Introduction to Landscape Ecology What is landscape ecology?
Broad extents Landscape ecology What is landscape ecology? Spatial patterns
Space: The Final Frontier . 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 “Space: the final thing that seems to be true frontier for of interactions is that their ecological theory” strength varies with (Kareiva 1994) distance, and distance implies spatial location. What is landscape ecology? Spatial patterns
. How to characterize it… . Where it comes from... . How it changes over time... . Why it matters... . How humans manage it... What is landscape ecology? Focus on broader extents
. Landscape ecology OFTEN 4 m2 focuses on spatial extents that are much larger than those traditionally studied in ecology...but the 1 km2 emphasis is on spatial pattern at the relevant scale.
10's km2 What is landscape ecology? Focus on the role of humans
. 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. History of landscape ecology
European . Long history School . Emphasis on typology, classification, and nomenclature . Mostly concerned with “built” systems . Often taught in Landscape Architecture, Planning, or Design schools Landscape Ecology American . Comparatively young (post 1980) School . Emphasis on ecology; heavily invested in theory and models . More concerned with “natural” systems . Usually taught in Biology or Natural Resources departments ConnectorsEmergence of landscape ecology
Broad-Scale Environmental Issues
Scale & Hierarchy Concepts Landscape Ecology The Dynamic View
Technological Advances ConnectorsEmergence of landscape ecology Broad-scale environmental issues
. Invasive non- . Habitat . Disruption native species disturbances of ecological processes
. Habitat loss
. Habitat fragmentation ConnectorsEmergence of landscape ecology Scale and hierarchy concepts
Speciation
Long Extinction
Species migrations Secondary succession Windthrow Wildfires Temporal scale Temporal Treefalls
Recruitment Short Fine Spatial scale Coarse ConnectorsEmergence of landscape ecology From equilibrium to dynamic view
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Ecosystem Ecosystem structure structure
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Ecosystem Ecosystem function function
? ConnectorsEmergence 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 Importance to land managers Because ecosystem context matters
. Metapopulations . Succession Importance to land managers Because ecosystem function depends on the interplay of pattern and process
. Habitat loss and . Alteration of fragmentation 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