Landscape Ecology: Linking Landscape Metrics to Ecological Processes

Snow Leopards ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 395-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh S. Robinson ◽  
Byron Weckworth
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Ecological Processes

scholarly journals An Assessment of Leporid Research and Landscape Ecology Metrics in a European Landscape

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey Gilcrease
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
European Hare ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
And Function

Abstract Leporids play a dynamic role in the ecosystem and assessments must be undertaken in order to improve research efforts and methods. Landscape ecology metrics are used to quantify components of leporid habitat such as vegetation structure, vegetation cover, habitat type, and fragmentation; however, the degree to which the metrics are utilized in leporid research is relatively unknown. This paper assessed fifty-three published, peer reviewed papers on leporids from various European countries on where the study was done, the species of leporid that was studied, the content of the study (i.e. what the paper focused on), the length of the study, the size of the study area, and the method of study. The quantified landscape metrics within these papers were assessed. This study found that most of the studies occurred in Spain, the European rabbit and European hare were the most studied leporids, many papers were concerned with habitat relationships, many of the studies were conducted in a year or less, many papers utilized pellet surveys and trapping, and the most common landscape metric utilized was habitat type. This survey of research on leporids highlights that there is a lack of utilizing landscape structure and function metrics such as slope, fragmentation, and edge effect. These are important variables to help connect structure and function of ecological processes in the context of leporid habitat and landscapes. It is recommended that leporid researchers and landscape planners exchange research findings so that the best planning practices can occur on the ground for the leporids

scholarly journals The third and fourth dimensions of landscape: Towards conceptual models of topographically complex landscapes

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucian Drăguţ ◽  
Ulrich Walz ◽  
Thomas Blaschke
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Matrix Model ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Landscape Patterns ◽  
Fourth Dimension ◽  
Discrete Elements ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
The Third ◽  
Third Dimension

Relating spatial patterns to ecological processes is one of the central goals of landscape ecology. The patch-corridor-matrix model and landscape metrics have been the predominant approach to describe the spatial arrangement of discrete elements ("patches") for the last two decades. However, the widely used approach of using landscape metrics for characterizing categorical map patterns is connected with a number of problems. We aim at stimulating further developments in the field of the analysis of spatio-temporal landscape patterns by providing both a critical review of existing techniques and clarifying their pros and cons as well as demonstrating how to extent common approaches in landscape ecology (e.g. the patch-corridor-matrix model). The extension into the third dimension means adding information on the relief and height of vegetation, while the fourth dimension means the temporal, dynamic aspect of landscapes. The contribution is structured around three main topics: the third dimension of landscapes, the fourth dimension of landscapes, and spatial and temporal scales in landscape analysis. Based on the results of a symposium on this theme at the IALE conference in 2009 in Salzburg and a literature review we emphasize the need to add topographic information into evaluations of landscape structure, the appropriate consideration of scales; and to consider the ambiguity and even contradiction between landscape metrics.

Future options in landscape ecology: development and research

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuzhen Li ◽  
Ülo Mander
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Landscape Development ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field

The aim of this brief overview is to highlight some new and promising research fields in landscape ecology, which is essentially an interdisciplinary field of study. We also analyse the development of some classical branches of landscape ecology regarding pattern and process relationships at broad spatial and temporal scales, such as landscape metrics, the influence of anthropogenic factors and global climate change on landscape development, the fragmentation of ecosystems and disturbances of populations, and material and energy cycling in and between ecosystems.

