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

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Tem

pora

l sca

le

Connectors Emergence of landscape ecology From equilibrium to dynamic view

Ecosystem structure

Ecosystem function

Ecosystem structure

Ecosystem function

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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