2/13/2016
PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
Forest Ecology and Management 565
Cross-listed with Zoology, Landscape Architecture
Spring 2001
Course Description
Instructor: Dr. David J. Mladenoff, Dept. of Forest Ecology & Management, A131
Russell Labs, 262-1992, email: djmladen@facstaff.wisc.edu.
Format: Lecture/discussion. 2/week. 2 credits. T, R 9:55-10:45.
Updates to the syllabus, readings, periodic handouts, and other materials will be posted
at: http://landscape.forest.wisc.edu/courses/landscape565spr01
Prerequisites: Junior standing, and an ecology lab course beyond the introductory level,
such as Botany/Zoology 460 General Ecology, or Forestry 550 Forest Ecosystems, and a
statistics course; and consent of instructor. Note: This course, or similar experience, is
strongly recommended as a prerequisite for our other course, ZOOLOGY/FOREST 879
Advanced Landscape Ecology.
Description: The intent of the course is to explore the principles of landscape ecology as
a framework for landscape research, analysis and management. The course will first
develop definitions and concepts of landscape ecology as a framework for understanding
and managing landscapes. Landscape ecology provides new approaches to fundamental
research questions in ecology, as well as new approaches to forest and resource
management that consider ecosystem processes at larger spatial and temporal scales. The
course is expected to be useful to graduate students and senior undergraduates in natural
resources, ecology, conservation biology, landscape architecture, geography, land use
planning, and other fields.
Evaluation: Grades will be based on two mid-term exams, one after about 1/3 of the
course (30%), and one after about 2/3 of the course (40%); and participation in class
(30%).
Class participation means both during regular classes and in three discussion days,
scheduled to follow each of the three sections of the course. For these three discussion
classes, you should come with two discussion questions to offer and lead from the
material covered in class from that section, both lecture and readings.
Full participation in class, attendance, and timely arrival are expected. Few excuses are
considered an adequate reason for missing or delaying an exam. One letter grade
reduction per day in the exam grade will result from delayed or missed exams that are not
pre-approved.
DRAFT 2/13/2016 2
PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
Syllabus Spring 2001
Week
Lesson
Date
Topic
Part I: Introduction and Definitions of Landscape Ecology
January
1
2
1
T 23
Introduction to landscape ecology
 Historical development
 Applications of landscape ecology
2
R 25
Definitions and terminology in LE
 Pattern, heterogeneity, patches
3
T 30
Scale and hierarchy on landscapes
 Change and long temporal scales
February
3
4
R 01
Causes of pattern
 Climate and continental geomorphology
 Landform and landscape position
5
T 06
Land use- Social and cultural landscapes
6
R 08
Class cancelled
Part II: Landscape Data and Quantitative Analysis
4
5
6
7
T 13
Discussion Session: Part I
8
R 15
Social and cultural data in landscape ecology
9
T 20
Geographic information systems & landscapes
 Introduction to spatial data
10
R 22
11
T 27
Sources of error in landscape data and analysis
Quantifying landscape pattern
 Why and how to quantify landscape pattern
 Rules for interpreting landscape metrics
Remote sensing in landscape ecology
DRAFT 2/13/2016 3
March
7
8
12
R 01
Applying models in landscape ecology I:
 Introduction to models
13
T 06
Models in landscape ecology II:
 Landscape change models
 Individual-based models
14
R 08
Discussion Session: Part II
--
T 13
SPRING BREAK
--
R 15
SPRING BREAK
Part III: Processes, Pattern, and Applications of Landscape Ecology
9
10
15
T 20
The role of disturbance on landscapes I:
 Spatial dynamics of disturbance
 Disturbance, equilibrium, and scaled
landscapes
 Distribute exam questions
16
R 22
Connectivity and fragmentation I:
 Effects on organisms
17
T 27
Midterm Exam
18
R 29
Connectivity and fragmentation II:
 Biodiversity and landscape management
April
11
12
19
T 03
Ecosystem Processes on landscapes
 Productivity and nutrient
20
R 05
Historic landscapes and legacies
21
T 10
Land/water interactions I:
 Hydrology and landscapes
22
R 12
Land/water interactions II:
 Landscape controls on surface water
quality
DRAFT 2/13/2016 4
13
14
23
T 17
Forest landscape succession I:
 Succession as a spatial process
24
R 19
Forest landscape succession II:
 Modeling landscape succession and
management
25
T 24
Landscape restoration
26
R 26
No Class- US-Iale Annual Meeting
May
15
16
27
T 01
Midterm Exam
28
R 03
Micro-landscape applications
29
T 08
Landscape management:
 Natural variability, scientific
uncertainty, and sustainability
30
R 10
Discussion Session: Part III