Geoecology of Landscape Dynamics

Geoecology of Landscape Dynamics PDF

Author: Seema Sahdev

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-03-03

Total Pages: 380

ISBN-13: 9811520976

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This book provides an overview of the ecological indicators of landscape dynamics in the context of geographical landscape integration. Landscape dynamics depicts every change that occurs in the physical, biological, and cognitive assets of a landscape. To understand and interpret the complex physical, biological, and cognitive phenomena of landscapes, it is necessary to operate conceptually and practically on a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. Rapid land use changes have become a concern to environmentalists and planners because of their impacts on the natural ecosystem, which further determines socioeconomic dynamics. In this regard, the book discusses case studies that share new insights into how landscape patterns and processes impact small creatures, and how small creatures in turn influence landscape structure and composition. In turn, the relevant aspects of land use and land cover dynamics are covered, and the multi-faceted relationship between the substrata and ecological community is highlighted. The book is unique in its focus on the application of spatial informatics such as automatic building extraction from high-resolution imagery; a soil resource inventory for meeting the challenges of land degradation; hydrological modeling; the temporal variation analysis of glacier area and the identification and mapping of glacial lakes; morphometric analysis of river basins; and the monitoring and modeling of urban sprawl, among other features.

Geoecology: An Evolutionary Approach

Geoecology: An Evolutionary Approach PDF

Author: Richard Huggett

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2002-09-11

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 1134882947

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Animals, plants and soils interact with one another, with the terrestrial spheres, and with the rest of the Cosmos. On land, this rich interaction creates landscape systems or geoecosystems. Geoecology investigates the structure and function of geoecosystems, their components and their environment. The author develops a simple dynamic systems model, the `brash' equation, to form the conceptual framework for the book suggesting an `ecological' and `evolutionary' approach. Exploring internal of `ecological' interactions between geoecosystems and their near-surface environments - the atmosphere, hydrosphere, toposhere, and lithosphere - and external influences, both geological and cosmic, Geoecology presents geoecosystems as dynamic entities constantly responding to changes within themselves and their surroundings. An `evolutionary' view emerges of geoecological systems, and the animals, plants, and soils comprising them, providing a new way of thinking for the whole environmental complex and the rich web of interdependencies contained therein.

European Landscape Dynamics

European Landscape Dynamics PDF

Author: Jan Feranec

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2016-08-19

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 131535554X

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Four unique pan-European CORINE Land Cover datasets—CLC1990, CLC2000, CLC2006, and CLC2012— and three datasets concerning changes between 1990 and 2012 have presented the first-ever opportunity to observe the European landscape by means of land cover and its change. This book brings together all these datasets to demonstrate the methods of identification, analysis and assessment of the European land cover and its changes that took place during the intervals of 1990–2000, 2000–2006, and 2006–2012. It provides examples in which CLC data plays a role in offering solutions to European environmental problems such as the monitoring of urban dynamics, land fragmentation, ecosystems mapping and assessment, and high nature value farmland characteristics. Existing environmental problems require new approaches, and European Landscape Dynamics: CORINE Land Cover Data indicates a set of outlooks for CLC data generation that produce more detailed levels of analysis and bottom-up approaches while addressing the relationship of CLC data to the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE). It also discusses the future of CLC data generation. A valuable resource of up-to-date information, it is useful to professionals such as scientists, territorial planners, and environmentalists as well as students of geosciences and all those who are interested in cognition of the European landscape, its changes and development.

The Ecology of Recently-deglaciated Terrain

The Ecology of Recently-deglaciated Terrain PDF

Author: John A. Matthews

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2008-03-10

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780521056694

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This book provides the first comprehensive review of the available information on the ecology of recently-deglaciated terrain and critically evaluates the methodology currently employed in such studies. The theme developed is that the ecology of these regions can only be fully understood by giving due consideration to the role and interaction of both physical and biological processes in the development of the landscape. By adopting this geoecological approach, the spatial variation and dynamics of vegetation and soils is considered in relation to other aspects of the landscape such as topographic variation, climate, and geomorphic processes. A geoecological model is thus outlined that provides both a framework for interpreting the varied ecological nature of glacier forelands found throughout the world, and also an agenda for future research.

