Chapter 7: Landscape Ecology Flashcards
This discipline addresses the relation of spatial variation to ecological processes
Landscape ecology
What are four focuses of landscape ecology?
Spatial landscape structure; Relationship between patterns and processes; Landscape formation processes; Effect of human activity on landscapes
These are spatially heterogeneous land areas
Landscapes
Of what are landscapes comprised?
Mosaic of interacting ecosystems
Landscapes vary in this
Spatial structure
What are the two basic components of landscapes?
Composition and configuration
This landscape component describes the types of landscape elements
Composition
This landscape component describes the size, shape, and arrangement of elements
Configuration
What are the two types of landscape elements?
Patches and mosaics
This is a homogeneous area that differs from its surroundings
Patch
What are four ways that patches can be quantified?
Number, size, shape, configuration
This is a spatial mix of patches
Mosaic
This landscape metric is the contribution of an element to the total area
Total patch cover
This landscape metric is the middle size of landscape elements
Median patch size
This landscape metric is the number of patches per area
Patch density
What shape is a patch if S=1?
Circular
What shape is a patch if S > 1?
Elongated
What is the equation for patch shape?
S = P / 2√𝜋A
These are the borders between adjacent ecosystems/patches
Boundaries
This is the ecosystem near the perimeter of a patch
Edge
This is the interior of a patch
Core
This is a transitional area between ecosystems
Ecotone
What are the two types of edge?
Inherent and induced
From what does inherent edge arise?
Differences in soils and landforms
From what does induced edge arise?
Disturbance
Which type of edge is relatively stable?
Inherent edge
Which type of edge is relatively transient?
Induced edge
What does edge contrast describe?
Transition between elements
Do small or large patches have more edge than core?
Small
Do irregular or square patches have more edge?
Irregular
These are effects of adjacent patches on habitat
Edge effects
What four forest conditions increase at edge?
Light, temperature, wind, noise
What two forest conditions decrease at edge?
Moisture and humidity
Are edge habitats less complex?
No
Do edge habitats support higher species richness?
Yes
This is a measure of landscape continuity
Connectivity
These are elements that link similar habitats
Corridors
This is the dominant element in a landscape
Matrix