Synopses & Reviews
Principles and methods of landscape ecology are intensively used to model and to manage disturbed landscapes and menaced pristine areas as well. Students and professionals can find a new version of "Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology" firstly published in 1998 by Chapman & Hall (London). Landscape ecology is an integrative and multi-disciplinary science and "Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology" reconciles the geological, botanical, zoological and human perspectives. In particular new paradigms and theories like percolation, metapopulation, hierarchies, source-sink models, have been integrated, in this last edition, with the recent theories on bio-complexity, information and cognitive sciences. Methods for studying landscape ecology are covered including spatial geometry models and remote sensing in order to create confidence toward techniques and approaches that require a high experience and long-time dedication. Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology is a textbook useful to present the landscape in a multi-vision perspective for undergraduate and graduate students of biology, ecology, geography, forestry, agronomy, landscape architecture and planning. Sociology, economics, history, archaeology, anthropology, ecological psychology are some sciences that can benefit of the holistic vision offered by this texbook. A relevant goal of this second edition is to increase confidence in the new generations of students and practitioners for considering the ecological systems as the result of the integration between ecosystemic (non spatial) and landscape (spatial) patterns and processes. Almo Farina is Professor of Ecology at the Urbino University, Faculty of Environmental Sciences (Urbino, Italy).
Review
From the reviews of the second edition "The second edition of Almo Farina's 'Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology' gives a comprehensive, clearly structured and easily readable up-to-date overview on theories, concepts, principles and specific methods in modern landscape ecology. ... The whole book is well illustrated and contains numerous instructive tables, graphs and figures as well as a couple of colour photos. ... It is highly recommended not only to undergraduate and graduate students but also to everyone interested in landscape perspectives from an ecological point of view."(Norbert Hölzel, Phytocoenologia, Vol. 38 (4), December, 2008)
Synopsis
Landscape ecology is an integrative and multi-disciplinary science and Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology reconciles the geological, botanical, zoological and human perspectives. In particular ,new paradigms and theories such as percolation, metapopulation, hierarchies, source-sink models have been integrated in this last edition with the recent theories on bio-complexity, information and cognitive sciences. Methods for studying landscape ecology are covered including spatial geometry models and remote sensing in order to create confidence toward techniques and approaches that require a high experience and long-time dedication. Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology is a textbook useful to present the landscape in a multi-vision perspective for undergraduate and graduate students of biology, ecology, geography, forestry, agronomy, landscape architecture and planning. Sociology, economics, history, archaeology, anthropology, ecological psychology are some sciences that can benefit of the holistic vision offered by this texbook.
Synopsis
Principles and methods of landscape ecology are intensively used to model and to manage disturbed landscapes and menaced pristine areas as well. Students and professionals can find a new version of "Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology" firstly published in 1998 by Chapman & Hall (London). Landscape ecology is an integrative and multi-disciplinary science and "Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology" reconciles the geological, botanical, zoological and human perspectives. In particular new paradigms and theories like percolation, metapopulation, hierarchies, source-sink models have been integrated in this last edition with the recent theories on bio-complexity, information and cognitive sciences. Methods for studying landscape ecology are covered including spatial geometry models and remote sensing in order to create confidence toward techniques and approaches that require a high experience and long-time dedication. Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology is a textbook useful to present the landscape in a multi-vision perspective for undergraduate and graduate students of biology, ecology, geography, forestry, agronomy, landscape architecture and planning. Sociology, economics, history, archaeology, anthropology, ecological psychology are some sciences that can benefit of the holistic vision offered by this texbook. A relevant goal of this second edition is to increase confidence in the new generations of students and practitioners for considering the ecological systems as the result of the integration between ecosystemic (non-spatial) and landscape (spatial) patterns and processes.
About the Author
Almo Farina is Professor of Ecology at the Urbino University, Faculty of Environmental Sciences (Urbino, Italy).