Disturbance and Landscape Dynamics in a Changing World

Disturbance and Landscape Dynamics in a Changing World PDF

Author: Monica Goigel Turner

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 17

ISBN-13:

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Disturbance regimes are changing rapidly, and the consequences of such changes for ecosystems and linked social-ecological systems will be profound. This paper synthesizes current understanding of disturbance with an emphasis on fundamental contributions to contemporary landscape and ecosystem ecology, then identifies future research priorities. Studies of disturbance led to insights about heterogeneity, scale, and thresholds in space and time and catalyzed new paradigms in ecology. Because they create vegetation patterns, disturbances also establish spatial patterns of many ecosystem processes on the landscape. Drivers of global change will produce new spatial patterns, altered disturbance regimes, novel trajectories of change, and surprises. Future disturbances will continue to provide valuable opportunities for studying pattern-process interactions. Changing disturbance regimes will produce acute changes in ecosystems and ecosystem services over the short (years to decades) and long-term (centuries and beyond). Future research should address questions related to (1) disturbances as catalysts of rapid ecological change, (2) interactions among disturbances, (3) relationships between disturbance and society, especially the intersection of land use and disturbance, and (4) feedbacks from disturbance to other global drivers. Ecologists should make a renewed and concerted effort to understand and anticipate the causes and consequences of changing disturbance regimes.

Ecosystem Service Potentials and Their Indicators in Postglacial Landscapes

Ecosystem Service Potentials and Their Indicators in Postglacial Landscapes PDF

Author: Andrzej Affek

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2019-10-30

Total Pages: 392

ISBN-13: 0128161353

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Ecosystem Service Potentials and Their Indicators in Postglacial Landscapes: Assessment and Mapping provides valuable guidance for anyone involved with ecosystem service potential monitoring, use and management—from landscape ecologists and environmental managers, to policymakers and environmental economists. The book highlights effective measurement tools for evaluating the overall potential of ecosystem services from multiple perspectives. Beginning with an introduction to ecosystem services and the theoretical assumptions and objectives associated with their assessment, the book goes on to outline interdisciplinary methods of evaluation and analysis that are fully supported and illustrated throughout using an insightful case study focused on Wigry National Park. A range of different spatial reference units are also discussed, followed by chapters on both analytical and synthetic approaches to identifying service supply potential. In addition, the use of services and the impact of these uses on the assessment of potential is included, along with a discussion of the future shape of ecosystem service assessment. Outlines a transdisciplinary, holistic approach to assessing the overall potential of ecosystems and landscapes to support different ecosystem services Proposes a range of direct, indirect, simple and complex measurement indicators for multifaceted estimation and mapping Presents tools and guidelines to help shape effective decision-making processes in nature conservation and environmental planning

The Landscape Ecology of Fire

The Landscape Ecology of Fire PDF

Author: Donald McKenzie

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2011-01-04

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 9400703015

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Global warming is expected to change fire regimes, likely increasing the severity and extent of wildfires in many ecosystems around the world. What will be the landscape-scale effects of these altered fire regimes? Within what theoretical contexts can we accurately assess these effects? We explore the possible effects of altered fire regimes on landscape patch dynamics, dominant species (tree, shrub, or herbaceous) and succession, sensitive and invasive plant and animal species and communities, and ecosystem function. Ultimately, we must consider the human dimension: what are the policy and management implications of increased fire disturbance, and what are the implications for human communities?

Water, Cryosphere, and Climate Change in the Himalayas

Water, Cryosphere, and Climate Change in the Himalayas PDF

Author: Ajay Kumar Taloor

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-04-24

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 3030679322

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This edited book summarizes numerous research studies on remote sensing and GIS of natural resource management for the Himalaya region done by Indian Institutions and Universities over the last decade. It gives an overview of hydrometeorological studies on Himalayan water resources and addresses concerns in the development of water resources in this region, which is dealing with an increased pressure in population, industrialization and economic development. While the source of some of the major rivers of India are found in the Himalayas, the glaciers and water bodies in the region are continuously shrinking leading to a depletion of water and deterioration of water quality. This is affecting a population of up to 2.5 billion people. The ecosystems have been under threat due to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, expansion of agriculture and settlement, overexploitation of natural resources, habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, mining, construction of roads and large dams, and unplanned tourism. Spaceborne remote sensing with its ability to provide synoptic and repetitive coverage has emerged as a powerful tool for assessment and monitoring of the Himalayan resources and phenomena. This work serves as a resource to students, researchers, scientists, professionals, and policy makers both in India and on a global level.