LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
SREM 3011
LECTURE 1
Dr Brendan Mackey
Department of Geography
The Australian National University
What is Landscape Ecology?
What is Ecology?
What is a Landscape?
Ecology = interactions between (I) living organisms
and (ii) environment
= structures and processes
Landscape = Bigger than ‘plot’ = 1m x 1m 40m x 40m
= Heterogeneous
= Scale
= Spatial characteristics
Ecology
study of living organisms in its relation
with the environment (Haeckel 1866)
Synecology
study of a complete living community in
its relationships with the environment
(Schroter 1800s)
Biocenose
internal relations of a living community
(Mobius 1877)
a major focus of study in ‘biology and
zoology’ departments
Landschaft
a community of a higher order
consisting of communities of organisms,
including plants,animals (and people),
together with the complex of inorganic
phenomena,eg,the form of the relief,
the water,and the climatic factors (Berg
1913)
Ecosystem
whole complex of organisms and factors
of environment in an ecological unit of
any rank (Tansley 1939)
the ecosystem consists of both organic
and inorganic components,which may
be conveniently grouped under the
heads of climate,physiography,and
soil,plants and animals.
Ecosystem (cont’d)
emphasis placed on ‘vertical’ rather
than ‘horizontal’ relations
little value/emphasis given to
geographic realisation of the ecosystem
Odum in 1970’s used concept to study
flow of energy; a ‘systems’ analytical
methodology (energy units)
Ecosystem (cont’d)
Verdansky (Russia,1940’s) introduced
concept of global biobeochemical cycles
(water,carbon,nitrogen,etc.)
related to concept of ecosystem as it
looks at the flows of matter through
biotic and abiotic compartments
Landschaft(scape) ecology
the study of the main complex causal
relationships between the life
communities and their environment in a
given section of the landscaft(scape)
(Troll 1939)
emphasis placed on the geographic
location and spatial distributions of
ecological elements and relations
Biogeocenosis
a combination on a specific area of the
Earth’s surface of atmosphere,mineral
strata,soil,vegetation,animal and
microbial life,water - possessing its own
specific type of interactions of these
components and interchange of their
matter and energy among themselves
and other natural phenomena………….
Biogeocenosis (cont’d)
….being in constant movement and
development (Sukachev 1964)
combines ecosystem and landscape
ecology concepts,ie,both spatial
pattern and process
unfortunately,the term is not widely
used!
NB,Verdansky 1940s,Biogeochemical
cycles (global scale)
Landscape Ecology post 1980s
in North America,the origins of the term
were largely forgotten
emphasis on disturbance ecology,ie,
the ecology of landscapes fragmented
by human perturbation
emphasis on spatial configuration (ie,
pattern forcing process)
SREM3011
weeks 1-6 emphasises ‘European’
meaning of landscape ecology (with a
focus on plants)
weeks 7-11 emphasises ‘North
American’ meaning of landscape
ecology (with a focus on animals)
Landscape Ecology:
1,Interactions between plants,animals,micro-
organisms and physical environment
2,Examines ecological processes and structures
at plot,landscape,region,global scales
3,Spatial configuration taken into account
4,Factors in biophysical heterogeneity and
disturbance
5,Provides tools and concepts for studying
disturbance ecology
Landscape Ecology Questions:
- What ecological phenomena occur where in the landscape
and why? (biogeography)
- What will happen to this patch of vegetation given global
warming? Change in land use?
- Will this population of animals persist if this forest stand
is logged?
Need prediction as well as description
- Parametric paradigm
- Process understanding
- Computer-based models
Major Themes:
Physical environmental determinants
Modelling theory
Climate modelling
Bioclimate analysis of biotic distributions
Community organization
Historical biogeography
Disturbance and landscape pattern
Scale and hierarchy theory
Wildlife habitat modelling
Environmental classification
Outcomes:
1,Primary Environmental Regimes
- what is their role?
2,Theory under-pinning computer modelling
- the parametric paradigm
3,Hands-on experience with selected tools
4,Role of scale in ecology
5,Relevance to land use eg,comprehensive
regional assessment
Outcomes:
1,Understanding of ‘Primary Environmental Regimes’
(the drivers of biotic response)
2,Theory under-pinning use of computer-based
modelling
3,‘Hands-on’ computer experience
4,Understanding of the role of scale
5,The relation between field survey data and
computer analysis - the parametric paradigm
6,Relevance of landscape ecology to resource and
environmental management
SREM 3011
LECTURE 1
Dr Brendan Mackey
Department of Geography
The Australian National University
What is Landscape Ecology?
