edited by

jianguo wu
a r i z o n a s tat e u n i v e r s i t y

richard j. hobbs
murdoch university

Key Topics in Landscape

Ecology

cambridge university press

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Key Topics in Landscape Ecology

Landscape ecology is a relatively new area of study, which aims to understand the
pattern of interaction of biological and cultural communities within a landscape. This
book brings together leading gures from the eld to provide an up-to-date survey of
recent advances, identify key research problems, and suggest a future direction for
development and expansion of knowledge. Providing in-depth reviews of the
principles and methods for understanding landscape patterns and changes, the book
illustrates concepts with examples of innovative applications from different parts of
the world. Forming a current state-of-the-science for the science of landscape
ecology, this book forms an essential reference for graduate students, academics,
professionals, and practitioners in ecology, environmental science, natural resource
management, and landscape planning and design.
J i a n g u o ( J i n g l e ) Wu is Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental
Science at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA. His research interests
include landscape ecology, urban ecology, and sustainability science, focusing on
hierarchical patch dynamics, patternprocessscale relationships, spatial scaling,
land-use change and its effects on ecosystem processes, and biodiversity and ecosystem
functioning. He has published more than 120 scientic papers which involve mostly
dryland ecosystems in North America and China. His professional service includes
Program Chair of the 2001 Annual Symposium of the US Association of
the/International Association of Landscape Ecology (US-IALE), Councillor-at-Large of
US-IALE (20013), and Chair of the Asian Ecology Section of the Ecological Society of
America (19992000). He is currently the editor-in-chief of the international journal
Landscape Ecology.
R i c h a r d H o b b s is Professor of Environmental Science at Murdoch University,
Western Australia, and has research interests in restoration ecology and landscape
ecology. These focus on the conservation and management of altered landscapes,
particularly the agricultural area of southwestern Australia. He is a fellow of the
Australian Academy of Science and has been listed by ISI as one of the most highly
cited researchers in ecology and environmental science. His professional services
include President of the International Association for Landscape Ecology (19992003)
and President of the Ecological Society of Australia (19981999). He is currently the
editor-in-chief of the journal Restoration Ecology.

Contents

List of contributors
Preface
part i Introduction
1 Perspectives and prospects of landscape ecology
richard hobbs and jianguo wu
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Key issues and research topics in landscape ecology
1.3 Concluding remarks
References

part ii Key topics and perspectives

2 Adequate data of known accuracy are critical to advancing
the eld of landscape ecology
louis r. iverson
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8

Introduction
Data advances in past two decades
Current status
What we will have soon
Issues of data quality
Needs in data acquisition and quality
Policy issues related to data acquisition and quality
Conclusions
References

3 Landscape pattern analysis: key issues and challenges

harbin li and jianguo wu
3.1 Introduction
3.2 General classication of LPA methods

page x
xiii

3
3
4
8
8

11
11
11
13
16
16
21
31
31
31

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40

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Contents

3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7

Key components of spatial pattern in relation to LPA

Statistical and ecological assumptions of LPA methods
Behavior of LPA methods
Limitations and challenges of LPA
Concluding remarks
Acknowledgments
References

4 Spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem processes

monica g. turner and jeffrey a. cardille
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6

41
44
49
52
57
59
59

62

Introduction
Understanding the spatial heterogeneity of process rates
Inuence of land-use legacies
Lateral uxes in landscape mosaics
Linking species and ecosystems
Concluding comments
Acknowledgments
References

62
63
65
68
70
71
72
73

5 Landscape heterogeneity and metapopulation dynamics

lenore fahrig

78

5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6

Introduction
Levins metapopulation model
Spatially realistic metapopulation models
PVA tools based on the metapopulation framework
Landscape population models
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References

6 Determining patternprocess relationships in

heterogeneous landscapes
robert h. gardner, james d. forester, and
roy e. plotnick
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4

Introduction
Methods
Results
Conclusions and recommendations
Acknowldgements
References

7 Scale and scaling: a cross-disciplinary perspective

jianguo wu
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Concepts of scale and scaling

78
78
80
82
83
89
89
89

92

92
93
100
107
111
111

115
115
116

Contents

7.3 Scale effects, MAUP, and ecological fallacy

7.4 Theory and methods of scaling
7.5 Discussion and conclusions
Acknowledgments
References

8 Optimization of landscape pattern

j o h n h o f a n d c u r t i s f l at h e r
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4

Introduction
State-of-the-science in spatial optimization
Critical research questions
Conclusion
References

9 Advances in detecting landscape changes at multiple scales:

examples from northern Australia
john a. ludwig
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Examples of detecting landscape changes from
northern Australia
9.3 Key challenges
9.4 Summary
Acknowledgments
References

10 The preoccupation of landscape research with land

use and land cover
marc antrop
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5

Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
Conclusions: key issues for further integration
in landscape ecology
References

11 Applying landscape-ecological principles to regional

conservation: the WildCountry Project in Australia
b r e n d a n g . m a c k e y, m i c h a e l e . s o u l e , h e n r y
a . n i x , h a r r y f. r e c h e r , r o b e r t g . l e s s l i e ,
jann e. williams, john c. z. woinarski,
r i c h a r d j . h o b b s , a n d h u g h p. p o s s i n g h a m
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Foundation principles
11.3 Large-scale connectivity

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134
136
136

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143
144
151
157
158

161
161
162
164
169
170
170

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173
175
176
184
188
189

192

192
195
199

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Contents

11.4 Research and development issues

11.5 Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References

12 Using landscape ecology to make sense of Australias last frontier

d av i d b o w m a n
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5
12.6
12.7
12.8
12.9

Introduction
The north Australian frontier
This is not a landscape
The quadrat is dead
Landscape models: but there is no there there
Longing and belonging
Tell me a story
Unexpected insights: confessions of an empiricist
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References

13 Transferring ecological knowledge to landscape planning: a

design method for robust corridors
claire c. vos, paul opdam, eveliene
g . s t e i n g r o v e r , a n d r i e n r e i j n e n
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Context of the case study
13.3 The development of robust corridors and the implementation
in the planning process
13.4 Discussion
References

14 Integrative landscape research: facts and challenges

g a r y f r y, b a r b e l t r e s s , a n d g u n t h e r t r e s s
14.1
14.2
14.3
14.4
14.5
14.6
14.7
14.8
14.9
14.10
14.11
14.12

Introduction
Methods
Dening integrative research approaches
Motivations for integrative landscape studies
What are we trying to integrate?
Organizational barriers to integration
Education and training needs
Improving the theory base
The merit system and the products of integrative research
Mapping the boundaries of research
Enhancing integrative landscape ecology research
Conclusion
References

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208
208

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215
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217
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220
222
223
224
224

227

227
229
232
239
243

246
246
247
247
250
253
254
256
257
257
261
263
265
266

Contents

part iii Synthesis

15 Landscape ecology: the state-of-the-science
jianguo wu and richard j. hobbs
15.1
15.2
15.3
15.4
15.5

Index

Introduction
Two dominant approaches to landscape ecology
The elusive goal of a unied landscape ecology
A hierarchical and pluralistic framework for landscape ecology
Discussion and conclusions
Acknowledgments
References

271
271
274
277
279
284
285
285

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ix