The gradient concept of landscape structure

摘要: The goal of landscape ecology is to determine where and when spatial temporal heterogeneity matter, how they influence processes (Turner, 1989). A fundamental issue in this effort revolves around the choices a researcher makes regarding depict measure heterogeneity, specifically, these “patterns” that will be observed what mechanisms may implicated as potential causal factors. Indeed, it well known patterns their apparent relationships with response variables often depend upon scale chosen for observation rules are adopted defining mapping (Wiens, Thus, success understanding pattern–process hinges on accurately characterizing manner relevant organism or process under consideration. In regard, ecologists have generally single paradigm – patch mosaic model structure (Forman, 1995). Under patch-mosaic model, represented collection discrete patches. Major discontinuities underlying environmental variation depicted boundaries between All other subsumed by patches either ignored assumed irrelevant. This has proven quite effective. Specifically, provides simplifying organizational framework facilitates experimental design, analysis, management consistent well-established tools (e.g., FRAGSTATS; McGarigal Marks, 1995) methodologies ANOVA). major axioms contemporary built perspective matters, context pattern varies scale).