Ecology – the study of the interactions among organisms and their environment.

Landscape – area-wide mosaic over which local ecosystems, land covers and land uses exist.

The landscape is a mosaic of forms and patterns arranged spatially. This mosaic is composed of a pattern of patches and corridors within a more or less uniform matrix.

Patch shapes

Patch as a depression, with clump of trees

Smooth grassy hilltop contrasted with shrubs below the trail.

Disturbance in patch - lightening strike in mangrove forest

Deforestation in Brazil

Alluvial fan in California

Vegetation patterns extending along mountain ridges

Central pivot irrigation

Sun city development

Agricultural fields

Patch on edge of water

Man-made patch with edge

Vegetation patches that extend along a stream

Elongated patches of development along the Mississippi in LA.

Patches of kelp

Five distinct forms:

1. Patch

2. Edge

3. Corridor

4. Intersection

5. Mosaic

1. Patch / matrix

Mussel bed patch

Patch of native grass

Matrix of alpine vegetation

2. Edge

Edge marked by change in eco-tone?

Or by man-made path?

Transitional or abrupt?

Edge of red fir patch

Straight or convoluted?

3. Corridors & Networks

Pan-European Ecological Network concept

Corridors, networks and landscape connectivity

4. Intersection - the intersection of corridors

5. Mosaic

Five Main Ecological Functions:

1. Barrier (eg. to keep invasive species out or to protect a specie)

2. Filter (water, noise, soil contaminants)

3. Conduit (for specie migration, dispersal, daily commuting)

4. Source (reproduction, nesting, spawning)

5. Sink (energy/solar, species)