1. Introduction – Landscape Ecology
Landscape Ecology: Study of landscape structure and processes.
Landscape: Heterogeneous area composed of several ecosystems.
Landscape Elements: Visually distinctive patches in an ecosystem.

2. Ecosystem simplification:
Human Land Use Practices
Ecosystem simplification:

3. Intensive Agriculture
&
Clean Farming
The matrix was nearly barren during the fallow season with veg cover absent from fields.

4. Timber Extraction
&
Fragmentation

5. Roads: Formation of Barriers in Landscapes

6. Terrestrial “Islands”
Formation of
Terrestrial “Islands”

7. Habitat Fragmentation
Process of breaking contiguous unit into smaller pieces; area & distance components
Leads to:
Community & Ecosystem processes altered

9. #patches
Patch size
Patch isolation
Edge

12. Habitat Fragmentation
area-sensitive species: species that require minimum patch size for daily life requirements
Edge effects: influence of factors from outside of a patch

13. Increased Edge Habitat

14. Increased Edge Habitat

15. Edge Effects Habitat surrounding a patch can:
change abiotic conditions; e.g., temp.
change biotic interactions, e.g., predation
Example of nest predation = edge effect of approximately 50 m into forest patch

16. Habitat Fragmentation
First-Order Effects: fragmentation leads to change in a species’ abundance and/or distribution

17. Habitat Fragmentation
Higher-Order Effects: fragmentation indirectly leads to change in a species abundance and/or distribution via altered species interactions

18. Habitat Fragmentation: Species-Specific Sensitivity?
Rare species = more vulnerable
Wide ranging species = large-area requirements
Species with reduced mobility = more vulnerable
Species with low fecundity (related to rarity?)
Species with short life cycle (or multi-stage life cycle?)

19. Habitat Fragmentation: Species-Specific Sensitivity?
Interior-dependent species
Species vulnerable to human exploitation or disturbance
Specialist species?

20. Implications of Changes in Scale
Insects sampled at 10-m intervals for 100 m

21. Implications of Changes in Scale
Insects sampled at 2000-m intervals for 20,000 m

22. Landscape Processes
Landscape structure influences processes such as the flow of energy, materials, and species between the ecosystem within a landscape.

23. Landscape Structure and Dispersal of Small Mammals

24. Habitat Patch Size and Isolation and Density of Butterfly Populations

25. Introduction – Geographical Ecology
MacArthur defined geographical ecology as search for patterns of plant and animal life that can be put on a map.
Above level of landscape ecology

26. Island Area and Species Richness
Species-Area Relationship

27. Island Biogeography
equilibrium model suggesting number of species occurring on an island represents a balance between immigration (in) and extinction (out)
Robert MacArthur & E.O. Wilson

29. Equilibrium Model of Island Biogeography
Proposed rates of extinction on islands would be determined mainly by island size.
LG near islands will support highest number.
SM far islands will support lowest number.
SM near and LG far will support intermediate number.