Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation

Biological invasions

Disruption of natural communities and ecosystems by the extreme increase in the abundance and distribution of an exotic species.

Species evenness

Distribution of densities over the different species - Increases with more even distribution

Fundamental niche

The niche is potentially occupied by a species. Set of environmental conditions where an organism can survive & and thrive, potential living area.

Law of the Sea

The set of international rules that govern the interactions of states in the conduct of martime affairs. - Central instrument United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

International law

The set of laws that regulate the relationship between different sovereign states (countries) and that regulate their activities.

Integrated approach

??? BBNJ treaty

Ecosystem

A community of living within the non-living components of their environment.

Metapopulation

A group of spatially distinct populations that are connected by occasional movements of individuals between them.

Metapopulation dynamics

A metapopulation consists of a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level. Set(s) of local populations which interact via individuals moving between local populations.

Patch

A relatively homogenous area that differs from its surroundings

a-diversity

Alpha: diversity at a local scale (within a community) = highest when there are many species within each community

Communities

An assemblage of populations of two or more species occupying the same geographical area in a particular time - 2 < (or more) species that co-occur together

Sectoral approach

Approach based on activities in the ocean -> can also depend on the zones

b-diversity

Beta: differences in diversity among communities within a region = high when different communities in a region differ in the species they contain -> change over landscape

Interspecific

Between different species.

Intraspecific

Between individuals in species. Within species.

Population dynamics

Birth, Death and Movement + resources -> effect population growth -> effect population size => this effects B, D & M + resources

Competition

Both organisms strive for the same thing, one gain is others loss -> both typically affected e.g. between plant species -> fast grower outcompetes slow grower

Tree feedback cycle

Canopy closure -> grass suppression -> fire suppression -> canopy closure (due to tree staying stable)

Importance of scale

Cells -> individual -> population -> community -> Ecosystem

Ecological succession

The gradual change in species composition of a given area

Primary succession

The gradual establishment of biotic communities in lifeless areas where there is no soil or sediment.

Realized niche

The niche actually occupied by a species - Happens because of competition -> each species gets actual (realized) niche as opposed to potential (fundamental) niche - Positive interactions can expand the ... -> create conditions that are better suitable for these organisms => even outside FN they can establish because of positive interactions

Secondary producers

Use stored molecules by consuming autotrophs or other heterotrophs. - 4 groups: Decomposers, parasites, predators, herbivores

Temporal heterogeneity

Variation for a single point in time - Two points may have the same spatial variation or land-use, but may differ in time

Extinction debt

Where the current community contains species whose populations cannot be sustained in the long term.

Immigration credit

Where the environment is suitable for colonization by some species, which will gradually immigrate.

Microscale

Within one unit area (e.g. tree) (scale)

Logistic growth

Density dependent population growth - Some point have too many of the same species -> start to compete with each other => Intraspecific competition (w/i species)

Ecological connectivity

(ecosystem) - Connectedness fo ecological processes

Habitat connectivity

(single-species) - Species-specific -> connectivity for a single species between fragments

Stepping stones

- Series of small non-connected patches are used to find shelter, food, rest - May provide most corridor function

Pattern-oriented

Aggregate (total/more species) ??

Degraded land

... ... occured due to deforestation, overgrazing and/or soil erosion.

Interspecific competition

Competition between individuals of different species

Intraspecific competition

Competition between individuals of the same species - When approaching K for a given resources, individuals in a population start competing for the same resource

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Complete competitors cannot co exist - Species often coexist but have distinct distribution at a finer spatial scale -> distinct niches, need to differentiate - Two species can only coexist in a stable environment as a result of niche differentiation - Without niche differentiation one species will eliminate or exclude the other

Corridors

Connect patches, allow movement

Three ways support urban wildlife

Conservation, restoration, reconciliation

Biomes

Defined by dominant vegetation and determined by temperature and precipitation. - Reality! -> Also consumers (e.g. fire, herbivory) which control many biomes => e.g. in Woodland/shrubland

Ecological reconciliation

Ecological improvement of anthropogenic ecosystems. Does not involve a historical template.

Marine environmental pressures

Exploitation (fewer fish in the sea), acidification (driven by rising Co2 levels in atmosphere -> decrease ph in ocean => calcifiers use carbonate which decreases)

Nature examples

Flamingos in nature, giraffe in wild park, zeeland (natural processes), urban environment (weeds, next to roads), blue algae (nature not always pretty), invasive species, coral reefs on oil drilling platforms (use human establishments), heathland (actively managed)

y-diversity

Gamma: diversity at the whole regionals scale (collections of communities) = highest when both individual communities are diverse and the communities in a region differ.

Grass feedback cycle

Grass cover -> fire/herbivory -> woody cover suppression -> grass cover

Three types of urban habitats

Green space, build-up area, waterways

Populations

Group of individuals of the same species occupying a particular space at the same time, which an interbreed Characterised by: density, age structure, birth rate, death rate

Specialist

Has a narrow niche -> very restricted resource use

Generalist

Has broad niche -> general resource use; more resilient because can shift diet

Hard edges

Human induced -> sharp boundary line

Marine environment

Important points: Deep ocean, marine chemistry, marine physics, marine biology, marine ecosystems, salinity (Halocline), temperature (thermocline), light, pressure, currents

Shannon index

Index of the number of species and their relative densities - Increases with species richness - Increases with species evenness

Exploitative competition

Indirectly competing over resources => indirect - Individuals react to the resource, not each other

Interference or contest competition

Individuals compete directly over resources => direct

Inhibition

Inhibit an organism.

