference series to reappraise the relationship between NDVI and meteorological factors. As a proxy of the vegetation growing process, NDVI difference represents net primary productivity of vegetation at a certain time interval under an environment controlled by certain climatic conditions and other factors. This data replacement is helpful to eliminate the cumulative effect that exist in original NDVI time series, and thus is more appropriate to understand how climate system affects vegetation growth in a short time scale. By using the correlation analysis method, we studied the relationship between NOAA/AVHRR ten-day NDVI difference series and corresponding meteorological data from 1983 to 1999 from 11 meteorological stations located in the Xilingole steppe in Inner Mongolia. The results show that: (1) meteorological factors are found to be more significantly correlation with NDVI difference at the biomass-rising phase than that at the falling phase; (2) the relationship between NDVI difference and climate variables varies with vegetation types and vegetation communities. In a typical steppe dominated by Leymus chinensis, temperature has higher correlation with NDVI difference than precipitation does, and in a typical steppe dominated by Stipa krylovii, the correlation between temperature and NDVI difference is lower than that between precipitation and NDVI difference. In a typical steppe dominated by Stipa grandis, there is no significant difference between the two correlations. Precipitation is the key factor influencing vegetation growth in a desert steppe, and temperature has poor correlation with NDVI difference; (3) the response of NDVI difference to precipitation is fast and almost simultaneous both in a typical steppe and desert steppe, however, mean temperature exhibits a time-lag effect especially in the desert steppe and some typical steppe dominated by Stipa krylovii; (4) the relationship between NDVI difference and temperature is becoming stronger with global warming. __________ Translated from Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 2005, 29(5): 753–765 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

景观指数之间的相关分析

应用辽宁省1997~1998年的TM 5影像数据,编制了景观类型图,以78个县市区为单位,分割成78个景观,共计算39个景观格局指数,对它们进行了相关分析。总面积是最基本的景观指数,它决定景观总边界长度、斑块数、类型密度等基本指数,同时与多个指数有显著的相关关系(相关系数绝对值大于0.75)。形状指数的独立性强,极少数指数与其它指数有显著的相关关系;多样性指数和蔓延度指数之间信息重复量最多,都表示景观的异质性,但多样性指数以面积百分比表示景观异质性,而蔓延度指数以类型之间相邻边界的百分比表示景观异质性。研究发现,如果两个指数之间存在显著的相关关系,而由它们两个构成的指数与它们之间没有显著的相关关系。如果指数平均值之间存在显著的相关关系,则它们的变异系数之间不存在显著的相关关系。景观指数间的相关系数不仅与景观格局本身有关,还与空间尺度,分类系统、计算公式及其参数、计算单元和生态学意义关系密切。指数之间影响因子的相同之处越多,它们之间存在显著相关关系的概率越大。     

A study on the relationship between vegetation pattern and environment in the upstream of Minjiang River,China

The vegetation pattern in the upstream of Minjiang River,and its relationship with environment factors,such as landscape position(elevation,slope,aspect),precipitation and temperature and soil are analyzed in this paper.The data used in this Paper were based on the landscape map derived from 1994 TM imagery.The results were as follows:1)dominant landscape types were forest,shrub land and grassland,which were very similar in terms of area ratio(32.87%,31.85% and 28.44%,respectively);2)the patch shape of conifer forest and mixed forest was complicated while that of broad-leaved forest and cultivated land was simple;3)the fragmentation of conifer forest and mixed forest was serious in contrast with low fragmentation of broad-leaved forest and cultivated land;and 4)closed scrub and grassland had a high contagion and good connectivity while mixed forest had a lower contagion and bad connectivity.In addition,the vegetation distribution pattern of upstream of Minjiang River Was closely related with elevation and temperature,but the relationship between vegetation and precipitation was not statistically significant.     

川西亚高山流域水碳平衡研究

森林生态系统的产水量与固碳效益之间存在着一种可交易的平衡关系。基于WaSSI-C水碳耦合模型和趋势分析, 研究了1982-2006年川西杂古脑河上游22个子流域内不同植被类型空间分布对水碳平衡的影响并分析了其水碳耦合关系, 发现: 1)针叶林主导的流域在生长季增加土壤水分入渗的功能明显高于其他植被类型, 但不足以补偿其高蒸散带来的水分消耗, 因而其年平均土壤含水量明显低于高山草甸和混交林类型; 且森林土壤含水量随着森林覆盖率的升高而降低。2) 25年的土壤水分蓄变量的平均值, 高山草甸流域为-44 mm, 混交林为-18 mm, 针叶林为-5 mm, 说明川西亚高山植被的整体维持稳定产水量及其潜力在下降, 其中高山草甸流域下降趋势尤为显著。3)流域产流量和净生态系统生产力具有显著负相关性, 且不同植被组成对固碳和产水效益的转化具有重要影响: 高山草甸主导的子流域具有较高的产水量和较低的固碳能力, 常绿针叶林主导的子流域具有较高固碳能力和较低产水量, 且森林覆盖率越高, 产水量越低。三种植被类型的净生态系统生产力在研究期间均呈现上升趋势, 且高山草甸的上升趋势显著。     

