Landscape ecology: its role as a trans-disciplinary science for rangeland sustainability
Diane M. Pearson
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
School of Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Health, Science and the Environment, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia. Current address: Territory Natural Resource Management, GPO Box 2775, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia. Email: diane.pearson@territorynrm.org.au
The Rangeland Journal 35(4) 363-371 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ12067
Submitted: 11 September 2012 Accepted: 12 August 2013 Published: 30 September 2013
Abstract
The aim is to review landscape ecology and the contribution it can make to sustainable rangeland management, using Australia as an example. An examination is made of how much traditional ecology, as a discipline, influences landscape ecology in Australia. Also evaluated is whether, under this influence, landscape ecology is emerging as effectively as it could be as a trans-disciplinary science that can contribute significantly to rangeland sustainability. Surveys of landscape ecologists in Australia make it possible to classify Australian landscape ecology as being ‘unidirectional interdisciplinary’ in approach, with ecology being the coordinating discipline. The important contribution that research under this classification provides in terms of understanding structure, process, and change in rangelands is recognised and acknowledged. However, the question is raised as to whether following an ecological construct is constraining the application of landscape ecology more widely to address the complex environmental problems facing Australia’s (and the world’s) rangelands that also require consideration of the social and geographical aspects of landscapes. Recent shifts in the landscape ecological paradigm towards a science for sustainability that links science and practice, with particular focus on landscape design, social and cultural aspects of landscapes, and the value associated with landscape services, make landscape ecology increasingly more useful as a ‘goal-oriented’ approach for addressing rangeland sustainability. This paper suggests that those involved in rangeland management need to consider landscape ecology within its wider context. In doing so, it is argued that they should explore the possibilities it has to offer in dealing with development and management of rangelands, including interrelationships between people and landscapes, and to ensure ecosystem goods and services valued by people are preserved.
Additional keywords: culture, goal-oriented, interdisciplinary, landscape design, value.
References
Anderson, B. J. (2008). Research in the journal Landscape Ecology 1987–2005. Landscape Ecology 23, 129–134.Antrop, M. (2001). The language of landscape ecologists and planners. A comparative content analysis of concepts used in landscape ecology. Landscape and Urban Planning 55, 163–173.
| The language of landscape ecologists and planners. A comparative content analysis of concepts used in landscape ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Antrop, M. (2007). Reflecting on 25 years of landscape ecology. Landscape Ecology 22, 1441–1443.
| Reflecting on 25 years of landscape ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bastian, O. (2001). Landscape ecology—towards a unified discipline? Landscape Ecology 16, 757–766.
| Landscape ecology—towards a unified discipline?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bastin, G. N., Pickup, G., Chewings, V. H., and Pearce, G. (1993). Land degradation assessment in central Australia using a grazing gradient method. The Rangeland Journal 15, 190–216.
| Land degradation assessment in central Australia using a grazing gradient method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bastin, G. N., Ludwig, J. A., Eager, R. W., Chewings, V. H., and Liedloff, A. C. (2002). Indicators of landscape function: comparing patchiness metrics using remotely-sensed data from rangelands. Ecological Indicators 1, 247–260.
| Indicators of landscape function: comparing patchiness metrics using remotely-sensed data from rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bohnet, I. (2010). Integrating social and ecological knowledge for planning sustainable land and sea-scapes: experiences from the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia. Landscape Ecology 25, 1201–1218.
| Integrating social and ecological knowledge for planning sustainable land and sea-scapes: experiences from the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bohnet, I., and Smith, D. M. (2007). Planning future landscapes in the Wet Tropics of Australia: a social–ecological framework. Landscape and Urban Planning 80, 137–152.
| Planning future landscapes in the Wet Tropics of Australia: a social–ecological framework.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bohnet, I., Roebeling, P. C., Williams, K. J., Holzworth, D., van Grieken, M. E., Pert, P. L., Kroom, F. J., Westcott, D. A., and Brodie, J. (2011a). Landscapes toolkit: an integrated modelling framework to assist stakeholders in exploring options for sustainable landscape development. Landscape Ecology 26, 1179–1198.
| Landscapes toolkit: an integrated modelling framework to assist stakeholders in exploring options for sustainable landscape development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bohnet, I., Roberts, B., Harding, E., and Haug, K. J. (2011b). A typology of graziers to inform a more targeted approach for developing natural resource management policies and agricultural extension programs. Land Use Policy 28, 629–637.
| A typology of graziers to inform a more targeted approach for developing natural resource management policies and agricultural extension programs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brown, J., and MacLeod, N. (2011). A site-based approach to delivering rangeland ecosystem services. The Rangeland Journal 33, 99–108.
| A site-based approach to delivering rangeland ecosystem services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davies, J., Campbell, D., Campbell, M., Douglas, J., Hueneke, H., LaFlamme, M., Pearson, D., Preuss, K., Walker, J., and Walsh, F. (2011). Attention to four key principles can promote health outcomes from desert Aboriginal land management. The Rangeland Journal 33, 417–431.
| Attention to four key principles can promote health outcomes from desert Aboriginal land management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
di Castri, F., and Hadley, M. (1986). Enhancing the credibility of ecology: is interdisciplinary research for land use planning useful? GeoJournal 13, 229–325.
| Enhancing the credibility of ecology: is interdisciplinary research for land use planning useful?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ferdinands, K., Bradley, M., Ochoa-Gaona, S., Broderick, K., McNeill, J., and Loupa Ramos, I. (2005). ‘Landscape Ecology: What do Practitioners see as its Fundamental Purpose?’ (International Association for Landscape Ecology: Salt Lake City, UT.)