Island Biogeography

Island size and isolation themselves played important roles. - The number of species on an island is detemernined by a balance between immigration and extinction -> balance is dynmaic - Rates may vary depending on island size and isolation Distance: E.g. Close islands to mainland -> More immigration (easier to find); with increased distance immigration decreases Size: E.g. Larger islands -> More species than small islands

Mesoscale

Landscape and site effects (scale)

Ecoregions

Large unit of land or water containing a geographically distinct assemblage of species, natural communities, and environmental conditions.

Macroscale

Large-scale spatial and temporal dynamics (scale)

Nature

Living species, self supporting, free establishment, processes, competition, disperse by their own means

Individuals

Mamals -> one creature Plants -> difficult (difficult to see when it is an individual because of roots, can be more plants collected to roots)

Carrying capacity (k)

Maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat

Zonal approach

Measures from coast to/baseline to high seas. Further towards high seas -> less rights for coastal state; closer to coats -> more national jurisdiction 2 zones beyond national jurisdiction: deep sea, high seas -> no physical border, divide things when environment is not divided

The deep seabed

Ocean floor -> focus on minerals Beyond national jurisdiction -> ask International Seabed Authority (ISA) for right to explore

Herbivory

One eats other, herbivore damage structure of plant E.g. Deer eats plants.

Predation

One eats other, predator benefits. E.g. cheta eat giselle

Amensalism

One organism is inhibited/destroyed while other organism remains unaffected. E.g. elephant walk on grass.

Species-oriented

One species

BBNJ Treaty

Only states signed the treaty are bound by it. Develop new tool to conserve marine biodiversity Bring more coordination between different actors & entities involved

Keystone species

Organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. E.g. Shark -> Top trophic level => eat other species, keep number of individuals in balance E.g. Whale -> large mammals can fuel the food web through nutrient pumping

Path-corridor-matrix model

Patch - isolates Matrix - built-environment

Nature of matrix

Patches located in human converted are - Can facilitate/impede species movement

Mosaic

Pattern of patches, corridors and matrix -> entire landscape

Primary producers

Produce complex molecules from simple ones using energy from light (photosynthesis) and store them => basis from food chain, feeds secondary producers

Heterogenity

Spatial and temporal variations - More heterogeneity in environment -> more species can co-exist

Native species

Species occurring in their original range

Naturalised species

Species that reproduce and persist, but do not actively spread over large distances

Invasive species

Species that reproduce and spread in large numbers over large distances. - Uncontrolled spread

Non-native/alien/exotic species

Species transported outside their native range.

Spatial heterogeneity

Structural: complexity or variability in space of a system property, either horizontally (e.g. land cover) or vertical (e.g. uneven vegetation distribution above ground). Functions: complexity or variability of a system property that affects ecological processes Compositions: increase with number/eveness of cover types Configurational: increases with increasing complexity of spatial pattern

Resource

Substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance and reproduction (radiation, water, nutrients, plants, animals) - Are consumed or used by organisms - Organisms may compete with each other for limited resources

Secondary succession

Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil. Communities develop in places containing soil or sediment. -> Start over, begins in an area where the natural community has been disturbed.

Natural selection

Survival of the fittest - Who is the fittest? Most decedents, contribute most to the population, one that reproduces most & is best adapted to the environment Which individuals contribute most to the population? - Survive the risks and hazards in the environment - Most capable of reproduction - Best adapted to their environment

Matrix

The background ecosystem or land-use type in a mosaic. - The dominate patch type in the landscape

Landscape connectivity

The degree to which landscape facilitates or impedes movement among resource patches. - Human perspective of landscape

Fragmentation

The division of habitat or native vegetation into smaller & more isolated fragments, typically seperated by a matrix f human transformed land cover.

Species richness

The number of species present at a certain time in a certain area

Nature

The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations => Western idea -> please people outside of nature

Conditions

The physical and chemical features of the environment (temperature, humidity, pH, salinity, photoperiod, etc.) - Are not consumed by organisms but can be altered by organisms

Habitat

The place/area where an individual lives. The subset of physical and environmental factors that permit an animal (or plant) to survive and reproduce.

Net primary production (NPP)

The rate which an ecosystem accumulates energy or biomass, excluding the energy it uses for respiration. - Related to growth rate plant species + input into system Factors determining primary production: - Solar radiation - Carbon dioxide - Water - Temperature - Soil nutrients = Conditions and resources

Niche

The role of an organism in its ecosystem

Leibig's Law of the Minimum

The scarcest resources determined the maximum growth. - Growth of a plant is other limited by one nutrient - usually either N or P - that is in short supply relative to the needs of the plant

Urban ecology

The study of the relation between living organisms and their environment, in an urban environment

Ecology

The study of the relationship between living organisms, incl. humans, & their environment

Ecological niche

The way in which tolerances and requirements interact to define conditions and resources needed by an individuals or species in order to practice its way of life.

k species

Their populations spend most of their lives in the k-dominated phase of population growth - Few offspring, parental care, long life span, focus on survival -> bigger size species => reproduction longer

r species

Their populations spend most of their lives in the r-dominated phase of population growth - Many small offspring, no parental care, short life span, focus on reproduction => grow & crash

Soft edges

Transition between 2 biomes, two communities meet & integrate

Population growth

r - per capita rate of increase per unit time - Depends on the age structure - Population always limited by some resources which causes the population to level off