Trade-offs between water yield and carbon sequestration for sub-alpine catchments in western Sichuan,China

Aims There is increasing concern on the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water yield of forest ecosystems. Our objective was to explore the effects of vegetation composition on water and carbon trade-off in the sub-alpine watersheds of western Sichuan during 1982-2006.Methods The WaSSI-C, which is an eco-hydrological model with coupled water and carbon cycles, was employed to calculate the key components in water balance and carbon sequestration for the 22 sub-catchments in the upper reaches of Zagunao River. Spearman’s Rho trend analysis was used to examine the trends in runoff and net ecosystem productivity. Important findings Compared with either subalpine meadow or mixed forest dominated catchments, the conifer-dominated catchments had much higher water loss due to high evapotranspiration, and the loss was not offset by its higher soil water infiltration during the growing season. The change in soil water storage for subalpine meadow, mixed forest and coniferous forest are -44 mm, -18 mm and -5 mm, respectively, which indicated significant decline in soil water storage and thus water yield particularly in alpine meadow catchments. Significant negative relationship was found between runoff and net ecosystem productivity, the alpine meadow as the dominant vegetation type showed high water yield and low carbon sequestration, and the conifer-dominant and mixed forest vegetation showed low water yield and high carbon sequestration, moreover, the higher the forest coverage, the lower the water yield. Upward trends in net ecosystem productivity were observed in the three vegetation types during the study period and the alpine meadow type was significant.     

Landscape,soil and meteorological influences on canopy dynamics of northern flooding Pampa grasslands,Argentina

Question: How do meteorological variations at seasonal, interannual scales differentially affect the canopy dynamics of four contrasting landscape units within a region? Location: Flooding Pampa, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 5000 km². Central point: 35°15′S, 57°45′W. Methods: We used a 19‐year series of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from NOAA‐AVHRR PAL (Pathfinder AVHRR Land) images and meteorological data provided by a nearby weather station. The NDVI was used as surrogate of canopy photosynthetic status. The relationship between annually integrated NDVI and meteorological conditions was explored by stepwise multiple regressions for each defined unit. PC A was performed to compare units and growing seasons on a multivariate basis. Results: Mean seasonal NDVI curve was similarly shaped among landscapes. However, the absolute values differed widely. There was high interannual variation so that the mean seasonal pattern was seldom observed in any particular year. Annually integrated NDVI of all landscapes was negatively associated with summer temperature and positively with previous year precipitation. It was also directly related with current year winter precipitation in two landscapes and with summer precipitation in the others. NDVI response to September and March precipitation accounted for some of the differences in interannual variation among landscapes. Conclusions: Our results revealed a strong intra‐regional variation of canopy dynamics, closely linked to landscape (vegetation‐soil) and water availability (mainly in summer and during the previous year). These links may be used to predict forage production rates for livestock.     

Trade-offs between water yield and carbon sequestration for sub-alpine catchments in western Sichuan,China北大核心CSCD

Aims: There is increasing concern on the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water yield of forest ecosystems. Our objective was to explore the effects of vegetation composition on water and carbon trade-off in the sub-alpine watersheds of western Sichuan during 1982-2006. Methods: The WaSSI-C, which is an eco-hydrological model with coupled water and carbon cycles, was employed to calculate the key components in water balance and carbon sequestration for the 22 sub-catchments in the upper reaches of Zagunao River. Spearman's Rho trend analysis was used to examine the trends in runoff and net ecosystem productivity. Important findings: Compared with either subalpine meadow or mixed forest dominated catchments, the conifer-dominated catchments had much higher water loss due to high evapotranspiration, and the loss was not offset by its higher soil water infiltration during the growing season. The change in soil water storage for subalpine meadow, mixed forest and coniferous forest are -44 mm, -18 mm and -5 mm, respectively, which indicated significant decline in soil water storage and thus water yield particularly in alpine meadow catchments. Significant negative relationship was found between runoff and net ecosystem productivity, the alpine meadow as the dominant vegetation type showed high water yield and low carbon sequestration, and the conifer-dominant and mixed forest vegetation showed low water yield and high carbon sequestration, moreover, the higher the forest coverage, the lower the water yield. Upward trends in net ecosystem productivity were observed in the three vegetation types during the study period and the alpine meadow type was significant.     

