Ecological Integrity of Forest Landscapes in the Kisangani Region (DRC) Using Spatial Analysis of Edge Effect Exposure and Magnitude of Edge Influence

Ecological Integrity of Forest Landscapes in the Kisangani Region (DRC) Using Spatial Analysis of Edge Effect Exposure and Magnitude of Edge Influence | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Ecological Integrity of Forest Landscapes in the Kisangani Region (DRC) Using Spatial Analysis of Edge Effect Exposure and Magnitude of Edge Influence Julien Bwazani Balandi, Jean-Pierre Pitchou Meniko To Hulu, Kouagou Raoul Sambieni, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7591630/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Assessing long-term forest fragmentation is essential for understanding the ecological integrity of tropical landscapes. This study investigates historical trends in forest loss, patch configuration, and edge-related disturbances across four forest landscapes near Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Masako, Mbiye, Yoko, and Yangambi, using satellite imagery from 1986 to 2024. Landscape metrics, including Relative Forest Area Change and Largest Patch Index (LPI), were used to characterize both compositional and configurational changes. Interior-to-edge (I/E) ratios, interior and edge areas, and edge-affected percentages were computed across four buffer distances (50–200 m) to assess edge influence, while patch area was analyzed in relation to edge-induced Land Surface Temperature (LST) variation. Finds reveal accelerating fragmentation in the peri-urban landscapes of Masako and Mbiye, especially after 2016. Both landscapes lost over 80% of forest cover between 1986 and 2024, with sharp LPI declines, near-complete disappearance of interior forests, and I/E ratios approaching zero. By contrast, Yangambi retained over 90% of its initial cover and Yoko over 60%, with higher LPI and limited edge exposure, indicating more stable spatial patterns. Edge-related thermal effects showed a significant inverse relationship between patch size and LST in Yangambi and Yoko, suggesting larger patches mitigate edge warming. In Masako and Mbiye, low R² values reflected advanced fragmentation and diminished thermal buffering capacity. These results highlight major ecological risks, including biodiversity loss and ecosystem service decline. Landscape-specific strategies are recommended: restoration, reconnection of remnant patches, agroforestry integration, and community resource management. For relatively intact landscapes, legal reinforcement, spatial monitoring, and environmental education are proposed to prevent further degradation. Forest fragmentation Ecological integrity Edge Effect Exposure Remote Sensing and Kisangani Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 21 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 21 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 15 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Oct, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 09 Oct, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 01 Oct, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 15 Sep, 2025 First submitted to journal 15 Sep, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7591630","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":532921017,"identity":"4db1cce6-d246-463e-a4e9-7c4c804717e8","order_by":0,"name":"Julien Bwazani Balandi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABAklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxgYeCIONvQFIGsiB2AZEauE5AFJsLEFQCwMDVAuDRAKIJEILcwPvMYkff+zy+CQfH/vwo8CgjkH68MYPDBX37BpwOowvTbKHJ7mYTToteWaPgYEEA19asQTDmeJk3Fp4zG7wSDAntknnGDPwGPyRsD/DY8bA2JaQjMthIC03/xjUJ7ZJnv/M+AdkCw8RWm7zJBxObJPgYWbmQdJih1NLM1/6b5kDxxPbeNKMmWUMDCQbeNiKJRLOJCTg0mLY3nvY8M2f6sT57YcfM775Y8DPwMO88cOHigR7nFqasQoDrUhswKFFHpdZDDhtGQWjYBSMghEHAJ5/STGmB2xXAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Université de Liège","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Julien","middleName":"Bwazani","lastName":"Balandi","suffix":""},{"id":532921018,"identity":"0fb69bc3-260e-4b7a-829f-6fbe8d6faeaf","order_by":1,"name":"Jean-Pierre Pitchou Meniko To Hulu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Institut Facultaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Yangambi","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jean-Pierre","middleName":"Pitchou Meniko To","lastName":"Hulu","suffix":""},{"id":532921019,"identity":"91ed07e2-4d41-4828-b93b-9645a00bdc10","order_by":2,"name":"Kouagou Raoul Sambieni","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Université de Liège","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kouagou","middleName":"Raoul","lastName":"Sambieni","suffix":""},{"id":532921020,"identity":"a89d0357-e919-4ddd-9983-0a18c63ac376","order_by":3,"name":"Yannick Useni Sikuzani","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Unité Ecologie, Université de Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yannick","middleName":"Useni","lastName":"Sikuzani","suffix":""},{"id":532921021,"identity":"b2af330b-5380-4e65-81d9-1cdd5869961e","order_by":4,"name":"Jean-François Bastin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Université de Liège","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jean-François","middleName":"","lastName":"Bastin","suffix":""},{"id":532921022,"identity":"a1008bdb-3041-4263-8d46-137c4ecf3840","order_by":5,"name":"Léon Iyongo Waya