What is Ecology?
What is a Landscape?
Ecology = interactions between (I) living organisms
and (ii) environment
= structures and processes
Landscape = Bigger than ‘plot’ = 1m x 1m 40m x 40m
= Heterogeneous
= Scale
= Spatial characteristics
Ecology
study of living organisms in its relation
with the environment (Haeckel 1866)
Synecology
study of a complete living community in
its relationships with the environment
(Schroter 1800s)
Biocenose
internal relations of a living community
(Mobius 1877)
a major focus of study in ‘biology and
zoology’ departments
Landschaft
a community of a higher order
consisting of communities of organisms,
including plants,animals (and people),
together with the complex of inorganic
phenomena,eg,the form of the relief,
the water,and the climatic factors (Berg
1913)
Ecosystem
whole complex of organisms and factors
of environment in an ecological unit of
any rank (Tansley 1939)
the ecosystem consists of both organic
and inorganic components,which may
be conveniently grouped under the
heads of climate,physiography,and
soil,plants and animals.
Ecosystem (cont’d)
emphasis placed on ‘vertical’ rather
than ‘horizontal’ relations
little value/emphasis given to
geographic realisation of the ecosystem
Odum in 1970’s used concept to study
flow of energy; a ‘systems’ analytical
methodology (energy units)
Ecosystem (cont’d)
Verdansky (Russia,1940’s) introduced
concept of global biobeochemical cycles
(water,carbon,nitrogen,etc.)
related to concept of ecosystem as it
looks at the flows of matter through
biotic and abiotic compartments
Landschaft(scape) ecology
the study of the main complex causal
relationships between the life
communities and their environment in a
given section of the landscaft(scape)
(Troll 1939)
emphasis placed on the geographic
location and spatial distributions of
ecological elements and relations
Biogeocenosis
a combination on a specific area of the
Earth’s surface of atmosphere,mineral
strata,soil,vegetation,animal and
microbial life,water - possessing its own
specific type of interactions of these
components and interchange of their
matter and energy among themselves
and other natural phenomena………….
Biogeocenosis (cont’d)
….being in constant movement and
development (Sukachev 1964)
combines ecosystem and landscape
ecology concepts,ie,both spatial
pattern and process
unfortunately,the term is not widely
used!
NB,Verdansky 1940s,Biogeochemical
cycles (global scale)
Landscape Ecology post 1980s
in North America,the origins of the term
were largely forgotten
emphasis on disturbance ecology,ie,
the ecology of landscapes fragmented
by human perturbation
emphasis on spatial configuration (ie,
pattern forcing process)
SREM3011
weeks 1-6 emphasises ‘European’
meaning of landscape ecology (with a
focus on plants)
weeks 7-11 emphasises ‘North
American’ meaning of landscape
ecology (with a focus on animals)
Landscape Ecology:
1,Interactions between plants,animals,micro-
organisms and physical environment
2,Examines ecological processes and structures
at plot,landscape,region,global scales
3,Spatial configuration taken into account
4,Factors in biophysical heterogeneity and
disturbance
5,Provides tools and concepts for studying
disturbance ecology
Landscape Ecology Questions:
- What ecological phenomena occur where in the landscape
and why? (biogeography)
- What will happen to this patch of vegetation given global
warming? Change in land use?
- Will this population of animals persist if this forest stand
is logged?
Need prediction as well as description
- Parametric paradigm
- Process understanding
- Computer-based models
Major Themes:
Physical environmental determinants
Modelling theory
Climate modelling
Bioclimate analysis of biotic distributions
Community organization
Historical biogeography
Disturbance and landscape pattern
Scale and hierarchy theory
Wildlife habitat modelling
Environmental classification
Outcomes:
1,Primary Environmental Regimes
- what is their role?
2,Theory under-pinning computer modelling
- the parametric paradigm
3,Hands-on experience with selected tools
4,Role of scale in ecology
5,Relevance to land use eg,comprehensive
regional assessment
Outcomes:
1,Understanding of ‘Primary Environmental Regimes’
(the drivers of biotic response)
2,Theory under-pinning use of computer-based
modelling
3,‘Hands-on’ computer experience
4,Understanding of the role of scale
5,The relation between field survey data and
computer analysis - the parametric paradigm
6,Relevance of landscape ecology to resource and
environmental management
