30. Landscapes

Question 1

landscape

Answer 1

A heterogeneous (diverse, mixed, varied) area consisting of distinct patches (landscape elements - organized in a mosaic-like pattern)

Question 2

landscape ecology

Answer 2

the study of the relationship between spatial pattern and ecological processes over a range of scales

Question 3

processes that create landscapes

Answer 3

1. geological processes
2. climate
3. organisms
4. fire

Question 4

landscape structure

Answer 4

Describes the size, shape, composition, number and position of patches (landscape elements) in a landscape - influences processes such
as the flow of energy, materials, and species
distributions across a landscape

Question 5

edge effects

Answer 5

impacts to the adjacent ecosystem caused by changes in the physical environment along its edge, reduced habitat area, and by isolation

Question 6

habitat fragmentation and corridors

Answer 6

Landscape structure, especially the size, number, and distance between patches, can influence the movement of organisms between potentially suitable habitats.

Question 7

examples of landscape elements

Answer 7

mountains, meadows, streams, parks, residential, industrial

Question 8

why is landscape ecology different

Answer 8

1. Involves researchers from multiple disciplines.
2. Included humans and human influence from beginning.
3. Uses multiple scales

Question 9

geological processes that create landscapes

Answer 9

– Volcanism
– Sedimentation
– Erosion –> streams create v-shaped valleys

Question 10

climate creating landscapes

Answer 10

• Ice Ages –> glaciers create u-shaped valleys, glacial retreat leads to primary succession
  –Global Warming

Question 11

organisms that create landscapes

Answer 11

–Humans

– Beavers

Question 12

fire creating landscapes

Answer 12

– Lightning-caused

– Fire suppression

Question 13

glacial ages

Answer 13

periods of variable cool and warm global temperatures that can last for millions of years

Question 14

glaciations

Answer 14

cold periods lasting about 60,000- 90,000 years within a glacial age

Question 15

interglacial period

Answer 15

relatively short warm periods (10,000-40,000 years) that occur between glaciations in a glacial age

Question 16

glacier

Answer 16

a body of dense ice that can move under its own weight

Question 17

talus

Answer 17

large rock piles pushed aside and left behind by glaciers

Question 18

glacial till

Answer 18

mixed (boulders, clay, rocks) material left by glaciers

Question 19

moraine

Answer 19

piles of till either pushed aside or left behind by glaciers

Question 20

drumlin

Answer 20

hills created when glaciers pass over moraines

Question 21

eskers

Answer 21

narrow ridges of debris left behind by glacial streams

Question 22

kettle

Answer 22

lake created by a piece of detached glacier melting into a depression

Question 23

glacial refugia

Answer 23

areas that occur within the extent of the glacial landscape that remained uncovered by glaciers

Question 24

nunatak

Answer 24

a type of glacial refugia, in which a mountain peak was surrounded but not covered by continental glaciers

Question 25

example of humans creating landscapes - Veluwe Region, Netherlands

Answer 25

• Pre-human: Forest
• 800-1100 CE: Heathlands and agriculture
• 1100-1800 CE: Sand
• 1800-now: Forest plantations to reduce sand drifts

Question 26

example of beavers creating landscapes - Kabetogama Peninsula, Minnesota USA

Answer 26

• Pre-colonization: 60-400 million beaver individuals
• Colonizing fur trappers: almost extinct
• 20th century onwards: beaver recovery

Question 27

example of fire and fire suppression creating landscapes - Southern California and Baja California

Answer 27

• Frequent fires from lightning
• Dry summers, oil-rich vegetation
• Fire suppression in SoCal, but allowed to burn in
Baja = lower median fire area

Question 28

patch

Answer 28

a relatively homogenous area that differs from it’s surroundings

Question 29

matrix

Answer 29

element within the landscape that is the most spatially continuous

Question 30

measuring landscape structure

Answer 30

of forest patches
avg. patch size
% cover of forest
Avg patch shape

Question 31

patch quality: shape

Answer 31

S≅1 ➔Circular
S>1 ➔Less circular
scale is important because the closer you zoom in, the greater the detail that can be measured

Question 32

edge effects: Amazon rainforest

Answer 32

• Environment along forest edges hotter and drier,
  with higher intensity of solar radiation.
• Tree mortality higher at edges and overstory decreases while understory vegetation increases.
  • Decreased diversity of many animal groups.

Question 33

habitat fragmentation

Answer 33

the division of previously intact habitat into several
isolated patches, typically due to human
development and resource extraction

Question 34

corridors

Answer 34

some sort of strip of habitat connecting similar
habitat types patches across a landscape - can help
mitigate the effects of habitat fragmentation
- not all corridors work - good corridors must be
developed in areas that the targeted organisms naturally use

Question 35

habitat corridors: fish ladder

Answer 35

a structure designed to allow fish the opportunity to migrate upstream over or through a barrier to fish movement