Lecture: Landscape Ecology

Transcription

1 Borderland: Border Landscapes Across Europe 2013 Lecture: Landscape Ecology Dr Iwona Markuszewska Department of Landscape Ecology

2 Presentation schedule: Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline The concept of landscape ecology Main research approaches in landscape ecology Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix Landscape fragmentation Landscape metrics Landscape-ecological planning

3 Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline Troll (1939,1950, 1968) landscape ecology landscape can be studied in terms of its: morphology, classification, changes in time (history), functional relationships between its components. landscape ecology geography ecology landscape protection and management relationships between: organisims and their habitats interactions between organisims

4 Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline landscape ecology geographical and ecological studies with landscape planning and management aspects Naveh, Z., Lieberman A. S., 1984: Landscape Ecology - Theory and Applications landscape designer, environmental protectionist, social geographer. the role of human impact on landscape structures and functions and also proposed ways for restoring degraded landscapes. Forman R.T.T., Godron M., 1986: Landscape Ecology importance of relationships among the various components of the landscape in maintaining resistance to external threats. the ecological aspects of landscape function landscape stability principle: landscape structural heterogeneity in developing resistance to disturbance, landscape structural heterogeneity in recovering from disturbance to stability.

5 Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline natural processes: physical, chemical, biological. landscape functions landscape strucure interactions human activities: economic, social, cultural, political. natural system conflicts human system changes in landscape structure modifications or resistance to threats of landscape function landscape a suitable ecological unit for management of environmental threats a functional unit that can reflect interactions of ecological and human aspects of processes

6 Landscape ecology as a scientific discipline In Europe: - practical aspects, which lead to creation of socio-economical-landscape systems being useful for dealing with real issues. In America: - energy and matter fluxes between landscape elements, In Australia: -reasonable way of using of extensively used areas. Concept of differentiation of natural spatial units (land units and land systems).

7 Understanding the concept of landscape ecology landscape: - complex system, - permanently dynamic, where different natural and cultural factors: - influence each other, - change over time, - determining and being determined by the global structure. (Forman and Godron, 1986; Naveh and Lieberman, 1994; Zonneveld, 1990). Landscape has also a subjective component, more connected with the observer and his impression (Nassauer 1997; Palang and Fry 2003), and the holistic understanding of the landscape includes thus also the perceptive aspect (Antrop 1999). In landscape ecology research there are three landscape characteristics (Forman & Godron, 1986): structure spatial pattern of landscape units (spread of plants and animals; arrangement of landscape elements), functioning interactions between landscape units (matter and energy fluxes, organisms migration), changeability transformation of landscape structure and functioning over time.

8 Understanding the concept of landscape ecology landscape structure Land cover is the physical material at the earth surface. Land covers include grass, trees, ground, water, etc. geographical approach in landscape studies analyses of land-use and land-cover changes Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves management and modification of natural environment into fields, pastures, settlements, etc. landscape pattern can be described by: size, shape, arrangement and distribution of individual landscape elements. heterogeneity and homogenity of landscape parameter of landscape structure heterogeneity homogeneity

9 Understanding the concept of landscape ecology biodiversity biodiversity -variability among living organisms, - diversity within species, - between species and of ecosystems genetic diversity habitats diversity species diversity composition structure functioning individuality and variety of elements, such as land use units or species within a given area arrangement, construction of units, distribution of elements and their relationship to other comprises all processes, such as demographic trends, cycles of material or disturbances

10 Understanding the concept of landscape ecology geodiversity ecodiversity biodiversity ecodiversity geodiversity variety of natural conditions: - relief, - soil, - water, - local climate. - variety of earth materials, - landforms and processes that constitute and shape the Earth.

11 Main research approaches in landscape ecology main issues landscape pattern/structure, relationships between landscape structure and processes, relationship between human activity and landscape structure (landscape changes), disturbance of landscape balance, implementation of scientific bases into landscape planning and management. main research approaches ecological modelling, ecological comprehensive analysis of landscape, landscape synthesis.

12 Main research approaches in landscape ecology physiognomic approach perception of harmony and beauty of landscape geographical approach: regional-typologically approach regionalization, typology and analysis of landscape structure geographical approach: functional approach functioning role of landscape dynamism human geography natural conditions of human activity, environment transformation geochemical approach matter and energy fluxes geo-botanic approach landscape synanthropisation, succession and renaturalization, migration and barriers, ecotones, biological diversity animal ecology land fragmentation, corridors and patches, connectivity between landscape elements, metapopulation dynamism, synanthropisation, landscape biodiversity protection landscape architecture historical and aesthetic features

13 Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix Patch (mosaic) - relatively homogeneous area, which is differ from its surroundings. Patches have a definited shape and spatial configuration. The larger the patch, the larger interior habitat for living flora and fauna species. Minimum patch area requirements for species depends on: species, quality of habitat, and landscape context. Corridor linear element, a network of linear elements, which usually connect patches. Connectivity is the measure of corridor network functioning. Corridors have important functions as strips of a particular type of landscape differing from adjacent land on both sides. The potential value of corridors to link isolated patches depends on the type and condition of the matrix.

14 Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix Matrix - the background of landscape. Matrix is often developed lands (e.g., urban, agriculture) while patches are remnants, which have a different plant and animal community than the surrounding area Stepping stones small patches allowing for species movement between large patches. They are important in fragmented landscapes. Buffer zones - designated areas used to protect sensitive landscape patches (e.g., wetlands, wildlife reserves) from negative external pressures. Corridors are used to connect the buffered landscape patches.

15 Landscape model: path-corridor-matrix ecological corridors: - theoretical scientific idea, useful for modelling of land fragmentation influence on population survival and influence of patches composition and configuration on landscape functioning, - practical approach, biodiversity protection, landscape management and spatial planning, - landscape connectivity, migration of plants and animals.

16 Landscape fragmentation

17 Landscape fragmentation Landscape change processes: - perforation, - dissection, - dissipation, - shrinkage, - attrition. Landscape change processes: - filing the holes - opposition to perforation, - merging opposition to dissection and dissipation, - growth opposition to shrinkage.

18 Landscape metrics Land Mosaics: the ecology of landscapes and regions (Forman M., 1995): the land as seen from an airplane window or on an aerial photograph is the subjects of this volume. aerial photograph satellite image - composition and configuration of landscape, - productivity, - diversity, - connectivity, - hazards, - ecosystem services.

19 Landscape metrics European Union (EEA, 2000): landscape indicators for analysing: - fragmentation, - diversity or heterogeneity, - spatial arrangement, - organisation of landscape. Patch Density (PD), Edge Density (ED), Perimeter/Area Ratio (PAR), Number of Classes (NC), Shannon s Diversity Index (SHDI), Land Cover Diversity Index (LCDI). whole landscape: - arrangement of landscape elements, - diversity of landscape; single landscape elements: - size, - shape, - number;

20 Landscape-ecological planning Sustainable planning, optimize the distribution and allocation of land in a given, limited space. Landscape planning, focuses on spatial planning, organization and relationships of land uses to achieve explicit goals (e.g. habitat improvement, sustainability). Landscape-ecological planning, focuses on the linkage of ecological patterns and processes, also includes values of humans, social and economic dimensions (Hersperger 1994). Landscape-ecological planning, adopts landscape as a principle spatial unit of research and planning recommendations. Promoting sustainability has become an overarching principle of land-use planning (Forman 1995).

21 Landscape-ecological planning Framework Method for Landscape Planning (Steinitz 1995)