SUBJECT

Title

Landscape geography, landscape research

Type of instruction

lecture

Level

master

Part of degree program
Credits

2

Recommended in

Semester 3

Typically offered in

Autumn semester

Course description

Landscape research is an emerging geographical discipline with strong correlation to ecology. This field science comprises descriptive (landscape geography), theoretical (landscape ecology) and practical aspects (landscape conservation and landscape management). Present course primarily focuses theoretical bakcgroud of landcape science with applications.

Landscape geography and landscapoe science includes following topics:

  1. Introduction: history of landscape science, basic concept of the landscape research;
  2. Landscape forming processes;
  3. Patch-corridor-matrix: the land mosaics;
  4. Patches: categories, structure, functions, metrics of patches, core-edge;
  5. Boundaries: the concept of ecotones, structures and functions;
  6. Corridors – general introduction
  7. Roads - structure and functions, effects of the roads to the environment;
  8. Tree lines and forest strips;
  9. Riparian corridors;
  10. Networks and matrix.
Readings
  • Richard T. T. Forman 2007. Land Mosaics: The Ecology of Landscapes and Regions Cambridge University Press, 693 p.
  • Turner, Monica G., Gardner, Robert H., O'Neill, Robert V. 2001. Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice
  • Pattern and Process. Springer. P. 404. ISBN: 0-387-95122-9
  • Darrel Hess 2014. McKnight's Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation. Prentice Hall. 688 ISBN-10: 0321818946