Landscape ecology of wetlands: Overview

Abstract

Landscapes are heterogeneous areas consisting of interacting biotic and abiotic components. Landscape ecology emphasizes landscape pattern, connectivity within the landscape, and the interaction between landscape pattern and ecolog- ical process. The interaction of people with the landscape is also an integral component of landscape ecology due to the significant reciprocal nature of the relationship between humans and the environment. The section, Landscape Ecology of Wetlands, describes common landscape ecology principles and how they are being applied by wetland scientists and practitioners.