Mongo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Kisangani","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Léon","middleName":"Iyongo Waya","lastName":"Mongo","suffix":""},{"id":532921023,"identity":"a84ecbae-2500-4fa5-b243-922bd5bf20d0","order_by":6,"name":"Joël Mobunda Tiko","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Institut Facultaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Yangambi","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Joël","middleName":"Mobunda","lastName":"Tiko","suffix":""},{"id":532921024,"identity":"8fdf86f6-0e9a-4e94-b3e9-d41baae660ca","order_by":7,"name":"Jan Bogaert","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Université de Liège","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jan","middleName":"","lastName":"Bogaert","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-09-11 11:53:36","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7591630/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7591630/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":94110281,"identity":"071f822a-bd0c-43cf-8730-dcddfa27b589","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:24","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":2704076,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MANUSCRITJULIENBWAZANIECOLOGICALINTEGRITYDF.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/3fdea1422504d2de41ac99d5.docx"},{"id":94110269,"identity":"82c28250-e08c-4cf8-a1e1-db84801a37c1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:24","extension":"json","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":9524,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"0da0a4d229ca4d91baa9250c51d2fdc8.json","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/08e4290721d5d053eddd58b6.json"},{"id":94110637,"identity":"364cfef9-b1a0-4915-bbb6-ae28d5cad3ab","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:24","extension":"xml","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":137617,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"0da0a4d229ca4d91baa9250c51d2fdc81enriched.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/1e776be9e3d8a5fd32294890.xml"},{"id":94110276,"identity":"aed3fcf5-bd05-4ba9-aeba-f8f3f31fd7f4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":3,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":1031275,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/f0e60d24795c184eee3c9556.jpeg"},{"id":94110634,"identity":"e2724526-212b-4232-93c6-6b60e64ec8b8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":4,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":354719,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage10.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/845dd672572d484e2b6234b8.jpeg"},{"id":94110270,"identity":"63fb9463-742e-4697-9d69-37ebfda3e0d4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":5,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":264343,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage11.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/2762ecbd7af805d961baba9d.jpeg"},{"id":94110272,"identity":"c054c833-77e4-43fa-a64d-3032120777b1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":6,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":229316,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage12.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/9683d1ee409972ca893f2361.jpeg"},{"id":94110635,"identity":"a3c318eb-5c40-4e2d-8e2e-511d300ff70d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":7,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":273498,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage13.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/9308b4be2f5686b3b01e3aab.jpeg"},{"id":94110636,"identity":"8933a3b0-0197-4bca-943a-edfbfc4c7844","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:24","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":405676,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/be49039747b66712f01db6c0.png"},{"id":94110638,"identity":"7c9fd439-b66d-4650-8b8a-e631daea6e0c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":9,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":363653,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/a0415d1fee3599a6424a6daa.jpeg"},{"id":94110278,"identity":"767ada1b-59b5-4a3b-992b-2d41056a419c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":10,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":368086,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage4.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/4fad451e23dfde6d1b741365.jpeg"},{"id":94111661,"identity":"e6edcb9f-f166-4e6b-aba2-614bc40810a7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:26:24","extension":"jpeg","order_by":11,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":353968,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage5.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/b04d2eb3164147dbba271134.jpeg"},{"id":94111664,"identity":"1509c6c1-ee98-40ca-99dd-d520e8bf214a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:26:25","extension":"jpeg","order_by":12,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":369451,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage6.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/dbc864ac084de169f555e67f.jpeg"},{"id":94110282,"identity":"48478682-0f77-4cf4-b458-cdba9d99732a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"jpeg","order_by":13,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":364991,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage7.