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nijc = number of disjunct core areas in patch ij based on specified edge depths (m). |
| Description | NDCA equals the sum of the number of disjunct core areas contained within each patch in the landscape; that is, the number of disjunct core areas contained within the landscape. |
| Units | None |
| Range | NDCA ≥ 0, without limit. NCA = 0 when TCA = 0 (i.e., every location within every patch is within the specified depth-of-edge distance(s) from the patch perimeters); in other words, when there are no core areas. NDCA > 1 when, due to patch size and shape, at least one core area exists. |
| Comments | Number of disjunct core areas is defined the same at the patch level (see Number of Core Areas), but here it is aggregated (summed) over all patches. Number of disjunct core areas is an alternative to the number of patches when it makes sense to treat the core areas as functionally distinct patches. |
