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Introduction to Landscape Ecology
What is landscape ecology?
Broad extents
Landscape ecology
Ecology is defined as the interaction of organisms and their environment, and their environment is profoundly spatial.
Ecology is defined in terms of interactions, and one thing that seems to be true of interactions is that their strength varies with distance, and distance implies spatial location.
What is landscape ecology? Spatial patterns
“Space: the final frontier for ecological theory” (Kareiva 1994)
Space: The Final Frontier
How to characterize it…
Where it comes from...
How it changes over time...
Why it matters...
How humans manage it...
What is landscape ecology? Spatial patterns
Landscape ecology OFTEN focuses on spatial extents that are much larger than those traditionally studied in ecology...but the emphasis is on spatial pattern at the relevant scale.
What is landscape ecology? Focus on broader extents
4 m2
1 km2
10's km2
Landscape ecology OFTEN focuses on the role of humans in creating and affecting landscape patterns and processes...but humans are but one, albeit dominant, agent.
What is landscape ecology? Focus on the role of humans
History of landscape ecology
Long history
Emphasis on typology, classification, and nomenclature
Mostly concerned with “built” systems
Often taught in Landscape Architecture, Planning, or Design schools
Comparatively young (post 1980)
Emphasis on ecology; heavily invested in theory and models
More concerned with “natural” systems
Usually taught in Biology or Natural Resources departments
European School
American School
Landscape Ecology
Connectors Emergence of landscape ecology
Landscape Ecology
Broad-Scale Environmental Issues
Scale & Hierarchy Concepts
The Dynamic View
Technological Advances
Connectors Emergence of landscape ecology Broad-scale environmental issues
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat loss
Disruption of ecological processes
Invasive non-native species
Habitat disturbances
Wildfires
Connectors Emergence of landscape ecology Scale and hierarchy concepts
Speciation Extinction
Species migrations
Secondary succession
Windthrow Treefalls
Recruitment
Spatial scale Fine Coarse
Shor
t Lo
ng
Tem
pora
l sca
le
Connectors Emergence of landscape ecology From equilibrium to dynamic view
Ecosystem structure
Ecosystem function
Ecosystem structure
Ecosystem function
? ?
?
?
Connectors Emergence of landscape ecology Technological advances
Why is landscape ecology important to land managers?
Because ecosystem context matters
Because ecosystem function depends on the interplay of pattern and process
Because there is a policy and legal mandate to adopt a landscape perspective
Because ecosystem context matters Importance to land managers
Metapopulations Succession
Because ecosystem function depends on the interplay of pattern and process
Importance to land managers
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Alteration of disturbance regimes
Importance to land managers Because there is a policy and legal mandate to adopt a landscape perspective
Ecosystem management
2005/2012 Forest Service Planning Rules
Ecosystem diversity
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