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/3ba77adb729d7c4cbbad3475.jpeg"},{"id":94110645,"identity":"ba91d040-fa13-46cb-a404-a5906af48c49","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:25","extension":"jpeg","order_by":14,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":355652,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage8.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/0be5a8a726cb80bdd911a86a.jpeg"},{"id":94110647,"identity":"0a9d8369-96b1-45e5-9615-2292315071e1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:25","extension":"jpeg","order_by":15,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":377594,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage9.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/374eb4f2fa8765147edc2cbe.jpeg"},{"id":94110294,"identity":"9cd5fa59-fba9-43f2-b141-2cdfa19605ba","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"png","order_by":16,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":233487,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/13046bad2cc351ccdc432a3b.png"},{"id":94110284,"identity":"6b4f1feb-00b6-4166-8c06-02fa30381bfa","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"png","order_by":17,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":67085,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage10.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/37fc64effe05768be89d1c1a.png"},{"id":94110641,"identity":"57b3683a-a2fd-4d90-a932-12f10af3155a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:25","extension":"png","order_by":18,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":73358,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage11.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/ebf40d171767a55739e4c946.png"},{"id":94110274,"identity":"13253c24-660e-4aa5-838a-d7242b7a294a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:24","extension":"png","order_by":19,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":65477,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage12.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/0aa8f0d88d1953693e80cb2e.png"},{"id":94110290,"identity":"68cbb9e8-e35e-4e30-8fb8-fc6c128c637b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"png","order_by":20,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":77971,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage13.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/21d49925df4a0f237cb77f88.png"},{"id":94110286,"identity":"4a4ec3c6-e14f-4ed3-bed9-d2efe4d00a98","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"png","order_by":21,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":150174,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/6b8086f78a8d8eb73ddd623d.png"},{"id":94110640,"identity":"fa42c792-aff6-48dd-8d82-e74420c4aefc","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:25","extension":"png","order_by":22,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":71313,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/e41c859a43fa610f049ff5ee.png"},{"id":94111662,"identity":"9fb8ea09-830b-4f79-9f4d-09e7c65c6285","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:26:25","extension":"png","order_by":23,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":71936,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/ad51b62fa3d5b4254b2a9ff9.png"},{"id":94110648,"identity":"2362346a-407d-4c82-832e-618e7bb092ba","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:18:25","extension":"png","order_by":24,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":68574,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/d44883f01c8228a1549edb52.png"},{"id":94110292,"identity":"f8b77f59-3067-46b7-b5b6-86d2edebbee8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"png","order_by":25,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":72207,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/55ce02f23abea65c4f20c3ca.png"},{"id":94112792,"identity":"a023cbc0-c9a1-41b7-9e82-a80312a6ca84","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:42:25","extension":"png","order_by":26,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":68635,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/2f33ed1b16f004ab12721dbc.png"},{"id":94110296,"identity":"00f6d800-6df1-45fe-911f-c56502c36d72","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"png","order_by":27,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":69672,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage8.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/3ad4ab1f56f2b57d76176760.png"},{"id":94111852,"identity":"8871da85-8f01-4132-a8e3-45e8c8519126","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:34:25","extension":"png","order_by":28,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":72732,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage9.