Landscape Characterization / Forest Fragmentation
Glossary
barrier:
an environment that prevents or impedes the dispersal of a species from
one location to another. A fast moving river may serve as a barrier for
species that cannot fly or swim.
community:
a collection of species that live in close proximity to one another, share
the same habitat, or live in the same region.
connectivity:
the degree to which patches of habitat are linked to one another. It is
easy for individuals to travel between patches that display a high degree
of connectivity; perhaps because the patches are connected by corridors.
Patches that are separated from one another have a low connectivity.
core area:
the central portion of a habitat patch; the core is surrounded by similar
habitat, and is away from the edge of a patch.
corridor:
a connection between two patches of habitat that allows for the safe travel
of individuals between the patches. The Isthmus of Panama served as a
corridor between North and South America for many species of mammal; a
hedgerow may serve as a corridor between forests for species that live
in forest habitat.
cosmopolitan:
an adjective that describes a species that is widely dispersed; describes
a species that is found all over the world, or has a wide range. See also
pandemic.
dispersal:
the movement of organisms to new locations, away from their parents. For
example, dandelions disperse using seeds that catch the wind, while thistles
will disperse by catching in the fur of a passing mammal. Animals tend
to have an excellent capacity for dispersal, because they typically are
able to walk, fly or swim to a new location.
ecosystem:
a community of species and their physical environment. For example, a
river ecosystem would include the fish, insects, plants, water, and sediment
found in a river.
edge:
the outer boundary of a habitat patch.
edge effect:
a condition in which otherwise suitable habitat becomes less suitable
for a species because it is adjacent to non-habitat land. This degradation
of habitat may occur due to predation from species that live outside of
the patch, or increased competition with species that live outside the
habitat patch.
endemic, endemism:
an adjective that describes species that occur only in a limited number
of places. For example, the _______ is endemic to the Chesapeake Bay because
it is only found in this one region of the world.
extirpation:
a process or condition in which a population has gone extinct from a particular
patch of suitable habitat, or has been driven away from a region. In order
for this region to support another population, it must be recolonized.
exotic species:
a recently introduced species, or a species that is living in a location
that is outside of its 'normal' or historical range.
fragmentation:
the process whereby a large patch of habitat is broken down into many
smaller patches of habitat, resulting in a loss in the amount and quality
of habitat.
habitat:
areas that meet the environmental requirements of a species.
home range:
the region in which an individual lives. See also range.
individual:
a single plant or animal; a separate organism.
introduction:
to establish a population in a new location where it has never before
existed.
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