What is Landscape Ecology?
Landscapes are spatially diverse geographic
areas made up of various ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, and lakes to
human-dominated environments including agricultural and urban settings. According to the International Association of
Landscape Ecology, landscape ecology is the study of spatial variation in
landscapes at a variety of scales. It includes the biophysical and societal
causes and consequences of landscape variation. Landscape ecology links natural science with related human disciplines
and includes the following themes:
1) The spatial pattern or structure of landscapes,
ranging from wilderness to cities.
2) The relationship between pattern and
process in landscapes.
3) The relationship of human activity to
landscape pattern, process, and change.
4) The effect of scale and disturbance on
the landscape.
Landscape ecology in the context of Quesnel
River watershed includes research issues such as:
1) Modeling flows of energy, water,
sediment, and chemicals through air, land, and water systems.
2) Impacts
of land use, change, and disturbance.
3) Landscape conservation and sustainability.
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