Week 11: Landscape Ecology Flashcards
what is landscape ecology?
study of landscapes
geographer: study composition, structure and function of landscape
ecologist: study of how landscape affects abundance and distribution of organisms
how does landscape ecology differ from traditional ecology
- larger scale
- focus heterogeneity
- human role in shaping landscape patterns and process
what are 4 origins/ causes of vegetation patches?
- remnants
- introduced
- disturbance
- environmental resources
what are remnant patches?
-areas remaining from an earlier more extensive area such as woodlots in agricultural areas
what are introduced patches?
-new suburban development in an agricultural area
what are disturbance patches?
- burned area in a forest, spot devastated by a windstorm
what are environmental resource patches?
ex wetlands in city or oasis in desert
what are 3 ways patches are differentiated in terms of?
- size ( national forest or single tree)
- number (numerous or scarce)
- location (beneficial or deleterious to the optimal functioning of landscape)
how many key principles of patches are there?
15
what is p4 extinction?
-probability of a species becoming locally extinct is greater if a patch is small or low quality habitat
what is p5 habitat diversity?
large patch likely to have more habitats present, contain greater # species vs small patch
what is p6 barrier disturbance?
dividing a large patch into 2 smaller ones to create a barrier to spread of disturbance
what is p13 extinction?
probability of species going locally extinct greater in isolated patch
what is p14 recolonization?
patch located in close proximity to other patches of ‘mainland’ will have higher chance of being re-colonized within time interval vs isolated patch
what is p15 patch selection for conservation
- selection for conservation patch should be selected based on 1. contribution to overall system
2. distinctive characteristics
what are principles of corridors? what do they act as?
- 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
how many principles of corridors are there?
13
what is c4 stepping stone connectivity
-increase connectivity b/ween corridors
what is c5 distance between stepping stones?
-highly visually- orientated species, the effective distance for movement between stepping stones is determined by the ability to see each successive stepping stone
what is c6 loss of a stepping stone corridor principle?
loss of one small patch, functions as stepping stone between other patches inhibits movement= patch isolation
what is c7 cluster of stepping stones corridor principle?
optimal arrangement of a cluster of stepping stones b/ween large and small patches provides alt routes, maintain linear fashion b/ween large patches
what is c8 roads and other ‘trough’ corridors principle?
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
in landscape ecology, what is the pattern of the landscape referred to as?
mosaic
what is the key principle landscape ecology studies?
- diversity and pattern in the landscape
what is the #1 cause of decline in animal pop’ns
isolation –> extinction
what is a key tool for landscape ecology? what are other 2?
Geographic information systems ; ELC, aerial imagery and remote sensing
t or f- ian mcharg founded ESRI
false- jack dangermond
what is used for a fundamental component of all env’tal assessments in ON under Provincial Policy Statement for landscape planning?
Ecological Land Classifications (ELC)
what 3 ecozones are found in ON?
- hudson bay lowlands
- Ontario Shield
- Mixedwood Plains
what are 3 ways ELC are used?
- ecoregion used for setting conservation targets
- Ecodistrict used to select approp. seed mixes in ecosystem restoration
- ecosites are base unit in evaluation of sign wildlife habitat
what are 3 methods for describing landscape?
- patches ; size
- connectivity; how move within patch to other patches
- barriers; limit movement b/ween patches
t or f; the purpose of landscape ecological planning is to protect nature at the site and scale
false; protect at the landscape “ live within natural landscape not outside or beside it”
what are the most sensitive, biodiverse and heavily relied on areas referred to as?
core areas; highest level protection
what area protects core areas and permit compatible human uses?
buffer zones ; often public interaction
what area serves as linear connections b/ween core areas to facilitate local movements, dispersal and migration
corridors