Impacts of changes in climate variability on regional vegetation in China: NDVI-based analysis from 1982 to 2000

Three methods were used to distinguish the characteristics of changes in climate variability and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) during the period from 1982 to 2000 in China. Great changes in climate variability and an increased trend in NDVI were observed. The changes in precipitation variability were greater than the changes in temperature variability in each month, which is attributed to changes in the monsoon system in East Asia. The abrupt changes in climate and NDVI were more significant in 1983 than in the other years due to the impacts of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Using these results, the influences of changes in climate variability on vegetation were studied in the whole nation, and eight regions were defined according to the vegetation division map of China. The results show that abrupt climate changes at a small scale cannot cause abrupt NDVI changes directly. At a nationwide level, over a longer time scale the persistence of above/below average temperature determines the changes in NDVI; at a shorter time scale, changes in the magnitude of precipitation influence NDVI significantly. Such regional climate variability affects vegetation in different ways owing to the diversity of vegetation types, climatic conditions and topography of the land.     

广州地区森林景观多样性分析

景观多样性是生物多样性的重要研究内容和组成部分 ,它是对景观水平上生物组成多样性的表征[1～ 3 ] 。由于生物多样性是人类赖以生存的物质基础 ,生物多样性保护已成为现代生态学和环境科学的研究热点。但是 ,以往的研究主要集中在物种多样性和生态系统多样性方面 ,对景观多样性的研究相对较少[1～ 4 ,12 ] 。森林是陆地生态系统的主体和重要的可再生资源 ,森林的类型、空间分布及斑块的数目和形状对区域的生态平衡有较大影响。广州是我国人口稠密、经济高速增长的区域。研究广州地区森林景观多样性有利于了解人类活动严重干扰下的森林景观…     

陕北长城沿线风沙区植被指数变化及其与气候的关系

陕北长城沿线风沙区位于毛乌素沙漠东南部边沿,属毛乌素沙地向东南移动的最活跃地段,生态环境十分脆弱。使用1981～2003年23a长时间序列的NOAA/AHRR NDVI数据、气候资料,分析了陕北长城沿线风沙区植被覆盖的历史演变及其与气候因子的关系。结果表明:(1)陕北长城沿线风沙区植被覆盖状况23a来尽管有波动起伏,但是整体在持续转好,年平均NDVI增加了10.62%。低覆盖率植被面积在减少,高覆盖率植被面积在增加。夏季的NDVI值最高、波动起伏最大,其次是秋季;春、夏、秋三季的NDVI具有明显的上升趋势,季平均NDVI年增长率夏季最大,秋季次之;夏、秋季NDVI与年NDVI具有很高的相关性,这两个季节的植被状况基本决定了全年的植被分布状况。NDVI年变化曲线为单峰型,春季NDVI缓慢增加,秋季NDVI降低速度比较快。(2)年平均NDVI与温度的年际变化相关不明显,各季节NDVI与温度相关也不明显。近年来长城沿线风沙区的年降水量没有明显增加,而年平均NDVI线性增加趋势显著,降水量是引起NDVI年际波动的主要因子,非气候因素是年平均NDVI线性增加的主要原因。降水量与NDVI存在着明显的年相关和隔季相关。年降水量与年NDVI的相关,冬季降水量与春季NDVI的相关,春季降水量与夏季NDVI的相关,夏季降水量与秋季NDVI的相关性都非常高。(3)非气候因素中生态保护和环境建设等人为措施,如植树造林、草原围栏封育等是导致植被显著增加的重要原因。     

基于BP神经网络模型的平潭岛植被景观模拟

以GIS为技术平台,利用Matlab7.0,选用2km×2km网格图对平潭岛植被景观进行切割,得到50个样方数据,其中,44个用于模型训练,6个用于模型检验,在此基础上,选取分维数、Shannon多样性指数、蔓延度指数作为模型输出数据,选取居民点个数、风速和距海边距离作为影响因素,建立平潭岛植被景观的BP神经网络模型,并进行误差检验.结果表明:影响平潭岛植被景观空间格局和植被多样性状况的主要因素为风速、距海岸距离,人为因素对研究区植被景观的空间连接程度造成较大影响.BP神经网络模型对研究区植被景观与环境及人为影响因子之间关系的拟合与实际情况基本吻合,平均误差为7.4%,最小误差仅0.2%,模型模拟误差较小,拟合度较高,可用于对研究区植被景观的定量预测模拟.     

