Week 11: Landscape Ecology

Question 1

what is landscape ecology?

Answer 1

study of landscapes

geographer: study composition, structure and function of landscape
ecologist: study of how landscape affects abundance and distribution of organisms

Question 2

how does landscape ecology differ from traditional ecology

Answer 2

1. larger scale
2. focus heterogeneity
3. human role in shaping landscape patterns and process

Question 3

what are 4 origins/ causes of vegetation patches?

Answer 3

1. remnants
2. introduced
3. disturbance
4. environmental resources

Question 4

what are remnant patches?

Answer 4

-areas remaining from an earlier more extensive area such as woodlots in agricultural areas

Question 5

what are introduced patches?

Answer 5

-new suburban development in an agricultural area

Question 6

what are disturbance patches?

Answer 6

• burned area in a forest, spot devastated by a windstorm

Question 7

what are environmental resource patches?

Answer 7

ex wetlands in city or oasis in desert

Question 8

what are 3 ways patches are differentiated in terms of?

Answer 8

1. size ( national forest or single tree)
2. number (numerous or scarce)
3. location (beneficial or deleterious to the optimal functioning of landscape)

Question 9

how many key principles of patches are there?

Answer 9

15

Question 10

what is p4 extinction?

Answer 10

-probability of a species becoming locally extinct is greater if a patch is small or low quality habitat

Question 11

what is p5 habitat diversity?

Answer 11

large patch likely to have more habitats present, contain greater # species vs small patch

Question 12

what is p6 barrier disturbance?

Answer 12

dividing a large patch into 2 smaller ones to create a barrier to spread of disturbance

Question 13

what is p13 extinction?

Answer 13

probability of species going locally extinct greater in isolated patch

Question 14

what is p14 recolonization?

Answer 14

patch located in close proximity to other patches of ‘mainland’ will have higher chance of being re-colonized within time interval vs isolated patch

Question 15

what is p15 patch selection for conservation

Answer 15

• selection for conservation patch should be selected based on 1. contribution to overall system
  2. distinctive characteristics

Question 16

what are principles of corridors? what do they act as?

Answer 16

• loss and isolation of habitat is seemingly unstoppable process throughout modern world –> need to create linkages of these habitat patches
• barriers or filters to species movement

Question 17

how many principles of corridors are there?

Answer 17

13

Question 18

what is c4 stepping stone connectivity

Answer 18

-increase connectivity b/ween corridors

Question 19

what is c5 distance between stepping stones?

Answer 19

-highly visually- orientated species, the effective distance for movement between stepping stones is determined by the ability to see each successive stepping stone

Question 20

what is c6 loss of a stepping stone corridor principle?

Answer 20

loss of one small patch, functions as stepping stone between other patches inhibits movement= patch isolation

Question 21

what is c7 cluster of stepping stones corridor principle?

Answer 21

optimal arrangement of a cluster of stepping stones b/ween large and small patches provides alt routes, maintain linear fashion b/ween large patches

Question 22

what is c8 roads and other ‘trough’ corridors principle?

Answer 22

road, railroad, powerline and trail corridors tend to be connected, straight and subject to human disturbance - serve as barriers that subdivide pop’ns into metapop’ns

Question 23

in landscape ecology, what is the pattern of the landscape referred to as?

Answer 23

mosaic

Question 24

what is the key principle landscape ecology studies?

Answer 24

• diversity and pattern in the landscape

Question 25

what is the #1 cause of decline in animal pop’ns

Answer 25

isolation –> extinction

Question 26

what is a key tool for landscape ecology? what are other 2?

Answer 26

Geographic information systems ; ELC, aerial imagery and remote sensing

Question 27

t or f- ian mcharg founded ESRI

Answer 27

false- jack dangermond

Question 28

what is used for a fundamental component of all env’tal assessments in ON under Provincial Policy Statement for landscape planning?

Answer 28

Ecological Land Classifications (ELC)

Question 29

what 3 ecozones are found in ON?

Answer 29

1. hudson bay lowlands
2. Ontario Shield
3. Mixedwood Plains

Question 30

what are 3 ways ELC are used?

Answer 30

1. ecoregion used for setting conservation targets
2. Ecodistrict used to select approp. seed mixes in ecosystem restoration
3. ecosites are base unit in evaluation of sign wildlife habitat

Question 31

what are 3 methods for describing landscape?

Answer 31

1. patches ; size
2. connectivity; how move within patch to other patches
3. barriers; limit movement b/ween patches

Question 32

t or f; the purpose of landscape ecological planning is to protect nature at the site and scale

Answer 32

false; protect at the landscape “ live within natural landscape not outside or beside it”

Question 33

what are the most sensitive, biodiverse and heavily relied on areas referred to as?

Answer 33

core areas; highest level protection

Question 34

what area protects core areas and permit compatible human uses?

Answer 34

buffer zones ; often public interaction

Question 35

what area serves as linear connections b/ween core areas to facilitate local movements, dispersal and migration

Answer 35

corridors