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:
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[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.