Landscape Heterogeneity and Dynamics

2019 ◽  
pp. 42-126
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. With
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Anthropogenic Disturbances ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Disturbance Dynamics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Over Time

Heterogeneity is a defining characteristic of landscapes and therefore central to the study of landscape ecology. Landscape ecology investigates what factors give rise to heterogeneity, how that heterogeneity is maintained or altered by natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and how heterogeneity ultimately influences ecological processes and flows across the landscape. Because heterogeneity is expressed across a wide range of spatial scales, the landscape perspective can be applied to address these sorts of questions at any level of ecological organization, and in aquatic and marine systems as well as terrestrial ones. Disturbances—both natural and anthropogenic—are a ubiquitous feature of any landscape, contributing to its structure and dynamics. Although the focus in landscape ecology is typically on spatial heterogeneity, disturbance dynamics produce changes in landscape structure over time as well as in space. Heterogeneity and disturbance dynamics are thus inextricably linked and are therefore covered together in this chapter.

Fractal Dimension and Patchiness in Hinabian-Lawigan Watershed Southern Leyte, Philippines

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay-Ar O. Ragub ◽  
Ricardo T. Bagarinao
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Geographic Information System ◽  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Barren Land ◽  
Critically Endangered Species

Landscape metrics for analyzing landscape structures is fast developing topics in landscape ecology. This study examines fractal dimension and patchiness of the Hinabian-Lawigan watershed (Southern Leyte, Philippines), which is a habitat to different critically endangered species in the province. Three indices were used (i.e. total patch number, TPN; mean patch size, MPS; and mean patch fractal dimension, MPFD). The analysis was facilitated through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) and patch analyst extension of ArcGIS. Land use-land cover classification system was used to identify the different patches. Results indicate that the watershed consists of patches of annual cropland, barren land, built-up areas, closed forests, pastureland, and shrubland. Closed forest patches have the largest total area (3,727.98 has) but have the highest TPN (i.e.1,700) and MPS (2.19 has). Their computed MPFD is greater than 1, which means that they are highly fragmented, and needed to be connected. Built-up areas are not prevalent in the watershed but may become a future concern if unmanaged. Of greatest concern is the presence of agricultural production areas (TPN value of 828 and MPFD of 1.52). Encroachment of agricultural production activities to forest areas may lead to further forest fragmentation. Its regular disturbance should be managed.   Keywords - landscape ecology, patch, fractal dimension, fragmentation, landscape,landscape metrics, Geographic Information System, Hinabian-Lawigan Watershed, Southern Leyte, Philippines

scholarly journals Landscape epidemiology of plant diseases

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (16) ◽  
pp. 963-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Plantegenest ◽  
Christophe Le May ◽  
Frédéric Fabre
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Landscape Composition ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Landscape Epidemiology ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Pathogen Dynamics ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Inoculum Pressure

Many agricultural landscapes are characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity and fragmentation. Landscape ecology focuses on the influence of habitat heterogeneity in space and time on ecological processes. Landscape epidemiology aims at applying concepts and approaches originating from landscape ecology to the study of pathogen dynamics at the landscape scale. However, despite the strong influence that the landscape properties may have on the spread of plant diseases, landscape epidemiology has still received little attention from plant pathologists. Some recent methodological and technological progress provides new and powerful tools to describe and analyse the spatial patterns of host–pathogen interactions. Here, we review some important topics in plant pathology that may benefit from a landscape perspective. These include the influence of: landscape composition on the global inoculum pressure; landscape heterogeneity on pathogen dynamics; landscape structure on pathogen dispersal; and landscape properties on the emergence of pathogens and on their evolution.

scholarly journals Remote sensing and the future of landscape ecology

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 528-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian C. Newton ◽  
Ross A. Hill ◽  
Cristian Echeverría ◽  
Duncan Golicher ◽  
José M. Rey Benayas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Scientific Discipline ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
Landsat Satellite ◽  
The Uk

