LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY SREM 3011 LECTURE 10 Dr Brendan Mackey Department of Geography The Australian National University
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY SREM 3011 LECTURE 10 Dr Brendan Mackey Department of Geography The Australian National University
Communities criterion: Integration of complex behaviour of biota in a given area Integration results in cohesion and a degree of self-regulation changes physical environment eg rainforest closed canopy +ve and -ve population interactions Ecosystem criterion: Biota are explicitly linked to the abiotic world of their physical environment Cycles and pathways of energy and matter water nutrients carbon Organisms, populations, communities are viewed in terms of their ecosystem function process rates are critical
Communities criterion: - Integration of complex behaviour of biota in a given area - Integration results in cohesion and a degree of self-regulation : changes physical environment - eg. rainforest closed canopy - +ve and -ve population interactions Ecosystem criterion: - Biota are explicitly linked to the abiotic world of their physical environment - Cycles and pathways of energy and matter : water, nutrients, carbon - Organisms, populations, communities are viewed in terms of their ecosystem function - process rates are critical
Nested vs Non-nested Hierarchies The human body is a nested hierarchy The Soviet Union was a non-nested hierarchy it was a hierarchy because of the 'chaln-of. command it is structured by the flow of information the President is a low frequency, large-scale phenomena the foot soldier is a high frequency, small-scaled phenomena
Nested vs Non-nested Hierarchies The human body is a nested hierarchy. The Soviet Union was a non-nested hierarchy. - it was a hierarchy because of the ‘chain-ofcommand’ - it is structured by the flow of information - the President is a low frequency, large-scale phenomena - the foot soldier is a high frequency, small-scaled phenomena
Conventional levels of biological/ecological organization Level 8 - Biosphere Planet Level 7 -Biome Region Level 6 -Landscape Level 5-------.-Ecosystem Subcatchment Level 4-....Community Level 3 -Population Patch Level 2.--------Organism Sit Level1--------------Cell
Conventional levels of biological/ecological organization Planet Region Subcatchment Patch Site
Types of ecological entity and their inter-relationships at different scales of observation = organism; P=population;C= community; E= ecosystem; L=landscape; B= biome Small scale Large scale Types of ecological entities are really criteria for defining ecological phenomena All criteria can be applied at any scale Criteria distinguish foreground from background
Types of ecological entity and their inter-relationships at different scales of observation O = organism; P = population; C = community; E = ecosystem; L = landscape; B = biome • Types of ecological entities are really criteria for defining ecological phenomena • All criteria can be applied at any scale • Criteria distinguish foreground from background Small scale Large scale