Chapter 23 – Chapter 23 – Landscape EcologyLandscape Ecology

(and Lake succession and (and Lake succession and wetland types)wetland types)

► Landscape mosaicLandscape mosaic A quilt-work of different habitatsA quilt-work of different habitats

► PatchesPatches Distinct communitiesDistinct communities

making up the making up the mosaicmosaic

► EdgeEdge Where two different landscapes meet Where two different landscapes meet Field bordering a forestField bordering a forest Can be caused by soil differences, fire, Can be caused by soil differences, fire,

grazing, farming, etcgrazing, farming, etc

► EcotoneEcotone Blending of two different ecosystemsBlending of two different ecosystems Trees and grasses meeting and Trees and grasses meeting and

overlappingoverlapping Copy the drawingCopy the drawing

► Edge EffectEdge Effect Typically more biodiversity around edges Typically more biodiversity around edges

because of varied plant communitiesbecause of varied plant communities Example: Ruffed GrouseExample: Ruffed Grouse►Needs a variety of plantNeeds a variety of plant

cover for it’s food, nestingcover for it’s food, nestingand courting behaviorand courting behavior

► CorridorsCorridors Strips of vegetation Strips of vegetation

that connect one that connect one patch with anotherpatch with another

Function as travel Function as travel lanes for organismslanes for organisms

Usually created by Usually created by humanshumans

• Shade tolerant -Shade tolerant -• sugar maple, beech, oak, hickorysugar maple, beech, oak, hickory

• Shade intolerant trees – Shade intolerant trees – • Cherry, Birch, aspenCherry, Birch, aspen

► Progression of a lake into a fieldProgression of a lake into a field► This does not typically occur in deep This does not typically occur in deep

water lakeswater lakes

► Starts with the cattails, rushes and Starts with the cattails, rushes and other surface vegetation growing other surface vegetation growing around the shore.around the shore.

► These die and fallThese die and fallinto the water withinto the water withother organic matter other organic matter

► Organic matter Organic matter continues to build continues to build up and more up and more species begin species begin crowding the lake crowding the lake edgeedge

► Oxygen levels drop Oxygen levels drop (b/c of (b/c of decomposition) and decomposition) and fish species fish species decreasedecrease

► Lake finally turns into Lake finally turns into a marsh, swamp or boga marsh, swamp or bog

► Marsh Marsh Frequently floodFrequently flood More open water and deeper than a More open water and deeper than a

swampswamp Dominant species are grasses, reeds, Dominant species are grasses, reeds,

shrubs, etcshrubs, etc Fresh, salt or brackishFresh, salt or brackish

water water

► SwampSwamp Typically have large amountsTypically have large amounts

of woody vegetationof woody vegetation ShallowShallow Fresh or salt water Fresh or salt water

► BogBog Fill mostly with precipitationFill mostly with precipitation Poor soils and a lot of sphagnum Poor soils and a lot of sphagnum

moss (acidic)moss (acidic)►Low decomposition Low decomposition ►Accumulate peat (dead organic Accumulate peat (dead organic

matter)matter)