Abstract
The paper reviews research on the relationships between landscape composition and configuration –quantified using landscape metrics – and surface water quality. Using the Scopus database and keywords such as “water,” “quality,” “landscape,” and “metrics,” studies from 2017 to May 2022 were analyzed for their study areas, methodologies, and findings. Most studies focused on geomorphologically diverse watersheds, with over half conducted in China. Researchers typically examined 2–5 water quality parameters, with nitrogen and phosphorus compounds included in nearly all studies. High-resolution spatial data, primarily covering entire catchments and/or buffer zones, were used to calculate 6–10 landscape metrics. Findings indicate that forested catchments with less fragmented forests and significant areas of aggregated meadows are less prone to water quality degradation. Conversely, an increase in the proportion, density, and aggregation of arable land, as well as the expansion of built-up areas, contributes to water quality deterioration.