8/5/2011 Landscape Ecology . Concepts of Landscape Ecology . Mosaic and Patches . Edge an d Edge Eff ec t 1 Landscape Ecology . Study of structure, function and change in a heterogeneous landscape composed of interacting ecosystems. 2 Mosaic . Patchwork of different land cover types. 3 1 8/5/2011 Patch . An area of habitat that differs from its surroundings and has sufficient resources to allow a population to persist. 4 Creation of Mosaic and Patches . Environmental processes and human activity. - Geology, topography, soils and climate. -Agg,ggriculture, grazing and fire. 5 Patch Size and Shape . Vary in size and may be elongated, round or convoluted. Habitat suitability determined by patch area, size, shape and orientation. Patches affect ecological processes. - Wind flow, seed dispersal and animal movement. 6 2 8/5/2011 Edge . Contact zone between 2 different types of habitat. 7 Ecotone . Transition zone between 2 diverse communities. Area where adjacent communities blend gradually, forming species- rich zone. 8 Types of edge . Inherent edge - Stable, permanent edge determined by long-term natural features and conditions. - Occurs naturally without management. Induced edge - Results from disturbance; adjoining vegetation types are successional. - Controlled by management. 9 3 8/5/2011 Edge Species . Species restricted exclusively to edge or border environment. - Edge or border provide wildlife with two or more hbitthabitats. 10 Interior Species . Species not able to live in border or transition areas which are subject to abrupt changes. Scarlet Tanager Pileated Barred Owl Woodpecker 11 Edge Effect (Leopold) . Ecological result of increasing edge - Increased numbers of animals - IddiitfilIncreased diversity of animals - Primarily for game species 12 4 8/5/2011 Leopold’s Interspersion (Dispersion) . A species density is proportional to the sum of the type of peripheries (amount of edge). 13 End of Lesson . Concepts of Landscape Ecology . Mosaic and Patches . Edggge and Edge Effect 14 5.