Landscape ecology focuses on the analysis of spatial pattern and its relationship to ecological processes. As a scientific discipline, landscape ecology has grown rapidly in recent years, supported by developments in GIS and spatial analysis techniques. Although remote sensing data are widely employed in landscape ecology research, their current and potential roles have not been evaluated critically. To provide an overview of current practice, 438 research papers published in the journal Landscape Ecology for the years 2004—2008 were examined for information about use of remote sensing. Results indicated that only 36% of studies explicitly mentioned remote sensing. Of those that did so, aerial photographs and Landsat satellite sensor images were most commonly used, accounting for 46% and 42% of studies, respectively. The predominant application of remote sensing data across these studies was for thematic mapping purposes. This suggests that landscape ecologists have been relatively slow to recognize the potential value of recent developments in remote sensing technologies and methods. The review also provided evidence of a frequent lack of key detail in studies recently published in Landscape Ecology , with 75% failing to provide any assessment of uncertainty or error relating to image classification and mapping. It is suggested that the role of remote sensing in landscape ecology might be strengthened by closer collaboration between researchers in the two disciplines, by greater integration of diverse remote sensing data with ecological data, and by increased recognition of the value of remote sensing beyond land-cover mapping and pattern description. This is illustrated by case studies drawn from Latin America (focusing on forest loss and fragmentation) and the UK (focusing on habitat quality for woodland birds). Such approaches might improve the analytical and theoretical rigour of landscape ecology, and be applied usefully to issues of outstanding societal interest, such as the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

scholarly journals ECOLOGIA DE PAISAGENS APLICADA AO ORDENAMENTO TERRITORIAL E GESTÃO FLORESTAL: PROCEDIMENTO METODOLÓGICOS

Nativa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 613
Author(s):  
Luciano Cavalcante De Jesus França ◽  
Daniela Torres Morandi ◽  
Eduarda Soares Menezes ◽  
Danielle Piuzana Mucida ◽  
Marcelo Dutra da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Environmental Planning ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Planning And Management ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Environmental Planning And Management

No sentido de contribuir com o avanço das investigações científicas sobre Ecologia de Paisagens no contexto do ordenamento territorial e gestão florestal de recursos naturais, este estudo teve como objetivo reunir e discutir os principais conceitos e temáticas sobre a Ecologia de Paisagens, a abordar o uso da geotecnologia para análises estruturais e métricas da paisagem. A partir de revisão bibliográfica nacional e internacional, relativamente dos mais clássicos aos mais recentes estudos sobre o assunto. As bases dos periódicos científicos utilizados foram: Web of Science, Scielo (Nacional), Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar e Brazilian Digital Library of Theses. Foram destacados os conceitos fundamentais e aplicações nas áreas das ciências ambientais e florestais, no sentido de valorar estratégias e tomadas de decisões no planejamento e gestão ambiental rural. Neste trabalho, também foi apresentado o procedimento metodológico para cálculo das métricas da paisagem, por meio da extensão Patch Analyst, aplicada ao Software ArcGIS. Foram compiladas informações de 50 artigos científicos publicados no Brasil e exterior, onde constatou-se relevância significativa e viabilidade do uso dos índices e métricas da Ecologia de Paisagens para fins geográficos e ecológicos, embora, constatou-se que existem lacunas a serem preenchidas sobre o tema no Brasil, em relação às produções científicas, ainda escassas, sobretudo com análises mais concretas e direcionadas. O estudo permitiu a ampliação do conhecimento teórico sobre o tema no país e, espera-se que seja parte integrante e subsidiária para outros estudos sobre restauração ambiental, conexão de paisagens, mosaicos florestais e ordenamento territorial.Palavras-chave: fragmentação florestal; métricas de paisagens; planejamento e gestão ambiental rural; patch analyst; sistema de informações geográficas. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY APPLIED TO TERRITORIAL ORDER AND FOREST MANAGEMENT: METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES ABSTRACT: In order to contribute to the advancement of scientific research on Landscape Ecology in the context of spatial planning and forest management of natural resources, this study aimed to gather and discuss the main concepts and themes on Landscape Ecology, to address the use of geotechnology for structural analysis and landscape metrics. Based on national and international bibliographic review, relatively from the most classic to the most recent studies on the subject. The bases of the scientific journals used were: Web of Science, Scielo (National), Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar and Brazilian Digital Library of Theses. Key concepts and applications in the areas of environmental and forest sciences were highlighted in order to evaluate strategies and decision making in rural environmental planning and management. In this work, we also presented the methodological procedure for calculating the landscape metrics, through the Patch Analyst extension, applied to the ArcGIS Software. We compiled information from 50 scientific articles published in Brazil and abroad, where significant relevance and feasibility of the use of indexes and metrics of Ecology of Landscapes for geographic and ecological purposes was verified, although, it was verified that there are gaps to be filled on the theme in Brazil, in relation to the scientific productions, still scarce, especially with more concrete and directed analyzes. The study allowed the expansion of theoretical knowledge about the subject in the country and is expected to be an integral and subsidiary to other studies on environmental restoration, connection of landscapes, forest mosaics and land use planning.Keywords: forest fragmentation; landscape metrics; rural environmental planning and management; patch analyst; geographic information system.

