(L10) Largest Patch Index 

a_ij =     area (m²) of patch ij.

A =     total landscape area (m²).

Description

LPI equals the area (m²) of the largest patch in the landscape divided by total landscape area (m²), multiplied by 100 (to convert to a percentage); in other words, LPI equals the percent of the landscape that the largest patch comprises. Note, total landscape area (A) includes any internal background present.

Units 

Percent

Range

0 < LPI ≤ 100

LPI approaches 0 when the largest patch in the landscape is increasingly small. LPI = 100 when the entire landscape consists of a single patch; that is, when the largest patch comprises 100% of the landscape.

Comments

Largest patch index quantifies the percentage of total landscape area comprised by the largest patch. As such, it is a simple measure of dominance.