Table of Contents
Prefaces.- Glossary and Acronyms.- 1. 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 The contribution of different disciplines to the creation of a paradigmatic framework in landscape ecology. 1.3 Definitions of landscape (A gallery). 1.4 An epistemological approach to the landscape. 1.4.1 The nature of landscape. 1.4.2 The role of landscape. 1.4.2.1 Landscape as domain. 1.4.2.2 Landscape as system. 1.4.2.3 Lanscape as unit. 1.5 The description of landscape. 1.5.1 The "ecological landscape". 1.5.1.1 Principles of landscape classification. 1.5.2 The cognitive landscape. 1.5.2.1 Spacing - The perception of the landscape. 1.5.2.2 Space and memory. 1.5.2.3 Embodiment and cognition. 1.5.2.4 Safety, aesthetic landscape, amenity. 1.5.2.5 Topographic prominence, the visual landscape. 1.5.2.6 The psychological landscape. 1.5.2.7 Mistery in landscape. 1.5.2.8 Behavioral ecology and landscape ecology. 1.5.2.9 Information landscape. 1.5.2.10 The eco-field hypothesis. 1.5.2.11 The sound-scape. 1.5.2.12 Animal movements in the landscape. 1.6 Summary. 1.7 Suggested readings. 1.8 References.- 2. Theories and models Iicorporated in the landscape ecology framework. 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Complexity. 2.2.1 The emergence of complexity. 2.3 Information. 2.3.1 The information as universal coin. 2.3.2 Information as measure of probability. 2.3.3 Information-processing performance of ecosystems. 2.4 Cognition and autopoiesis. 2.5 Semiotic, bio and eco-semiotic. 2.6 The hierarchy theory and the structure of the landscape. 2.7 The percolation theory. 2.8 The metapopulation. 2.8.1 Introduction. 2.8.2 Dispersion. 2.8.3 Examples of metapopulation structure. 2.8.4 Metapopulation and conservation biology. 2.9 The systems source-sink. 2.9.1 Definition. 2.9.2 Implications of the source-sink model. 2.9.3 Pseudo-sinks. 2.9.4 Traps. 2.9.5 Source-sink in time or multiple source-sink model. 2.9.6 Stable maladaptation. 2.9.7 Source-sink dynamic and conservation issues. 2.9.8 Concluding remarks. 2.10 Suggested readings. 2.11 References.- 3. Scaling patterns and processes across landscapes. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Moving across scales. 3.3 Some definitions. 3.4 Scaling the landscape. 3.5 Change of scale perception. 3.6 The multiscale option. 3.7 The importance of the parameters at the different scales. 3.8 Grain size and scaling. 3.9 Assessing landscape scale of analysis. 3.10 Examples of scales in landscape and in ecological related disciplines. 3.10.1 Scaling the quaternary landscape. 3.10.2 Scaling patterns: The catchment scale. 3.10.3 Scaling abiotic processes: Hydrological processes and scales. 3.10.4 Scaling evidences in animals. 3.11 Suggested readings. 3.12. References.- 4. Emerging processes in the landscape. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Disturbance. 4.2.1 Introduction. 4.2.2 Snow cover, an example of abiotic disturbances. 4.2.3 Human disturbances. 4.2.4 Gap disturbances in forest. 4.2.5 Gaps in savanna. 4.2.6 Fire disturbance in dry landscapes. 4.2.7 Pathogens disturbance. 4.2.8 Animal disturbance. 4.3 Fragmentation. 4.3.1. Introduction. 4.3.2 Scale and patterns of fragmentation. 4.3.3 Community composition and diversity in fragments. 4.3.4 Species, guilds and fragmentation. 4.3.5 Habitat fragmentation and extinction. 4.3.6 Predation and fragmentation. 4.3.7 Island size and isolation, a key to understand fragmentation. 4.3.8 Habitat fragmentation and animal behaviour. 4.3.9 Measuring the effects of fragmentation. 4.3.10 The complexity and unpredictability of fragmented landscape. 4.4 Connectivity, connectedness and corridors. 4.4.1 Introduction. 4.4.2 Corridors: Structure and functions. 4.5 Soil landscape and movement of water and nutrients across landscape. 4.5.1 Introduction. 4.5.2 Soil landscape. 4.5.3 The role of riparian vegetation in nutrient dynamics. 4.5.4 Origin, composition and flux of dissolved organic carbon in a small watershed. 4.5.5 Leaf litter movements in the landscape. 4.5.6 Spatial patterns of soil nutrients.- 5. Emerging patterns in the landscape. 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Landscape heterogeneity. 5.2.1 Introduction. 5.2.2 Scale and ecological neighorhoods. 5.2.3 Disturbance and heterogeneity. 5.2.4 Heterogeneity and animals. 5.2.5 Spatial heterogeneity and prey-predator control system. 5.2.6 Foraging efficiency and heterogeneity. 5.2.7 Heterogeneity and bird migrants resource use. 5.2.8 Quantify spatial hetereogeneity. 