Landscape ecology

 

The Landscape Ecology Programme started in 1998/99 with the aim of "improving our understanding of how biodiversity responds to forest management at the landscape scale, and to translate this into practical management guidance".  The programme spans both planted and native woodlands and other associated habitats.

The techniques for understanding and assessing landscape scale ecological attributes have been developed and tested through a number of case study sites, autecological studies, external landscape ecology related contracts, and recent developments in landscape ecology and geographical information systems (GIS).

Research initially focussed towards the evaluation of landscape structure, through the use of landscape metrics.  This approach is now complemented by the development of Biological and Environmental Evaluation Tools for Landscape Ecology (Beetle), which encompasses simple species-based tools to examine and evaluate the underlying landscape function.  Various evaluation tools have been applied at the forest, catchment, region and country scale.

This research and associated evaluation tools are intended to be equally applicable to large woodlands within a primarily forested landscape and small woodlands within an open matrix.  The research is designed to assist the operational and strategic management of woodland landscapes; making it possible for forest/land managers to assess the ecological consequences of their plans, and make informed choices, in both space and time, along with other economic and social factors necessary to provide multiple-benefit sustainable forests.

This programme has links to all other programmes in "Forests and Biodiversity", especially Lowland native woodlands, Ecology of upland native woodlands, Management for habitat quality, Species Action Plans and Decision support systems for biodiversity.

Commissioned reports

Date: November 2005
Title: Restoration of wooded landscapes – Informing assumptions with microsatellite technology
Author: Andrew Lowe
Full report: PDF

Summary:

Microsatellites are a very powerful molecular marker tool. They can and have been used extensively to understand the contemporary population dynamics and connectivity of individuals within different landscape settings, and are arguably the best molecular marker currently available for such purposes. The literature on conservation genetics has ballooned since the introduction of these markers. Numerous studies now exist that examine the dynamics of genetic diversity across changing landscapes, inc luding those subject to fragmentation. Using specialized statistical methods and variation within nuclear and organelle genomes, microsatellites also offer insights into historical colonization processes and population evolutionary history, which are informative for making predictions of contemporary and future colonisation dynamics and range shifts, e.g. due to landscape changes and climate change.

One of the strengths of a PCR-based marker like microsatellites is that it can be used with very small quantities of living and/or dead tissue of the study organism. Thus it is possible to use historically collected material (e.g. from herbaria or museums), and has added a temporal context to several studies. Whilst not a universal marker (one which can be applied to any organism), microsatellites can be developed for almost any species with even modest research budgets. Microsatellites have been isolated for a range of species, including, plants, mammals, birds, insects and fungi. Whilst microsatellites do not give the researcher direct access to community or habitat assessments of species richness, by applying a range of recently developed statistical methods, they inform on the processes of propagule, individual and population movement and dynamics for specific species.

Microsatellites have been applied to an increasing number of studies of European flora and fauna. This review documents a representative sample of this research to examine; historical colonization, contemporary gene flow dynamics and the impacts and restoration of fragmented landscapes. This review finds that microsatellites are suitable for assessing each of these parameters and give detailed information on an individual species response. A key concern of many surveyed studies is that genetic diversity and connectivity processes are impacted by fragmentation. This is evident across taxonomic groups. Strategies to improve habitat connectivity, such as corridors and stepping stones, are demonstrated to improve patch connectivity and increase gene tic diversity. However the literature also indicated that connected remnant networks of this type were not as effective at maintaining diversity as large blocks of continuous habitat.

Three key and related issues are prioritized for future research development:

• Undertake genetic studies for a range of species (flora and fauna with a range of life history characteristics) within heterogeneous fragmented landscapes containing different patch sizes, isolations and histories. Studies should either be done within a single location or aim to integrate studies that control for scale and habitat quality.


• Improved evaluation of natural dispersal/recruitment processes and corridors/stepping stones as methods to maintain diversity and rehabilitate habitats.


• Improved understanding of genetic diversity and differentiation of individuals/ populations to be used for reintroduction and rehabilitation. Knowledge is required on the number, proximity and habitat/environmental context of reintroduced individuals to maximize diversity and adaptive potential whilst minimizing genetic erosion.