1. Space Is the Final Frontier in Ecology
History of ecology = largely nonspatial
e.g., *competitors mixed perfectly with prey
*homogeneous ecosystems with uniform distributions of resources
Simple population models

2. Space Is the Final Frontier in Ecology
History of ecology = largely nonspatial
e.g., *competitors mixed perfectly with prey
*homogeneous ecosystems with uniform distributions of resources
But ecology = fundamentally spatial
ecology = interaction of organisms with their [spatial] environment

4. Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis)
~100 left
Isolated from hoary and
Olympic marmots

5. Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis)
Natural tree succession

6. Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis)
Logging – disjunct patches
max. dispersal = 7 km
- Forestry disturbance
Climate
Prey-Predator Dynamics

7. History of Landscape Ecology
“European School”
roots back to those of ecology
typing, classifying, naming
landscape architecture, planning, designing
“American School”
young = early 1980’s
focus on natural systems
theory & models, some field experiments

8. Landscape Ecology as a Science?
Meta-analysis of papers in Landscape Ecology (Wiens 1992) – 1st 5 yrs of journal
Most studies are large scale (landscapes are big)
Most studies are descriptive or conceptual
Experiments difficult to conduct, thus modeling
Emphasis on vegetation pattern / land use pattern
Humans = impt. part of systems

9. Landscape Ecology as a Science?
Hobbs (1997) – 2nd 5 years of Landscape Ecology
Less descriptive studies
More “methods” and modeling studies, no expts.
More quantitative / statistical analysis (spatial stats)

10. Emergence of Landscape Ecology?
Equilibrium View
Constant species composition
Disturbance & succession = subordinate factors
Ecosystems self-contained
Internal dynamics shape trajectory
No need to look outside boundaries to understand ecosystem dynamics
Structure
Function ? ? ?

11. Emergence of Landscape Ecology
Structure
Function
Dynamic View
Disturbance & ecosystem response = key factors
Disturbance counter equilibrium
Ecosystems NOT self-contained
Multiple scales of processes, outside & inside
Essential to examine spatial & temporal context

12. Emergence of Landscape Ecology
Broad-scale
Environmental Issues
Landscape
Ecology
Concepts of Scale/Hiearchy
Dynamic View
Advances in
Technology

13. What is Landscape Ecology?

14. Landscape ecology focuses on spatial heterogeneity and pattern.
1) detecting pattern
2) define origin of pattern
3) predicting change
4) relating pattern to processes & mgt

15. 1 m2
Often, spatial extents much larger than in traditional ecology…
But, emphasize spatial pattern at relevant scale
1 km2
10’s km2

16. Often, focus on role of humans in creating and influencing patterns…
But, humans only one (albeit dominant) agent

17. Importance of Landscape Ecology to Conservation & Management
Ecosystem context
matters
Ecosystem function depends
on interplay of pattern & process
Policy & legal
mandate to adopt
landscape perspective

18. Importance of Landscape Ecology to Conservation & Management
Ecosystem context matters
Metapopulations

19. Importance of Landscape Ecology to Conservation & Management
Ecosystem function depends on interplay of pattern & process
Habitat fragmentation & Modified Disturbance Regimes

20. Importance of Landscape Ecology to Conservation & Management
Policy & legal mandate to adopt landscape perspective