INTRODUCTION TO LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY:

PATCH / MATRIX / EDGE / MOSAIC

HARVARD GSD CAREER DISCOVERY 2013

Animals, plants, water, wind, materials, and peo-
ple move through spatial patterns characteristic
of virtually all landscapes and regions. This up-
to-date synthesis explores the ecology of hetero-
geneous land areas, where natural processes and
human activities spatially interact to produce an
ever-changing mosaic...This subject is of enor-
mous importance to today’s society, and indeed
for molding the future of areas surrounding each
of us.

-Richard T.T. Forman, introduction to

Land Mosaics: The Ecology of Landscapes and Re-
gions
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
LINEAGE:

IAN MCHARG
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
LINEAGE:

HOWARD T. ODUM
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
LINEAGE:

RICHARD T.T. FORMAN

LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY
Mosaic: a pattern of patches, corridors and matrix,
each composed of smaller, similar, aggregated ob-
RICHARD T.T. FORMAN
jects; the pattern created by the juxtaposition of these
forms

Matrix: the background ecosystem or land-use type

in a mosaic, characterized by extensive cover, high
connectivity, and/or major control over dynamics.

Patch: a relatively homogenous area that differs from

its surroundings (ex. a grove, a thicket, an opening)

Corridor: a strip of a particular type that differs from

the adjacent land on both sides (ex. a river corridor,
hedgerow or a high transmission powerline corridor)
Mosaic: a pattern of patches, corridors and matrix,
each composed of smaller, similar, aggregated ob-
jects; the pattern created by the juxtaposition of these
forms

Matrix: the background ecosystem or land-use type

in a mosaic, characterized by extensive cover, high
connectivity, and/or major control over dynamics.

Patch: a relatively homogenous area that differs from

its surroundings (ex. a grove, a thicket, an opening)

Corridor: a strip of a particular type that differs from

the adjacent land on both sides (ex. a river corridor,
hedgerow or a high transmission powerline corridor)
MOSAIC: a pattern of patches, corridors and matrix, each composed of smaller, similar, aggregated objects.
MOSAIC: a pattern of patches, corridors and matrix, each composed of smaller, similar, aggregated objects.
Top: Industrial park, Golf course community, Planned suburb, Landfill, Agriculture (corn/soybean), Agriculture (circle Irrigation)
“Form is the diagram of force.”
PATTERNS OF FRAGMENTATION
AND DISTURBANCE

1_SUBSTRATE HETEROGENEITY
soil type, water, solar energy
PATTERNS OF FRAGMENTATION
AND DISTURBANCE

1_SUBSTRATE HETEROGENEITY
soil type, water, solar energy

2_ NATURAL DISTURBANCE
fire, wind, storms, mudflows
PATTERNS OF FRAGMENTATION
AND DISTURBANCE

1_SUBSTRATE HETEROGENEITY
soil type, water, solar energy

2_ NATURAL DISTURBANCE
fire, wind, storms, mudflow

3_HUMAN DISTURBANCE
sprawl, resource extraction
agriculture, policy
PATTERNS OF FRAGMENTATION
AND DISTURBANCE

1_SUBSTRATE HETEROGENEITY
soil type, water, solar energy

2_ NATURAL DISTURBANCE
fire, wind, storms, mudflow

3_HUMAN DISTURBANCE
sprawl, resource extraction
agriculture, policy
While “form is the diagram of force,”
it works the other way around as
well.

Not only do flows create structure,

but structure determines flow. The
arrangement of patches and corridors
determines the movements of verte-
brates, water and humans across the
land.

As designers we can study how

these arrangements change move-
ments and flows, learn from them,
and apply them in our work.
Mosaic: a pattern of patches, corridors and matrix,
each composed of smaller, similar, aggregated ob-
jects; the pattern created by the juxtaposition of these
forms

Matrix: the background ecosystem or land-use type

in a mosaic, characterized by extensive cover, high
connectivity, and/or major control over dynamics.

Patch: a relatively homogenous area that differs from

its surroundings (ex. a grove, a thicket, an opening)

Corridor: a strip of a particular type that differs from

the adjacent land on both sides (ex. a river corridor,
hedgerow or a high transmission powerline corridor)
PATCH:

a relatively homogenous area that

differs from its surroundings (ex. a
grove, a thicket, an opening)

MATRIX:

the background ecosystem or land-

use type in a mosaic (ex. grassland,
forest, crop land, urban fabric)
Patches have ecological value based
on size. The greater the patch size of
continuous vegetation, the higher the
biodiversity.

Each species has a minimum size of

habitat needed for survival. A larger
patch provides habitat for more spe-
cies, from a single Plueteus mush-
room to a black bear. A smaller patch
could contain only the Plueteus.

SMALL: MEDIUM: LARGE: CARNIVORE

Fungi Fungi Fungi Black bear
Insects Insects Insects Fox
Lichen Lichen Lichen

HERBIVORES HERBIVORES
Sparrow Blue Jay
Blue Jay Rabbit
Rabbit Squirrel
Squirrel Deer
Beaver
Ecological value of patches of vegetation:

Large patches:
1_Water quality protection for aquifer and lakes
2_Connectivity for a stream network for fish and overland movement.
3_Habitat to sustain populations of patch interior species.
4_Core habitat and escape cover for large-home-range vertebrates
5_Source of species dispersing through the matrix
6_Microhabitat proximities for multihabitat species
7_Near natural disturbance regimes
8_Buffer against extinction during environmental changes

Small patches:
1_Habitat and stepping stones for species dispersal, and for recoliniza-
tino after local extinction
2_High species density and high populations of edge species
3_Increases heterogeneity of the landscape
4_Habitat for small-patch species
Patch shape is very important.