上海市湿地景观格局时空演变与驱动机制的量化研究

基于1980-2018年上海市历史遥感数据,定量研究上海市湿地景观格局变化及其驱动机制。为此,采用Fragstats 4.2.1计算了景观格局指数,并在数据处理系统软件平台使用灰色关联系统分析了湿地景观格局与社会、经济以及自然环境之间的灰色关联度。结果表明：（1）自1980以来,上海市湿地面积持续缩减,尤其水田损失最多。截至到2018年,上海市共损失了21.06×10⁴hm²的湿地,现存湿地面积为38.22×10⁴hm²,其中人工湿地占85%,自然湿地占15%。人工湿地以水田为主,自然湿地以河流湿地为主。水田和河流斑块平均面积总体上呈波动缩小趋势。河流湿地的形状复杂性最高,其总面积在年际间缓慢缩减,平均分形维度指数年际间波动持平。水田平均分形维度指数年际间波动上升,景观形状向复杂化趋势发展。（2）1980-2010年间,湿地景观破碎化程度总体加剧,最大斑块指数呈波动下降趋势。2010年后,景观破碎化局势向好,最大斑块面积扩大。1980-2015年间,蔓延度指数呈波动下降趋势,香农多样性指数呈波动上升趋势。2015年是蔓延度指数和香农多样性指数变化的转折点。水库坑塘斑块形状较简单,年际间变化小,而且具有结构的自相似性。（3）湿地景观格局受自然、人为双重因素影响。城市扩张导致人工湿地面积减少。自然湿地的演变则主要受气温和降雨的影响。自然因素往往在较大的时空尺度上控制着湿地的景观格局变化。但随着经济的迅速发展,在较短的时间尺度上,国家政策等人为因素对景观格局的影响力逐渐增强。未来,国家对城市湿地保护政策的实施可以使湿地景观格局向好的方向演化。     

Regional scale relationships between ecosystem structure and functioning: the case of the Patagonian steppes

Aims 1. To characterize ecosystem functioning by focusing on above‐ground net primary production (ANPP), and 2. to relate the spatial heterogeneity of both functional and structural attributes of vegetation to environmental factors and landscape structure. We discuss the relationship between vegetation structure and functioning found in Patagonia in terms of the capabilities of remote sensing techniques to monitor and assess desertification. Location Western portion of the Patagonian steppes in Argentina (39°30′ S to 45°27′ S). Methods We used remotely‐sensed data from Landsat TM and AVHRR/NOAA sensors to characterize vegetation structure (physiognomic units) and ecosystem functioning (ANPP and its seasonal and interannual variation). We combined the satellite information with floristic relevés and field estimates of ANPP. We built an empirical relationship between the Landsat TM‐derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and field ANPP. Using stepwise regressions we explored the relationship between ANPP and both environmental variables (precipitation and temperature surrogates) and structural attributes of the landscape (proportion and diversity of different physiognomic classes (PCs)). Results PCs were quite heterogeneous in floristic terms, probably reflecting degradation processes. Regional estimates of ANPP showed differences of one order of magnitude among physiognomic classes. Fifty percent of the spatial variance in ANPP was accounted for by longitude, reflecting the dependency of ANPP on precipitation. The proportion of prairies and semideserts, latitude and, to a lesser extent, the number of PCs within an 8 × 8 km cell accounted for an additional 33% of the ANPP variability. ANPP spatial heterogeneity (calculated from Landsat TM data) within an 8 × 8 km cell was positively associated with the mean AVHRR/NOAA NDVI and with the diversity of physiognomic classes. Main conclusions Our results suggest that the spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystem functioning described from ANPP result not only from water availability and thermal conditions but also from landscape structure (proportion and diversity of different PCs). The structural classification performed using remotely‐sensed data captured the spatial variability in physiognomy. Such capability will allow the use of spectral classifications to monitor desertification.     

Effects of spatial heterogeneity on butterfly species richness in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, USA

We investigated butterfly responses to plot-level characteristics (plant species richness, vegetation height, and range in NDVI [normalized difference vegetation index]) and spatial heterogeneity in topography and landscape patterns (composition and configuration) at multiple spatial scales. Stratified random sampling was used to collect data on butterfly species richness from seventy-six 20 × 50 m plots. The plant species richness and average vegetation height data were collected from 76 modified-Whittaker plots overlaid on 76 butterfly plots. Spatial heterogeneity around sample plots was quantified by measuring topographic variables and landscape metrics at eight spatial extents (radii of 300, 600 to 2,400 m). The number of butterfly species recorded was strongly positively correlated with plant species richness, proportion of shrubland and mean patch size of shrubland. Patterns in butterfly species richness were negatively correlated with other variables including mean patch size, average vegetation height, elevation, and range in NDVI. The best predictive model selected using Akaike’s Information Criterion corrected for small sample size (AIC_c), explained 62% of the variation in butterfly species richness at the 2,100 m spatial extent. Average vegetation height and mean patch size were among the best predictors of butterfly species richness. The models that included plot-level information and topographic variables explained relatively less variation in butterfly species richness, and were improved significantly after including landscape metrics. Our results suggest that spatial heterogeneity greatly influences patterns in butterfly species richness, and that it should be explicitly considered in conservation and management actions.