Application of moving splitwindow technique in quantitative methodologies for edge influence of landscape boundary: a case study of Lespedeza potaniniiArtemisia ordosica community

Two transects were set up to study the Lespedeza potaniniiArtemisia ordosica community boundary in south edge of Maowusu Desert. The squared Euclidean distance coefficients of sampling plots along ecotone transect were applied in the moving splitwindow technique for edge influence of landscape boundary position and width in the area across the community. The result showed that while the split form was in size of 4 and 6 units of plots, the curves dramatically varied and the identification of landscape boundary was interfered. While the minimum size of splitwindow was 8 plots the landscape boundary could be properly identified. The emerging peaks appeared between plot 20 and plot 25 in Transect A and B. Therefore, moving splitwindow technique was an effective method for edge influence of landscape boundary and community classification and it was a satisfactory method to show the peaks and widths of communities in small scale.