5.3 Ecotones. 5.3.1 Introduction. 5.3.2 Importance of the ecotones. 5.3.3 Concepts and definitions. 5.3.4 Difficulties studying ecotones. 5.3.5 Spatio-temporal scales and hierarchy of ecotones. 5.3.6 Ecotone classification. 5.3.6.1 Horizontal and vertical ecotones. 5.3.6.2 Natural v human induced ecotones. 5.3.6.3 Genotones. 5.3.7 Structural and functional characters of the ecotones. 5.3.8 Exogen control to creation and maintenance of ecotones. 5.3.9 Intrinsic control in the creation and maintenance of the ecotones. 5.3.10 Character of ecotones. 5.3.11 The function of ecotones in the landscape. 5.3.12 The role of the ecotones to maintain local, regional and global diversity. 5.3.13 The human impact in the functioning of the ecotones. 5.3.14 Climatic changes and ecotones. 5.3.15 Economy and ecotones. 5.4 Suggested readings. 5.5 References.- 6. Principles of landscape dynamic. 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Stability in landscapes. 6.3 Self-organizing mechanisms and landscapes. 6.4 Landscape shaping factors. 6.5 Landscape changes in human perturbed landscapes. 6.5.1 Agriculture intensification. 6.5.2 Agriculture abandonment. 6.5.3 Fire suppression. 6.5.4 Deforestation. 6.5.5 Livestock grazing. 6.5.6 Development. 6.6 Patterns in landscape changes: Some examples. 6.7 Mediterranean landscapes as an example of perturbation dependent homeorethic systems, practical management implications. 6.8 Patterns and processes in land abandonment. 6.8.1 Introduction. 6.8.2 The effect of land abandonment on fauna. 6.8.3 Conclusions. 6.9 Suggested readings. 6.10 References.- 7. Principles for landscape conservation, management and design. 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 Landscape evaluation. 7.3 The cultural landscape. 7.3.1 Definition. 7.3.2 Interaction between natural and cultural landscapes. 7.3.3 The fragility of the cultural landscapes. 7.4 Principles for landscape management. 7.4.1 Introduction. 7.4.2 The importance of watershed scale management. 7.4.3 The role of key stone species in the landscape management. 7.5 Nature conservation and landscape ecology. 7.5.1 Introduction. 7.5.2 Landscape principles for natural reserves. 7.5.3 Disturbance regime and reserve design indications. 7.5.4 Inter-refuge corridor design. 7.5.5 Hedgerows system to conserve biodiversity in rural landscape. 7.6 Conservation in landscape. 7.6.1 Introduction. 7.6.2 Conservation of fragmented habitats and populations. 7.6.3 Conserving large carnivores. 7.6.4 Toward the conservation of processes. 7.6.5 Landscape patterns and conservation. 7.7 Landscape design (creation) and restoration. 7.8 Hierarchical structure of the system and the biodiversity conservation. 7.9 Suggested readings. 7.10 References.- 8. Methods in landscape ecology. 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Metrics in landscape ecology. 8.2.1 Non spatial metrics. 8.2.2 Spatial metrics. 8.2.2.1 Patch shape metrics. 8.2.2.2 Distance metrics. 8.2.2.3 Texture metrics. 8.2.2.4 The semivariance. 8.2.2.5 Measuring boundaries in the landscape. 8.2.2.6 Measuring fragmentation. 8.3 The fractal geometry approach. 8.3.1 Introduction. 8.3.2 Concepts and definitions. 8.3.3 The fractal dimension of the edges. 8.3.4 The fractal dimension of the patches. 8.3.5 Semivariance and fractal analysis. 8.3.6 Example of application of fractals to animal behaviour studies. 8.4 The geographic information systems. 8.4.1 Introduction. 8.4.2 The information process. 8.4.3 The representation of the spatial information. 8.4.4 The GIS organization. 8.4.5 The cartographic model. 8.4.6 Map layers. 8.4.7 Procedures for cartographic handling and modeling. 8.4.8 Capturing data. 8.4.9 Some cartographic modelling procedures. 8.4.10 Commands in GIS. 8.4.11 GIS and remote sensing. 8.4.12 Scaling in GIS. 8.4.13 Key study 1. 8.4.14 Key study 2. 8.5 Remote sensing in landscape ecology. 8.5.1 Introduction. 8.5.2 Effects of sensors spatial resolution on landscape structure parameters. 8.5.3 Remote sensing and landscape boundaries. 8.5.4 Forest ecology and remote sensing. 8.5.5 Landscape classification using remote sensing. 8.5.6 Calibration center concept. 8.6 Global positioning systems (GPS). 8.6.1 Introduction. 8.6.2 The use of GPS in landscape ecology. 8.7 Spatially explicit models (SEPM) to describe population patterns in landscape. 8.7.1 Introduction. 8.7.2 Spatial patch dynamic model. 8.8 Suggested readings. 8.9 References.-