What is landscape ecology?

Landscape ecology emphasizes the causes of spatial heterogeneity and their consequences for ecological processes. This explicit focus on spatial arrangement and attention to broad-scale patterns distinguishes landscape ecology from other sub-discplines in ecology.

About our lab

Research in our lab uses the principles of landscape ecology to address questions about ecosystem structure and function in terrestrial and aquatic systems. We are particularly interested in understanding the multi-scale effects of land use/land cover change on ecosystem properties and processes. We use a variety of approaches, including field-based observational and experimental studies, laboratory studies, GIS techniques, and computer simulation models, across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales to provide insight into the reciprocal relationship between pattern and process. A primary goal of our research is to understand the role of human disturbance in determining the structure and function of contemporary ecosystems and their future states.