EESA01H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Landscape Ecology, Estuary, Metapopulation
Document Summary
Ecosystems are studied on a variety of spatial scales. The term ecosystem often refers to systems of moderate geographical extent that are somewhat self- contained. For example, the salt marshes that line the outer part of the st. lawrence estuary where its waters mix with those of the atlantic ocean may be classified as ecosystems. The individual salt marshes, in combination with the river, form part of the larger estuarine ecosystem. Adjacent ecosystems often share components and interact extensively. Ecotones: transition zones where two ecosystems meet, interact components of adjacent ecosystems mix. Landscape ecology: landscape structure affects abundance, distribution, and interaction of organisms. Metapopulation: network of subpopulations whose members stay within their patches but occasionally move or mate with other patch members. Remote sensing technologies: collect info about a target object from a distance improves our ability to take a landscape perspective on complex ecosystems.