The Theory and Application of Landscape Sensitivity
景观敏感度的理论及其应用意义

Landscape sensitivity is expressed as the ratio of the change in landscape to the change in a landscape component.The larger the ratio is,the greater the sensitivity is.We reviews and analyzes the definition of landscape sensitivity,and we also discuss the key factors which determine the sensitivity of landscape and the spatial-temporal sensitivity.Furthermore,we point out that the key factors which determine the magnitude of landscape sensitivity are the types of disturbance and the attributes of the landscape.There are two kinds of disturbances:pulsed and ramped.The attributes of landscape mean the trend of landscape change and the resistance forces to the disturbances.We also summarize the means of spatial sensitivity and temporal sensitivity.Spatial sensitivity is expressed as locational sensitivity or the location where is the landscape changed.And temporal sensitivity is the impacts of changes in the magnitude and frequency of events on the landscape.Landscape sensitivity,which describes a nonlinear dynamic system and its responses and resistances to changes,will help us get more understanding of the landscape changes.