lecture: landscape ecology - uef
TRANSCRIPT
Dr Iwona Markuszewska
Department of Landscape Ecology
Lecture: Landscape Ecology
Borderland: Border Landscapes Across Europe 2013
Presentation schedule:
• Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline
• The concept of landscape ecology
• Main research approaches in landscape ecology
• Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix
• Landscape fragmentation
• Landscape metrics
• Landscape-ecological planning
Troll (1939,1950, 1968)
landscape ecology
landscape can be studied in terms of its:
• morphology,
• classification,
• changes in time (history),
• functional relationships between its components.
landscape protection
and management
geography
relationships between:
• organisims and their habitats
• interactions between organisims
ecology
Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline
landscape ecology
Forman R.T.T., Godron M., 1986:
Landscape Ecology
the role of human impact on landscape structures
and functions and also proposed ways for
restoring degraded landscapes.
geographical and ecological studies
with
landscape planning and management aspects
landscape ecology
• landscape designer,
• environmental protectionist,
• social geographer.
the ecological aspects of landscape function
landscape stability principle:
• landscape structural heterogeneity in developing
resistance to disturbance,
• landscape structural heterogeneity in recovering
from disturbance to stability.
importance of relationships
among the various components
of the landscape
in maintaining resistance
to external threats.
Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline
Naveh, Z., Lieberman A. S., 1984:
Landscape Ecology - Theory and Applications
natural processes:
• physical,
• chemical,
• biological.
landscape functions human activities:
• economic,
• social,
• cultural,
• political.
interactions
conflicts human system natural system
changes in
landscape structure modifications or resistance
to threats of landscape function
landscape
a suitable ecological unit for management of environmental threats
a functional unit that can reflect interactions of ecological and human
aspects of processes
Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline
landscape strucure
In Europe:
- practical aspects, which lead to
creation of socio-economical-landscape systems
being useful for dealing with real issues.
In America:
- energy and matter fluxes between landscape elements,
In Australia:
-reasonable way of using of extensively used areas.
Concept of differentiation of natural spatial units
(land units and land systems).
Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline
Understanding the concept of landscape ecology
landscape:
- complex system,
- permanently dynamic,
where different natural and cultural factors:
- influence each other,
- change over time,
- determining and being determined by the global structure. (Forman and Godron, 1986; Naveh and Lieberman, 1994; Zonneveld, 1990).
Landscape has also a subjective component, more connected with the observer
and his impression (Nassauer 1997; Palang and Fry 2003), and the holistic understanding
of the landscape includes thus also the perceptive aspect (Antrop 1999).
In landscape ecology research there are three landscape characteristics
(Forman & Godron, 1986):
• structure – spatial pattern of landscape units (spread of plants and animals;
arrangement of landscape elements),
• functioning – interactions between landscape units (matter and energy fluxes,
organisms’ migration),
• changeability – transformation of landscape structure and functioning over time.
landscape structure
landscape pattern
can be described by:
size, shape, arrangement and distribution
of individual landscape elements.
Understanding the concept of landscape ecology
heterogeneity
and homogenity
of landscape
parameter of landscape structure
heterogeneity homogeneity
Land use is the human use of land.
Land use involves management
and modification of natural
environment into fields,
pastures, settlements, etc.
Land cover is the physical material
at the earth surface.
Land covers include
grass, trees, ground, water, etc.
geographical approach
in landscape studies
analyses of land-use
and land-cover changes
biodiversity
-variability among living organisms,
- diversity within species,
- between species and of ecosystems
genetic diversity habitats diversity
species diversity
composition
arrangement,
construction of units,
distribution of elements
and their relationship to other
individuality and variety of elements,
such as land use units
or species within a given area
structure
comprises all processes,
such as demographic trends,
cycles of material
or disturbances
functioning
biodiversity Understanding the concept of landscape ecology
geodiversity
variety of natural conditions:
- relief,
- soil,
- water,
- local climate.
ecodiversity
- variety of earth materials,
- landforms and processes that constitute and shape the Earth.
