“If you could perceive the patterns in a scene, you could then look beyond the patterns to the underlying structure that supports them. If you could see and grasp the methods by which a surface harmony had been achieved, you eventually could understand the deepest meaning and mechanisms of any subject and then make a good painting of it” (Page 66)

Koontz 1980: Whispers

Understanding a landscapeUnderstanding a landscape

Are we satisfied Are we satisfied with this with this product?product?

Understanding a landscapeUnderstanding a landscape

Is this structure of the landscape Is this structure of the landscape interesting and how was it interesting and how was it created?created?

Understanding a landscapeUnderstanding a landscape

Is this structure of the landscape Is this structure of the landscape interesting and how was it interesting and how was it created?created?

Understanding a landscapeUnderstanding a landscape

Can we create a Can we create a similar similar landscape landscape structure?structure?

What impacts can this What impacts can this structure have?structure have?

Understanding a landscapeUnderstanding a landscape

Chen & Saunders 2006

Landscape ecology are featured with patch-Landscape ecology are featured with patch-corridor-matrix dogma -- a landscape is composed corridor-matrix dogma -- a landscape is composed of multiple ecosystems. It is theorized that new of multiple ecosystems. It is theorized that new structural and functional features would emerge structural and functional features would emerge when >2 ecosystems are placed togetherwhen >2 ecosystems are placed together

Chen & Saunders 2006

Once upon a time, there …

Key PointsKey Points

•Structure needs to be defined by objective, proper scale, and variable of interests;

•All structural elements are dynamic (i.e., constantly changing over time);

( a ) Conventional land mosaic

patch

corridor

( b ) Complex land mosaic

patch

interior

Road &

roadside

AMEIAEI

AMEI

Example 2:Example 2:

Within the area-of-edge influence (AEI), most areas are under multiple edge effects!

In general, the scales of structures/patterns we see and scales of the processes that create or maintain them are positively correlated; but this is not always the case. Scale is characterized by both grain (i.e., resolution) and extent:· Grain: smallest unit of measure about which one has information

· Extent: Total area (or duration of time) over which we are considering a phenomenon

Questions?Questions?