Multiscale landscape analyses: The Megalopolis of Mexico as a case study
Por:
Velazquez A., Fregoso A., Siebe C., Gopar-Merino F., Morales-Casique E., Prado B., Marin-Castro B.E., Mora L., Reygadas D., Castro-López V., Few R., Aviles C., Lezama-Campos L., Morales W., Bell D.
Publicada:
1 ene 2025
Resumen:
This paper investigates land cover, land use and vegetation changes at macro-regional, regional, local, and site spatial resolutions in the Megalopolis of Mexico City and how these affect groundwater recharge potential. Our research was framed within a transdisciplinary-holistic scope to unpack the complex social, geographic, and environmental processes often hidden when using single discipline, one-scale, one-stakeholder perspectives. Land cover/use data from the 1970s and 2018 were used as the primary input to analyze changes using remote sensing and geographical information systems. At the (macro)regional scale, land-use changes, especially human settlements, increased from about four to almost 40 % between 1970 and 2018, with a significant incursion into rural landscapes. At the local scale, analyses revealed a considerable decline in predominantly cold-humid vegetation types and conversion of agricultural fields into peri-urban landscapes. At pedon scale, hydrological balance analyses were calculated and then extrapolated to the region on behalf of soil maps information to assess groundwater recharge potentials, revealing the importance of soils as the core landscape component for water infiltration. Furthermore, social perception of changes was investigated among local stakeholders using semi-structured interviews with four communities. Nested multi-scale analyses revealed different disrupting processes hidden at one scale and evident at another. Outcomes are discussed considering their relevance for addressing transdisciplinary and theoretically applied frameworks. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Filiaciones:
Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Col. Ex-hacienda de San José de la Huerta, Michoacán, Morelia, C. P. 58190, Mexico
Institute for Sustainability, Universität Kassel. Mosenthalstr. 8, Kassel, 34117, Germany
Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, Mexico
Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Carr. Toluca-Ixtlahuaca Km 14.5, Unidad de San Cayetano de Morelos, Toluca de Lerdo, C.P. 50200, Mexico
Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Antigua Carretera a Coatepec 351, Veracruz, Xalapa, C.P. 91073, Mexico
University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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