Temporal Dimensions of Landscape Ecology: Wildlife Responses to Variable Resources

by John A. Bissonette (Editor), Ilse Storch (Editor)

Overview

Over the past twenty-five years, the effects of the spatial distribution and scaling of resources on animal populations have been increasingly studied in wildlife biology, landscape ecology, conservation biology, and related fields. However, spatial patterns change over time. In Temporal Dimensions of Landscape Ecology: Wildlife Responses to Variable Resources, the authors discuss the effects that temporal changes in resources have on animal populations. Resource availability and quality are not distributed homogeneously over time, depending for example on predictable changes in seasons, mating and birthing cycles, unpredictable resource pulses and weather-related phenomena, ecological disturbances, and historical legacies.

Temporal Dimensions of Landscape Ecology brings together chapters that address the idea of current as well as historical temporal influences on resource availability, quality, and distribution. The authors draw attention to the neglected temporal issues so important to understanding species and community responses. This book will be of interest to both wildlife and conservation students and practitioners working with temporal and spatial scale issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387454450
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	09/05/2007
Edition description:	2007
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

John A. Bissonette is a research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and is a professor in the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University.

Ilse Storch is professor of wildlife ecology and management at the University of Freiburg, Germany.

Table of Contents

Relevant Temporal Theory.- Resource Acquisition and Animal Response in Dynamic Landscapes.- Pulsed Resources and Community Responses.- Invoking the Ghosts of Landscapes Past to Understand the Landscape Ecology of the Present … and the Future.- Modeling Adaptive Behavior in Event-Driven Environments.- Temporal Scaling in Complex Systems.- Statistics of Time.- Using Statistical Models to Study Temporal Dynamics of Animal—Landscape Relations.- Multivariate Landscape Trajectory Analysis.- Temporally Focused Case Studies.- Assessing Grouse Habitats in the Alps.- Exploring the Temporal Effects of Seasonal Water Availability on the Snail Kite of Florida.- Three Axes of Ecological Studies.- Building and Using Habitat Models for Assessing Temporal Changes in Forest Ecosystems.- Foraging Responses of the Endangered Gouldian Finch to Temporal Differences in Seed Availability in Northern Australian Savanna Grasslands.- Spending Time in the Forest.- Niche Opportunities and Introduced Birds.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"Temporal Dimensions of Landscape Ecology: Wildlife Responses to Variable Resources … focuses on the temporal aspect of landscape ecology in relation to wildlife populations. … The book is divided into three sections: relevant temporal theory, statistics of time, and temporally focused case studies. … provide the basis for a conceptual framework for addressing both spatial and temporal variation in landscape ecology. In doing so, the book provides fodder for thought on a difficult topic and will become a valuable addition to any landscape ecologist’s library." (Sarah E. Lehnen, Landscape Ecology, Vol. 23, 2008)

From the Publisher