Landscape Ecology And Conservation Flashcards
What is landscape ecology?
The study of the causes and consequences of landscape-level ecological patterns, focusing on spatial patterns and their effects on organism
What is a landscape?
A heterogenous area consisting of distinct patches organized into a mosaic-like pattern
Define mosaic in the context of landscape ecology
A patchwork of different land cover types (forests, meadows, lakes) within a landscape
What are the two aspects of spatial scale
- Grain: the spatial resolution of the study or date (1m^2)
- Extent: the total size of the study area
What is landscape structure?
The physical configuration of landscape elements, including patch size, shape, dispersion, and connectivity
What are two types of patch edges?
- Inherent edges: stable and permanent boundaries
- Induced edges: result from successional changes
What is the edge effect?
Negative effects of habitat edges on interior conditions, such as increased predation or habitat fragmentation
Why is habitat fragmentation a concern for biodiversity?
It reduces habitat size, genetic variation, and population sizes while increasing edge areas and their associated challenge
What is the SLOSS debate?
A discussion on whether a Single Large reserve or Several Small reserves are better for biodiversity conservation
What are habitat corridors and why are they important?
Corridors are strips of habitat and connect isolated patches, facilitating gene flow, species movement, and reestablishing populations
Name two potential drawbacks of habitat corridors
- They can serve as pathways for predators or invasive species
- If too narrow, they may inhibit he movement of social groups
What is meta population?
A group of interacting subpopulations connected by individual movement between them
What is the goal of Yellowstone in Yukon (Y2Y) initiative?
To manage the region so that its ecosystems and inhabitants remain healthy and connected, without converting the entire area in a protected park
What is the focus species for the Y2Y strategy?
The grizzly bear, with secondary focus on bird and fish species
What factors influence the formation of landscape patches?
Geology, topography, soil, climate, and human activity