scholarly journals Landscape Management through Change Processes Monitoring in Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1753
Author(s):  
Mohsen Zabihi ◽  
Hamidreza Moradi ◽  
Mehdi Gholamalifard ◽  
Abdulvahed Khaledi Darvishan ◽  
Christine Fürst
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Shape Index ◽  
Edge Density ◽  
Change Processes ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Change Analysis ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Northern Iran

The presented research investigated and predicted landscape change processes (LCPs) in the Talar watershed, northern Iran. The Land Change Modeler was used for change analysis, transition potential modeling, and prediction of land use/land cover (LULC) map. The evaluation of projected LULC map was performed by comparing the real and predicted LULC maps for the reference year, 2014. Landscape metrics and change processes were investigated for the period 1989–2014 and for exploring the situation in 2030. Results illustrated that the increase in agricultural land and residential areas took place at the expense of forest and rangeland. The distance from forests was the most sensitive parameter for modeling the transition potentials. The modelling of the LULC change projected the number of patches, the landscape shape index, interspersion and juxtaposition index, and edge density, Euclidean nearest-neighbor distance, and area-weighted shape index will amount to 65.3, 7.63, 20.1, 8.77, −1.35, and 0.61% as compared to 2014, respectively. Our findings indicated that the type of change processes that occurred was not entirely the same in 1989–2000 and 2000–2014. In addition, change processes in the creation of dry farming, orchard, and residential classes, attrition of forest and rangeland categories, and dissection in irrigated farming are projected. The dynamics of landscape metrics and change processes combined in one analytical framework can facilitate understanding and detection of the relationship between ecological processes and landscape pattern. The finding of current research will provide a roadmap for improved LULC management and planning in the Talar watershed, southern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Landscape ecology and biogeography

1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Kupfer
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Ecology ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Reserve Design ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Ecological Principles ◽  
Ecological Theories ◽  
Landscape Ecological ◽  
Nature Reserve Design ◽  
Boundary Dynamics ◽  
Do So

The growing recognition that spatial scale and heterogeneity affect ecological processes has focused heightened attention over the last decade on principles from the field of landscape ecology. Landscape ecologists, drawing on principles from a diverse array of disciplines and fields, including physical and human geography, focus explicitly on the interrelation between landscape structure (i.e., pattern) and landscape function (i.e., processes). In this article, I discuss the application of landscape ecological principles to a specific and pressing issue: nature reserve design and functioning. To do so, I outline and review five landscape ecological themes with relevance to reserve design and management: reserve distribution, reserve shape, landscape corridor design and functioning, boundary dynamics, and reserve functioning. I particularly stress: 1) the role that landscape ecological theories may have in integrating existing principles from applied biogeography and population biology, and 2) the unique insights provided by a landscape ecological approach. Finally, I argue that biogeographers, because of our distinct skills, need to be more active in the development and advancement of landscape ecological theory.

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