Edges and interior spaces of patches

provide different habitat for differ-
ent species. As the ratio of interior
to edge increases, the biodiversity
increases, providing more habitat for
interior species (esp. predators and
carnivores).

Rounder shapes accomodate more

interior species, which elongated
shapes accomodate more edge spe-
cies.
Again, patch shape is very impor-
tant.
PATCH + FRAGMENT

Fragmentation of habitat is the

transformation over time from a
larger expanse/patch to smaller, more
dispersed patches.

Fragmentation of patches increases

the ratio of edge to interior, thus
reducing biodiversity and influencing
species distribution.
PATCH GRAIN + SCALE

Different scales of an opening or a

patch (i.e. the coarseness or fineness
of the grain of the landscape) attract
different species and uses.
PATCH GRAIN + SCALE

Different scales of an opening or

patch (i.e. the coarseness or fineness
of the grain of the landscape) attract
different species and uses.

This goes for human uses as well.

A large opening might encourage
a soccer game, while a smaller one
might better suit a romantic picnic.
MOVEMENT BETWEEN
PATCHES

1_ A small population on a small

patch of land is fragile, and less likely
to remain (aka the Castaway Phe-
nomenon).

!
MOVEMENT BETWEEN
PATCHES

1_ A small population on a small

patch of land is fragile, and less likely
to remain.

2_ A small population near a big

patch increases chances of survival.
Must be close enough to another
patch that once in a year or lifetime
it can move from the small to the big
patch (aka. The Joe Versus the Vol-
cano Phenomenon.)

d = distance that can be crossed by a species

MOVEMENT BETWEEN
PATCHES

1_ A small population on a small

patch of land is fragile, and less likely
to remain.

2_ A small population near a big

patch increases chances of survival.
Must be close enough to another
patch that once in a year or lifetime
it can move from the small to the big
patch.

3_The distance travelled between

patches varies per species, and wild-
life corridors improve the connectiv-
ity between patches (aka. The Run
Forrest Run Phenomenon).
EDGE SHAPE IS IMPORTANT

A straight boundary encourages

movement along an edge (i.e. cor-
ridor), while a more convoluted edge
encourages movement across an
edge or boundary (i.e. between two
habitats).
EDGE SHAPE IS IMPORTANT

The softness or the hardness of an

edge affect the depth of the edge
effect and the depth of disturbance
into the interior of a patch (i.e.
increased wind, sun, etc). This effects
the depth of habitat for edge versus
interior species.

Hedges planted at the edge of a forest

can create a veil to improve habitat
for certain species.
EDGE SHAPE IS IMPORTANT

Many English landscape designers,

including Capability Brown, would
vary edge conditions to create con-
voluted edges and hedge borders to
increase the breeding grounds for
one very influential edge species: the
pheasant.

Gardens and grounds, Stowe

House, Buckingham, Bucking-
hamshire, United Kingdom
Mosaic: a pattern of patches, corridors and matrix,
each composed of smaller, similar, aggregated ob-
jects; the pattern created by the juxtaposition of these
forms

Matrix: the background ecosystem or land-use type

in a mosaic, characterized by extensive cover, high
connectivity, and/or major control over dynamics.

Patch: a relatively homogenous area that differs from

its surroundings (ex. a grove, a thicket, an opening)

Corridor: a strip of a particular type that differs from

the adjacent land on both sides (ex. a river corridor,
hedgerow or a high transmission powerline corridor)
CORRIDORS

Corridors can be naturally occur-

ing (like the stream corridor on left),
or constructed (like the powerline
transmission corridor on the right).
CORRIDORS

Corridors can be wider strips or nar-

row lines. They can also be positive
forms of vegetation or negative open-
ings within a matrix.
CORRIDORS

Corridors can function as habitat,

conduits, filters, sources of species, or
sinks to facillitate flows and move-
ment.
ROAD AS CORRIDOR
ROAD CORRIDORS

The width of a road or any corridor

effects which species can cross, thus
acting as a species filter,
ROAD CORRIDORS

Road corridors can also prove con-

nectors for certain species that travel
down rather than across such cor-
ridors. One such beneficiary of the
road system is the coyote which has
found its way into urban and sub-
urban settings, including Chicago
where they find plentiful prey in
urban wildlife and domesticated pets.
ROAD CORRIDORS

The distance from a road corridor ef-

fects the adjacent areas. For example,
lead and salt from roads can impact
areas up to 100 meters away.
CORRIDORS + CONNECTORS

Biodiversity and mobility of species

can be increased by creating cor-
ridors or sinks (i.e. small patches)
between patches.
CORRIDOR

SINKS
CORRIDORS + CONNECTORS

Hedgerows and windbreak act as

connectors for wildlife flow, while
reducing wind to improve pasture
and crop conditions.
APPLICATION

Given these rules, one can begin to

understand and map how movement
of wildlife and people respond to a
landscape matrix.
“Using principles is not difficult, and leads
to more integrative designs and plans. It
helps reduce the landscape fragmentation
and degradation so evident around us.”

-Richard T.T. Forman

APPLICATION:
VEGETATION AS REMOVAL