Ch.24- Landscape Ecology Flashcards
Landscape Heterogneity
2 major components
- landscape composition
- Landscape structure
Landscape
an area that is spatially heterogeneous either in its elements or how those elements are arranged
Landscape comosition
Kinds of habitats and how many
Landscape structure
Physical configuration of compositional elements
Landscape structure
The size, shape, composition, number, and position of landscape elements within a landscape
Often ecologist break landscapes into:
Patches and Matrix
Patches
Continuous area of one habitat type
-shape: shape will determine the amount of edge habitat and the edge effects
Matrix
the background mosaic (often unsuitable habitat between patches)
Ecotone
Transition zone from one ecosystem type to another
Landscapes are shaped by:
-geological processes, climate, nutrient and water availability, fire, organisms
Ecosystem engineers
organisms that change their physical environment enough to influence structure of landscape, ecosystems, or communities
Why is landscape ecology important?
Landscape patterns affect ecological processes by regulating movement between habitats
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation generally refers to human -caused changes to a landscape that reduce the amount of continuous habitat
Effects of habitat fragmentation
-decrease habitat area
~human activity removes some portion of habitat
-isolates populations
~if matrix is impermeable, metapopulation dynamics will break down and gene flow stops
-Alters conditions through increase in habitat edges
Habitat corridor
Linear patches that connect blocks of habitat