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/dcd57885ea153887db7b5761.png"},{"id":94110299,"identity":"42b44180-e32e-4d9e-bb3d-750ba4e55d77","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"xml","order_by":29,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":135391,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"0da0a4d229ca4d91baa9250c51d2fdc81structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/29a0cf30afff75d7405f6bad.xml"},{"id":94110297,"identity":"73f32357-d578-4a8c-a8e7-b8db0fd3cfc6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-22 13:10:25","extension":"html","order_by":30,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":150365,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1/c14521e3b414e5604a64c5bb.html"},{"id":94290499,"identity":"b0d72057-4cce-4135-9d78-85cc1bc28d1a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-27 11:20:07","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1890969,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MANUSCRITJULIENBWAZANIECOLOGICALINTEGRITYDF.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7591630/v1_covered_5b813631-4931-4984-897a-cccc34a7a4b4.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Ecological Integrity of Forest Landscapes in the Kisangani Region (DRC) Using Spatial Analysis of Edge Effect Exposure and Magnitude of Edge Influence","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-forests","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Forests](https://link.springer.com/journal/44415)","snPcode":"44415","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44415/3","title":"Discover Forests","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Forest fragmentation, Ecological integrity, Edge Effect Exposure, Remote Sensing, and Kisangani","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7591630/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7591630/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eAssessing long-term forest fragmentation is essential for understanding the ecological integrity of tropical landscapes. This study investigates historical trends in forest loss, patch configuration, and edge-related disturbances across four forest landscapes near Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Masako, Mbiye, Yoko, and Yangambi, using satellite imagery from 1986 to 2024. Landscape metrics, including Relative Forest Area Change and Largest Patch Index (LPI), were used to characterize both compositional and configurational changes. Interior-to-edge (I/E) ratios, interior and edge areas, and edge-affected percentages were computed across four buffer distances (50\u0026ndash;200 m) to assess edge influence, while patch area was analyzed in relation to edge-induced Land Surface Temperature (LST) variation. Finds reveal accelerating fragmentation in the peri-urban landscapes of Masako and Mbiye, especially after 2016. Both landscapes lost over 80% of forest cover between 1986 and 2024, with sharp LPI declines, near-complete disappearance of interior forests, and I/E ratios approaching zero. By contrast, Yangambi retained over 90% of its initial cover and Yoko over 60%, with higher LPI and limited edge exposure, indicating more stable spatial patterns. Edge-related thermal effects showed a significant inverse relationship between patch size and LST in Yangambi and Yoko, suggesting larger patches mitigate edge warming. In Masako and Mbiye, low R\u0026sup2; values reflected advanced fragmentation and diminished thermal buffering capacity. These results highlight major ecological risks, including biodiversity loss and ecosystem service decline. Landscape-specific strategies are recommended: restoration, reconnection of remnant patches, agroforestry integration, and community resource management. For relatively intact landscapes, legal reinforcement, spatial monitoring, and environmental education are proposed to prevent further degradation.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Ecological Integrity of Forest Landscapes in the Kisangani Region (DRC) Using Spatial Analysis of Edge Effect Exposure and Magnitude of Edge Influence","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-22 13:10:20","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7591630/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-11-21T21:12:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-11-21T18:59:09+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-11-15T10:42:21+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"277743684482042371206178890972532429854","date":"2025-11-13T19:16:26+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"306107095123604891897228777525471178987","date":"2025-11-07T22:13:07+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"303978121028130985308595898768578680448","date":"2025-10-21T14:39:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-10-09T11:55:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-10-01T09:17:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-09-15T22:39:27+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Forests","date":"2025-09-15T22:36:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-forests","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Forests](https://link.springer.com/journal/44415)","snPcode":"44415","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44415/3","title":"Discover Forests","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b9a6ea7a-116f-4d48-9f11-d72222a2e92c","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 22nd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-28T09:53:16+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-22 13:10:20","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7591630","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7591630","identity":"rs-7591630","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}