Landscape Ecology Flashcards
What is a landscape?
A heterogeneous area consisting of different patches (landscape patterns) organized into a mosaic-like pattern
What 5 things are important for patches?
Size, shape, number, composition, and position
What is the matrix?
Patches that are not habitat
Who were the two guys that came up with the theory of island biogeography?
MacArthur and Wilson
What is an island?
A patch of habitat that is very isolated, surrounded by water or not
How do islands maintain the number of species on them?
An equilibrium between colonization and extinction
Between small and large islands, which one has more species?
Large
Between islands near the landmass and far away, which one has more species?
Near
What is the issue with this model?
It can only predict the number of species, not what species will be there
What is habitat fragmentation?
Larger habitats become smaller, discontinuous patches of habitat
What is an edge effect?
What happens at the edge of a patch of habitat
What increases the amount of edges?
Fragmentation
What is the effect of edges?
Reduces the total area of habitat, creates microclimates that alter vegetation, then animal movement, then seed dispersal, etc
What 5 things does the extent of the edge depend on?
Phenomena of interest, composition and structure of matrix, composition and structure of patch, orientation of edge, shape of edge
How do edge effects affect diversity?
Tends to lead to a loss of species
