Forest landscapes: Their effect on the interaction of the Southern pine beetle and red-cockaded woodpecker

Abstract

The nature of the interaction of the southern pine beetle and red-cockaded woodpecker was investigated using spatially explicit information on the structure of a forest landscape mosaic and knowledge of the behavior of the two organisms. This interaction is the basis for defining functional heterogeneity-how an organism perceives and responds to the elements forming the landscape. Implications for forest landscape management are discussed. The approach used illustrates how information on landscape configuration can be used with knowledge of animal behavior to investigate species interaction in forests.