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This paper aims to determine the landscape development trends of Central Lika and to analyze their interrelation with observed demographic inter-census changes. For this purpose, Landsat multispectral images and census data of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics were used for both observed years, and appropriate methods of analysis were selected. In the analysis of the satellite images, an approach was used that involves the use of data sets that are related to spring and autumn. Using the ENVI 4.7 computer programme, five classes were defined for each analyzed year: Built land, Forest, Water bodies, Arable land, Grass and shrubs, while five landscape development trends and their surface shares were identified based on their interrelation in the observed period (1 991 –2011 ): Unchanged (87.7 %), Extensification and vegetation succession (7.6 %), Intensification (2.8 %), Upbuilding (1.5 %), Water bodies (0.4 %). The obtained results showed that Upbuilding and Intensification are more represented in the central area, which is in line with the least negative demographic indicators, and with the process of urbanisation of the Town of Gospic. Extensification and vegetation succession is more prevalent in peripheral areas, where the most negative demographic indicators are more pronounced, which was found to be in line with the process of deruralisation and deagrarisation. By analyzing landscape development trends and the processes of the Central Lika landscape from different perspectives and aspects, this study allows for their better understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the structural characteristics (shape, position and condition) of landscape patches in Central Lika according to landscape types and for the landscape of Central Lika as a whole. A set of indicators for the landscape structure was used along with GIS technology. Interrelation of the structural characteristics of landscape patches were determined using regression analysis. When determining the landscape types of Central Lika, a method based on land cover/land use was applied. For this purpose, data from the CORINE database for the year 2012 were used. At the level of the landscape type in Central Lika and the landscape of Central Lika as a whole, a set of indicators for the landscape structure were used, based on a variety of spatial analysis methods: Mean Shape Index-for the landscape patch shapes; Core Area Index - for the condition of the landscape patches, and Average Nearest Neighbour - for the position of the landscape patches. The most important result of this paper was to confirm the correlation between the shape and condition, and between the shape and position of the landscape patches of Central Lika, while no correlation between the condition and position of the landscape patches of Central Lika was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis and definition of development types and subtypes in the landscape of Central Lika, based on processes of change in the period 1 980 201 2 CORINE Land Cover database data for 1 980 and 201 2 were used to establish the landscape types in Central Lika in those years. The landscape types in Central Lika were determined according to land cover/land use. Based on the mutual relations between the established landscape types in the two observed years, we established six landscape development types and three subtypes in Central Lika. The spatial distribution of landscape development types and subtypes in Central Lika was determined using the Standard Deviational Ellipse (Directional Distribution) spatial analysis method. The results obtained showed that in the observation period (1 980 201 2), most of the area of Central Lika (89.46%) belonged to the Stagnation landscape type. Other development types were present to a much lesser extent (about 5.5%) and were found to be Vegetation succession, Agrarisation, Vegetation degradation and Built-up land. We established a spatial gradation of three phases in the process of vegetation succession, that is, development subtypes from the centre to the margins of the research area. At the same time, in the observation period, the process and trend of extensification of land use in Central Lika was twice as present as intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]