A primer of acoustic analysis for landscape ecologists

In this paper we present an introduction to the physical characteristics of sound, basic recording principles as well as several ways to analyze digital sound files using spectrogram analysis. This paper is designed to be a “primer” which we hope will encourage landscape ecologists to study soundscapes. This primer uses data from a long-term study that are analyzed using common software tools. The paper presents these analyses as exercises. Spectrogram analyses are presented here introducing indices familiar to ecologists (e.g., Shannon’s diversity, evenness, dominance) and GIS experts (patch analysis). A supplemental online tutorial provides detailed instructions with step by step directions for these exercises. We discuss specific terms when working with digital sound analysis, comment on the state of the art in acoustic analysis and present recommendations for future research.     

Fine temporal resolution satellite sensors with global coverage: an opportunity for landscape ecologists

Landscape Ecology - Open data policies and accessible computation platforms allow efficient extraction of information from remote sensing data for landscape research. Landscape ecology is strongly...     

屋顶花园中的植物景观

随着国内城市化进程的推进,建筑用地与居住环境的矛盾日益突出,建设可持续发展的建筑与城市成为当今最受关注的话题。在这样的大背景下,人们越来越关注城市生态环境的建设,屋顶花园的建设已经成为现代建筑发展的必然趋势。为了保持一个良好的城市人居生态环境,见缝插绿的观念已深入人心,屋顶绿化无疑会在将来的城市化进程中扮演重要角色。     

The effects of landscape patterns on ecosystem services: meta-analyses of landscape services

Purpose

The recently introduced concept of ‘landscape services’—ecosystem services influenced by landscape patterns—may be particularly useful in landscape planning by potentially increasing stakeholder participation and financial funding. However, integrating this concept remains challenging. In order to bypass this barrier, we must gain a greater understanding of how landscape composition and configuration influence the services provided.

Methods

We conducted meta-analyses that considered published studies evaluating the effects of several landscape metrics on the following services: pollination, pest control, water quality, disease control, and aesthetic value. We report the cumulative mean effect size (E₊₊), where the signal of the values is related to positive or negative influences.

Results

Landscape complexity differentially influenced the provision of services. Particularly, the percentage of natural areas had an effect on natural enemies (E₊₊ =?0.35), pollination (E₊₊?=?0.41), and disease control (E₊₊?=?0.20), while the percentage of no-crop areas had an effect on water quality (E₊₊?=?0.42) and pest response (E₊₊?=?0.33). Furthermore, heterogeneity had an effect on aesthetic value (E₊₊?=?0.5) and water quality (E₊₊ =???0.40). Moreover, landscape aggregation was important to explaining pollination (E₊₊?=?0.29) and water quality (E₊₊?=?0.35).

Conclusions

The meta-analyses reinforce the importance of considering landscape structure in assessing ecosystem services for management purposes and decision-making. The magnitude of landscape effect varies according to the service being studied. Therefore, land managers must account for landscape composition and configuration in order to ensure the maintenance of services and adapt their approach to suit the focal service.

     

The resilience of a floodplain vegetation landscape

Landscape Ecology - Floodplains are complex adaptive ecosystems that provide an array of ecosystem services. Despite the growing focus on resilience as a fundamental feature of floodplain...     

峡谷廊道景观: 区域自然景观和文化景观的全面挖掘——大连十八盘“海底大峡谷”规划建设研究

大连十八盘海底大峡谷景观从2001年开始修建,在地域景观延续性设计的创作理念指引下,运用工程技术手段对裸露的岩壁进行处理,使景观在现实生活与艺术美的高度统一等方面进行积极的探索。夸张的海洋生物雕塑占据景观主导地位。通过对景区的描述,分析其区域角色地位,阐明建设理念,详述裸岩治理的建设内容。     

垂枝植物在园林中的应用

本文就垂枝植物的观赏特性进行了简单的介绍,并初步探讨了垂枝植物在园林中的应用及展望前景,提出我国应大力发展垂枝类型植物。     

景观工程的施工细节处理控制

如何才能造就一项令人满意的园林景观,施工过程中控制不可或缺。施工细节处理得当对于提升景观过程的质量与品质具有现实的意义。本文对景观过程中的硬质铺装是和景观植物施工的细节处理进行可简要梳理,供大家参考。     

The spatial pattern of a northern conifer-hardwood landscape

A geographic information system, fractal analyses, and statistical methods were used to examine the spatial distributions of old growth hemlock, northern hardwood, mixed hardwood/hemlock stands and wetlands with respect to each other and also soils and topography. Greater than 80% of the stands of any covertype were less than 20 ha in area. Nearly pure hemlock and northern hardwood stands were associated with soils having a fragipan, while mixed hardwood/hemlock stands were associated with sandier soils. Hemlock stands were distributed independently of hardwood and mixed hardwood/hemlock stands, but hardwood and mixed hardwood/hemlock stands were usually surrounded by hemlock. Bogs and lakes were usually surrounded by hemlock stands and are distributed independently of hardwood stands. The shapes of all stands vary from extremely simple to extremely complex, with a general tendency for hemlock stands to be more convoluted than hardwoods. The analyses suggest segregation across soil types and a disturbance regime favoring the establishment of hardwoods and mixed hardwood/hemlock stands in a hemlock matrix as reasons for the origin of the observed spatial patterns.     

The scale of landscape effect on seed dispersal depends on both response variables and landscape predictor

Landscape Ecology - Landscape structure can affect seed dispersal, but the spatial scale at which such effect is maximized (scale of effect, SoE) is unknown. We assessed patterns and predictors of...     

The complex relationship between landscape and recreation

The relation between landscape and recreation is very complex. There are various, interrelated approaches to analyze this relation, such as land evaluation, impact analysis, spatial behaviour analysis, and assessment of the scenic quality of the landscape or landscape evaluation. In many of these approaches airphoto interpretation can be a useful tool.     

The ecology and culture of landscape sustainability: emerging knowledge and innovation in landscape research and practice

Landscape researchers and practitioners, using the lens of sustainability science, are breaking new ground about how people’s behaviors and actions influence the structure, function, and change of designed landscapes in an urbanizing world. The phrase—the scientific basis of the design for landscape sustainability—is used to describe how sustainability science can contribute to translational landscape research and practice about the systemic relationships among landscape sustainability, people’s contact with nature, and complex place-based problems. In the first section of this article, important definitions about the scientific basis of the design for landscape sustainability are reviewed including the six Es of landscape sustainability—environment, economic, equity, aesthetics, experience, and ethics. A conceptual framework about the six Es of landscape sustainability for designed landscapes is introduced. The interrelatedness, opportunities, contradictions, and limitations of the conceptual framework are discussed in relation to human health/security, ecosystem services, biodiversity, and resource management. The conceptual framework about the six Es of landscape sustainability for designed landscapes follows the tradition in which landscape researchers and practitioners synthesize emerging trends into conceptual frameworks for advancing basic and applied activities.