NRES 348 Exam Questions with Complete
Solutions
What do landscape ecologists study?
Processes, Patterns, and Scale
Landscape
An area that consists of more than one ecosystem
What are the big 4 in landscape ecology
Mosaic, Patch, Corridor, Edges
Mosaic
Arrangement of landcover types
Patch
An area different from other areas around it. Smallest unit in a landscape
Corridor
Kind of patch connecting two patches
Edges
How far in b4 edge effect stops?
What is a matrix?
Most extensive and connected landcover type
Porosity of a matrix?
, Density of patches
Why is the boundary shape of matrix important?
Wigglier patches = more SA, more edge effects
The 4 characteristics of matrix
Porosity, boundary shape, networks, and heterogeneity
What is groundtruthing and why is it important?
Fact checking assessments of landcover by computing systems. Important bc technology can be
error prone.
Why are barriers bad in the context of landscape ecology?
- Intersect migratory routes
-No gene flow
-Source of mortality
Positive effects of corridors
-Connectivity
-Rescue patches that may have become locally extinct
-Facilitate movement
Negative/neutral effects of corridors
-Quality of corridor determines efficacy
-Can be fatal if corridor is a road
-Dominated by edge species
Solutions
What do landscape ecologists study?
Processes, Patterns, and Scale
Landscape
An area that consists of more than one ecosystem
What are the big 4 in landscape ecology
Mosaic, Patch, Corridor, Edges
Mosaic
Arrangement of landcover types
Patch
An area different from other areas around it. Smallest unit in a landscape
Corridor
Kind of patch connecting two patches
Edges
How far in b4 edge effect stops?
What is a matrix?
Most extensive and connected landcover type
Porosity of a matrix?
, Density of patches
Why is the boundary shape of matrix important?
Wigglier patches = more SA, more edge effects
The 4 characteristics of matrix
Porosity, boundary shape, networks, and heterogeneity
What is groundtruthing and why is it important?
Fact checking assessments of landcover by computing systems. Important bc technology can be
error prone.
Why are barriers bad in the context of landscape ecology?
- Intersect migratory routes
-No gene flow
-Source of mortality
Positive effects of corridors
-Connectivity
-Rescue patches that may have become locally extinct
-Facilitate movement
Negative/neutral effects of corridors
-Quality of corridor determines efficacy
-Can be fatal if corridor is a road
-Dominated by edge species
