Directions of landscape change (1741–1993) in Virestad, Sweden — characterised by multivariate analysis

摘要: Abstract The objective of the paper is to demonstrate value multivariate method, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) on data relating landscape elements, determine relative directions change and illustrate dynamics. Data were retrieved from retrospective studies based interpretation aerial photographs old cadastral maps at three time periods, 1741–1811, 1946 1993 covering 56 selected hamlets in a parish Smaland, south Sweden. To carry out analysis, summarised into five principal land cover groups; (1) arable grassland composite; (2) open semi-natural grasslands; (3) wooded (4) water; (5) forest/remaining land. During 200-year period investigated, shifted most more rural with fields areas vegetation, non-rural closed forests fragmented dominated by cultivated grasslands. range distribution along axes over indicate reduction complexity, suggest negative relationship between degree agricultural proportion PCA was shown be useful tool simplify complex sets character terms dynamics spatial organisation, direction Virestad. In hamlet types diverging development distinguished; (A) major semi-open forest landscape; (B) intermediate change, where already closely related type beginning; (C) have remained closer relatively 200 years study period.