biodiversity
geodiversity
ecodiversity Understanding the concept of landscape ecology
Main research approaches in landscape ecology
main issues
• landscape pattern/structure,
• relationships between landscape structure and processes,
• relationship between human activity and landscape
structure (landscape changes),
• disturbance of landscape balance,
• implementation of scientific bases into landscape planning
and management.
main research approaches
• ecological modelling,
• ecological comprehensive analysis of landscape,
• landscape synthesis.
physiognomic approach
geographical approach:
functional approach
geographical approach:
regional-typologically
approach
regionalization, typology and analysis of
landscape structure
geo-botanic approach
perception of harmony and beauty of landscape
matter and energy fluxes geochemical approach
functioning role of landscape dynamism
animal ecology
landscape synanthropisation, succession and renaturalization,
migration and barriers, ecotones, biological diversity
land fragmentation, corridors and patches, connectivity between
landscape elements, metapopulation dynamism,
synanthropisation, landscape biodiversity protection
human geography
landscape architecture historical and aesthetic features
natural conditions of human activity, environment transformation
Main research approaches in landscape ecology
Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix
Patch (mosaic) - relatively homogeneous area, which
is differ from its surroundings. Patches have a definited
shape and spatial configuration.
The larger the patch, the larger interior habitat for living
flora and fauna species.
Minimum patch area requirements for species depends on:
species, quality of habitat, and landscape context.
Corridor – linear element, a network of linear elements,
which usually connect patches.
Connectivity is the measure of corridor network functioning.
Corridors have important functions as strips of a particular
type of landscape differing from adjacent land on both sides.
The potential value of corridors to link isolated patches
depends on the type and condition of the matrix.
Matrix - the background of landscape.
Matrix is often developed lands (e.g., urban,
agriculture) while patches are remnants,
which have a different plant and animal
community than the surrounding area
Stepping stones – small patches allowing for species
movement between large patches.
They are important in fragmented landscapes.
Buffer zones - designated areas used to protect
sensitive landscape patches (e.g., wetlands,
wildlife reserves) from negative external pressures.
Corridors are used to connect the buffered landscape
patches.
Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix
ecological corridors:
- theoretical scientific idea,
useful for modelling of land fragmentation influence on population survival
and influence of patches composition and configuration on landscape functioning,
- practical approach,
biodiversity protection, landscape management and spatial planning,
- landscape connectivity,
migration of plants and animals.
Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix
Landscape fragmentation
Landscape change processes:
- perforation,
- dissection,
- dissipation,
- shrinkage,
- attrition.
Landscape change processes:
- filing the holes - opposition to
perforation,
- merging – opposition to dissection
and dissipation,
- growth – opposition to shrinkage.
Landscape fragmentation
Landscape metrics
Land Mosaics: the ecology of landscapes and regions (Forman M., 1995):
„the land as seen from an airplane window
or on an aerial photograph is the subjects of this volume”.
satellite image
aerial photograph
- composition and configuration of landscape,
- productivity,
- diversity,
- connectivity,
- hazards,
- ecosystem services.
Landscape metrics
single landscape elements:
- size,
- shape,
- number;
whole landscape:
- arrangement of landscape elements,
- diversity of landscape; European Union (EEA, 2000):
landscape indicators for analysing:
- fragmentation,
- diversity or heterogeneity,
- spatial arrangement,
- organisation of landscape.
Patch Density (PD), Edge Density (ED),
Perimeter/Area Ratio (PAR), Number of Classes (NC),
Shannon’s Diversity Index (SHDI),
Land Cover Diversity Index (LCDI).
Landscape-ecological planning,
focuses on the linkage of ecological patterns and processes,
also includes values of humans, social and economic dimensions (Hersperger 1994).
Landscape-ecological planning,
adopts landscape as a principle spatial unit of research and planning recommendations.
Promoting sustainability has become an overarching principle of land-use planning
(Forman 1995).
Landscape-ecological planning
Sustainable planning,
optimize the distribution and allocation of land in a given, limited space.
Landscape planning,
focuses on spatial planning, organization and relationships of land uses to achieve
explicit goals (e.g. habitat improvement, sustainability).
(Steinitz 1995)
Landscape-ecological planning Framework Method for Landscape Planning