Coupling Landscape Patterns and Ecological Processes - Landscape Ecology for Sustainable Environment and Culture - page 2

Chapter 1
Coupling Landscape Patterns
and Ecological Processes
Bojie Fu, Changhong Su and Yihe Lü
Abstract The relationship between landscape patterns and ecological processes
lays the foundation of landscape ecology, and understanding the relationship
between them is key to further promoting the study of landscape ecology. This
chapter addresses the importance of coupling research on the relationships
between landscape patterns and ecological processes. Direct measurement and
model simulation are the two basic approaches. Being robust in tapping the in situ
measurement data and integrating them with multiple spatial and temporal scale
data, ecological models have gradually taken the lead in landscape ecological
research. This chapter discusses methodology in analyzing driving, feedback, and
coupling relationships between landscape patterns and ecological processes, and
explores a 7-step coupling framework on landscape patterns and ecological pro-
cesses. In particular, the links between landscape patterns and soil erosion pro-
cesses are addressed at patch, slope, and watershed scales. Finally, we look into the
future of the coupling research on landscape patterns and ecological processes as:
(1) developing landscape pattern indices reflecting ecological processes; (2)
exploring the scale dependence of the relationship between landscape patterns and
ecological processes; (3) integrating landscape modeling with long-term ecologi-
cal research; and (4) strengthening research on the effects of ecological processes
on landscape patterns.
Keywords Landscape patterns Ecological processes Coupling Model inte-
gration Scale Soil erosion