#12 Landscape Ecology Flashcards
Define Community
A group of plant and animal species occupying a given area
- ecological communities have a spatial boundary and a spatial context within the larger landscape
Define Landscape Ecology
The study of the formation of patches and boundaries and how these interactions affect ecological processes
What is a “mosaic”
the patchwork of different types of land cover.
the landscape mosaic is defined by changes in the structure of the distinct communities called patches
- although each patch is continuously changing, the average characteristic of the forest may stay relatively contstant
A _______ is composed of patches, which changes in succession over time due to ecological processes
shifting mosaic
Define Patches
Homogenous community types that differ from their surroundings in structure and species composition
Inherent vs Induced Edges with regards to changing over time
- inherent edges are stable and permanent
- induced edges are subject to successional changes over time
What are edge species
restricted exclusively to the edge environment
Edge species can create 2 problems
- attract more predators
- restricts dispersal
Assuming that the depth of a patch remains constant, the ratio of edge to interior ____ as the habitat size ______?
Ratio of edge to interior decreases as the habitat size increases if the patch edge is constant
Which of the following is most important for plants?
- persistence
- environmental conditions
- patch size
Environmental conditions
What are corridors?
strips of vegetation similar to patches that they connect, many of human origins (windbreaks, drainage ditches)
List some negative impacts of corridors
- offer scouting positions for predators
- avenues for disease spread
- provide a pathway for the invasive species
- if too narrow they can inhibit the movement of social groups
The community structure of a patch on the landscape is a function of its _______?
size, shape, and connectivity (position on the landscape relative to other patches)
Difference between disturbance event and pattern?
events are instant, where patterns characterize a landscape over time
Disturbance regime is based on what three characteristics?
- intensity: the proportion of total biomass that is eliminated
- scale: refers to the spatial extent of the impact relative to the size of the landscape
- frequency: mean number of disturbances within a particular time. Frequency is linked to intensity and scale