Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword by Robert M. May (Lord May of Oxford)
- Preface
- 1 Introduction: scaling biodiversity – what is the problem?
- PART I Spatial scaling of species richness and distribution
- PART II Alternative measures of biodiversity: taxonomy, phylogeny, and turnover
- PART III Scaling of biological diversity with energy and the latitudinal biodiversity gradient
- PART IV Processes, perspectives, and syntheses
- 16 Spatiotemporal scaling of species richness: patterns, processes, and implications
- 17 Scaling biodiversity under neutrality
- 18 General patterns in plant invasions: a family of quasi-neutral models
- 19 Extinction and population scaling
- 20 Survival of species in patchy landscapes: percolation in space and time
- 21 Biodiversity power laws
- Index
- Plate section
- References
20 - Survival of species in patchy landscapes: percolation in space and time
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword by Robert M. May (Lord May of Oxford)
- Preface
- 1 Introduction: scaling biodiversity – what is the problem?
- PART I Spatial scaling of species richness and distribution
- PART II Alternative measures of biodiversity: taxonomy, phylogeny, and turnover
- PART III Scaling of biological diversity with energy and the latitudinal biodiversity gradient
- PART IV Processes, perspectives, and syntheses
- 16 Spatiotemporal scaling of species richness: patterns, processes, and implications
- 17 Scaling biodiversity under neutrality
- 18 General patterns in plant invasions: a family of quasi-neutral models
- 19 Extinction and population scaling
- 20 Survival of species in patchy landscapes: percolation in space and time
- 21 Biodiversity power laws
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Introduction
This chapter is about some basic geometric considerations and scaling laws in the spatial structure of habitats and (meta)populations.
Conservation of a valuable species, or conversely, eradication of an invasive species can be significantly helped by mapping its potential habitats. It is not easy, however, to measure the value of a habitat patch for a population or subpopulation. Not only the quality, but also the size and shape of the patch can influence birth, death, migration or dispersal (Forman, 1995; Wiens, 1997; chapter 8 in Turner, Gardner & O'Neill, 2001). The wider context, patch-to-patch neighborhood is another matter of consideration, because it can directly influence the movement of individuals (cf. borderline penetrability; Wiens, 1997) or survival and reproduction (cf. edge effects, ecotone effects; chapter 3 in Forman, 1995; Milne et al., 1996; Harrison & Bruna, 1999). Spatial patterns on larger, regional scales are not negligible either. For example, habitat fragmentation is often a serious threat to survival (Fahrig, 2003). Many species require multiple patch types for completing the life cycle, or performing different activities (e.g. feeding and breeding). In this case, the proximity of different patch types in the patchwork also matters. Finally, the patches are rarely constant: they can shrink, expand, or shift; new patches can appear and old ones disappear. The changes can seriously challenge survival (Keymer et al., 2000; see also Wiens, 1997 about habitat tracking).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Scaling Biodiversity , pp. 409 - 440Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007
References
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