Learning Landscape Ecology: Concepts and Techniques for a Sustainable World (2nd Edition)
Editors: Sarah E. Gergel, University of British Columbia Monica G. Turner, University of Wisconsin Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Rationale Landscape ecology continues to grow as an exciting discipline with much to offer pressing and emerging problems in environmental science. Much of the strength of the discipline is in its ability to address challenges over large areas, over the scales at which decision-making often occurs. As the world has begun to address more issues related to sustainability and global change, the need for this broad perspective has only increased. Furthermore, spatial data and spatial analysis (the focus of the discipline of landscape ecology), are at the core of analyzing the land cover changes seen world-wide. While spatial dynamics have long been fundamental to conducting terrestrial conservation activities, land management, and reserve design, mapping and spatial themes are also becoming increasingly recognized as fundamental to ecosystem management in aquatic, coastal and marine systems. For these reasons, there is great demand for training in spatial analysis tool accessible to a wide audience.
The earlier edition of this book: Learning Landscape Ecology: A Practical Guide to Concepts &Techniques, edited by Gergel and Turner, was the first “hands-on” teaching guide for landscape ecology. The first book of its kind, it provided experience with a diversity of tools and software in the field. The text has sold over 5,000 copies world-wide, used at more than 55 universities, and a 2nd printing was published in 2006. The discipline has grown rapidly and advanced greatly, however, since its original publication a decade ago (in 2001). In addition, the timing of the revised 2nd edition corresponds to an important revised update of Turner & Gardner’s Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice, as well as a new applied text in Landscape Ecology by Dean Urban. These next texts will fit nicely as a paired complements to this revised and updated “hands on” teaching guide.
Emerging Themes Improving on the success of the 1st edition, we propose new additions and specific improvements based on feedback we have received, changes in the discipline, as well as the emerging challenges in environmental science.
More international in scope. There is clearly demonstrated world-wide interest in these ideas. A Korean translation was published in 2007, and a Slovakian translation is currently underway. The second edition includes expanded content to foster this interest and global understanding. This new book will utilize examples, data and authors outside the United States (e.g., Spain, Panama, Philippines, Canada, Sweden etc.) to help communicate relevant examples to a more global audience.
Applications for conservation and sustainability. The techniques and analytical tools of landscape ecology continue to be of utmost relevance to conservation. Many of the new tools of landscape ecology (e.g., change detection and pattern analysis) are primed to address new challenges related to the dynamics of climate change.
New quantitative advances. Theory and applications of landscape ecology have advanced dramatically in the 10 years since the first edition was published. Challenging quantitative techniques such as graph theory, spatial statistics, R software, network analysis, social-ecological systems, object-oriented approaches, would all benefit from a user-friendly translation within the context of landscape ecology.
Expanded Instructor’s Notes. Each contribution will include detailed instructor’s notes available to directly to instructors (via Gergel). We expect this will increase the use and improve the utility of the book for instructors from different scientific backgrounds. This approach will also help Gergel directly track usage of different chapters and obtain additional feedback for continuous improvement of exercises.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT IS A LANDSCAPE? BASIC CONCEPTS AND TOOLS
NEW: Mapping Historical Landscapes with Aerial Photography Jessica Morgan, University of BC Sarah Gergel, University of BC
NEW: Remote Sensing for Understanding Landscape Patterns at Different Scales Nicholas Coops, University of BC Rory Tooke, University of BC
FUNDAMENTALS OF QUANTIFYING LANDSCAPE PATTERN
Understanding Landscape Metrics I Jeffrey Cardille, University de Montreal, Montreal, Canada Monica Turner, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Scale Detection with Semi-Variograms (revised, with intro-level R code) Michael Palmer, Oklahoma State University Daniel McGlinn, University of North Carolina
Neutral Landscape Models (with QRULE and R) Robert Gardner, University of Maryland
NEW: What Constitutes a Significant Difference in Landscape Pattern? (using R) Tarmo K. Remmel, York, Toronto, Canada Marie-Josee Fortin, University of Toronto, Canada
APPLICATIONS FOR LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
NEW: The Importance of Landscape Context Lenore Fahrig, Carleton, Canada
NEW: Introduction to Graph Theory for Reserve Design Todd Lookingbill, University of Richmond Emily Minor, University of Illinois
NEW: Advanced Reserve Design using Marxan Matthew Watts, Hugh Possingham, Carissa Klein, University of Queensland, Australia Tara Martin, Josie Carwardine, CSIRO, Australia
NEW: Linking Landscapes & Meta-Communities (using R) Ben Gilbert, University of Toronto Joseph Bennett, University of British Columbia
NEW: Advances in Quantifying Habitat Connectivity using Graph Theory (CONEFOR/SENSINODE) Santiago Saura, E.T.S.I. Montes, Madrid, Spain
LANDSCAPE CHANGE AND DISTURBANCE
Modelling Landscape Change with Markov Models (revised in R) Dean Urban, Duke David Wallin, Western Washington University
Modelling Forest Harvest Patterns Eric Gustafson, US Forest Service, Northern Research Station, WI
NEW: Disturbance and Landscape Structure Martin Simard, University of Wisconsin Monica Turner, University of Wisconsin
NEW: Regional and Continental-scale Perspectives on Landscape Pattern Jeffrey Cardille, University de Montreal, Canada Monica Turner, University of Wisconsin
ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES AND FEEDBACKS IN SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES
Modelling the Spatial Dynamics of Ecosystem Services Sarah Gergel, University of British Columbia Tara Reed, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Elena Bennett, McGill, Canada
NEW: Spatial Resilience in a Coral Reefscape Jennifer Selgrath, UBC Fisheries Centre Garry Peterson, Magnus Nystron, Matilda Thyresson, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Sweden
NEW: Social Network Theory in a Marine Landscape Orjan Bodin and Beatrice Crona, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Sweden
NEW: Tropical Landscape Change and Carbon Credits Kathryn Kirby, University of British Columbia Sarah Gergel, University of British Columbia
AUDIENCE Our primary audience includes graduate students (and advanced undergraduates) studying landscape ecology and management. Researchers and environmental scientists will use the book as a reference and guide to the primary literature. Secondary audiences include students and scientists working in related subjects such as geography, wildlife ecology, forestry, conservation biology, and landscape architecture.
Environmental Science and Sustainability degree programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate level, have been expanding rapidly in North America and world-wide. Forestry and Geography Departments throughout the world are renaming and re-envisioning themselves as “Schools of the Environment,” often with concomitant Master’s degree programs. Course-based Master’s Programs often include courses teaching specific tools and practical skills. The revised book should very easily appeal to this expanding niche.
Potential Graduate Courses: Landscape Ecology and Management Advanced Conservation Planning Spatial Statistics Landscape Modelling Social-Ecological Systems / Systems Ecology
Potential Undergraduate Courses: Sustainable Landscape Management Conservation Planning Biogeography Environmental Change
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION We will provide all auxiliary files, share-ware programs, maps and teaching materials (previously included on a CD-ROM with the book) on a dedicated website for the text. This website will be designed to easily update-able by chapter contributors, as necessary. Incorporation of R statistical (shareware) software, along with basic instruction in R, will also help support continued access to the exercises without expensive software investments for instructors.
Furthermore, individual purchase and distribution of chapters (digitally) will enable instructors and students to access a subset of the book, when warranted. We expect this flexibility will further increase use of the text by instructors who may want to use one or two chapters, yet not require students to purchase the entire book for a course.