Ferguson, J. (2012). A sustainable future for the Australian rangelands. The Rangeland Journal 34, 27–32.
| A sustainable future for the Australian rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fitzhardinge, G. (1994). An alternative understanding of the relationship between the ecosystem and the social system – implications for land management in semi-arid Australia. The Rangeland Journal 16, 254–264.
| An alternative understanding of the relationship between the ecosystem and the social system – implications for land management in semi-arid Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fitzhardinge, G. (2012). Australia’s rangelands: a future vision. The Rangeland Journal 34, 33–45.
| Australia’s rangelands: a future vision.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Forman, R. T. T., and Godron, M. (1986). ‘Landscape Ecology.’ (Wiley: New York.)
Fry, G. (2001). Multifunctional landscapes – towards transdisciplinary research. Landscape and Urban Planning 57, 159–168.
| Multifunctional landscapes – towards transdisciplinary research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gorman, J., and Vemuri, S. (2012). Social implications of bridging the gap through ‘caring for country’ in remote indigenous communities of the Northern Territory, Australia. The Rangeland Journal 34, 63–73.
| Social implications of bridging the gap through ‘caring for country’ in remote indigenous communities of the Northern Territory, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gross, J. E., McAllister, R. R. J., Abel, N., Stafford-Smith, D. M., and Maru, Y. (2006). Australian rangelands as complex adaptive systems: a conceptual model and preliminary results. Environmental Modelling & Software 21, 1264–1272.
| Australian rangelands as complex adaptive systems: a conceptual model and preliminary results.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hobbs, R. J. (1994). Landscape ecology and conservation: moving from description to application. Pacific Conservation Biology 1, 170–176.
Hobbs, R. (1997). Future landscapes and the future of Landscape Ecology. Landscape and Urban Planning 37, 1–9.
| Future landscapes and the future of Landscape Ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IALE (2012a). Landscape Ecology: What is it? Available at: www.landscape-ecology.org/index.php?id=13.
IALE (2012b). Mission statement. Available at: www.landscape-ecology.org/index.php?id=14.
Klink, H.-J., Potschin, M., Tress, B., Tress, G., Volk, M., and Steinhardt, U. (2002). Landscape and landscape ecology. In: ‘Development and Perspectives of Landscape Ecology’. (Eds O. Bastian, and U. Steinhardt.) pp. 1–47. (Kluwer Academic Publications: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.)
Lovell, S. T., and Johnston, D. M. (2009). Creating multifunctional landscapes: how can the field of ecology inform the design of landscape? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7, 212–220.
| Creating multifunctional landscapes: how can the field of ecology inform the design of landscape?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ludwig, J. A., and Tongway, D. J. (2002). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. The Rangeland Journal 24, 83–95.
| Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: altered landscapes and water-erosion processes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ludwig, J. A., Tongway, D. J., Freudenberger, D., Noble, J., and Hodgkinson, K. (1997). ‘Landscape Ecology. Function and Management: Principles from Australia’s Rangelands.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Ludwig, J. A., Eager, R. W., Williams, R. J., and Lowe, L. M. (1999). Declines in vegetation patches, plant diversity, and grasshopper diversity near cattle watering-points in the Victoria River District, northern Australia. The Rangeland Journal 21, 135–149.
| Declines in vegetation patches, plant diversity, and grasshopper diversity near cattle watering-points in the Victoria River District, northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ludwig, J. A., Eager, R. W., Bastin, G. N., Chewings, V. H., and Liedloff, A. C. (2002). A leakiness index for assessing landscape function using remote-sensing. Landscape Ecology 17, 157–171.
| A leakiness index for assessing landscape function using remote-sensing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moss, M. R. (2000). Interdisciplinarity, landscape ecology and the ‘Transformation of Agricultural Landscapes’. Landscape Ecology 15, 303–311.
| Interdisciplinarity, landscape ecology and the ‘Transformation of Agricultural Landscapes’.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Muir, C., Rose, D., and Sullivan, P. (2010). From the other side of the knowledge frontier: indigenous knowledge, social-ecological relationships and new perspectives. The Rangeland Journal 32, 259–265.
| From the other side of the knowledge frontier: indigenous knowledge, social-ecological relationships and new perspectives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Musacchio, L. R. (2009). The ecology and culture of landscape sustainability: emerging knowledge and innovation in landscape research and practice. Landscape Ecology 24, 989–992.
| The ecology and culture of landscape sustainability: emerging knowledge and innovation in landscape research and practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Musacchio, L. R. (2011). The grand challenge to operationalize landscape sustainability and design-in-science paradigm. Landscape Ecology 26, 1–5.
| The grand challenge to operationalize landscape sustainability and design-in-science paradigm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nassauer, J. I., and Opdam, P. (2008). Design in science: extending the landscape ecology paradigm. Landscape Ecology 23, 633–644.
| Design in science: extending the landscape ecology paradigm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Naveh, Z. (2002). A transdisciplinary education program for regional sustainable development. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 28, 167–191.
Naveh, Z. (2007). Landscape ecology and sustainability. Landscape Ecology 22, 1437–1440.
| Landscape ecology and sustainability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neef, E. (1982). Stages in the development of landscape ecology. In: ‘Perspectives in Landscape Ecology. Proceedings of the 1st International Congress in Landscape Ecology’. Veldhoven, The Netherlands, 6–11 April 1981. (Eds S. P. Tjallingii and A. A. de Veer.) pp. 19–28. (Center for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation: Wageningen, The Netherlands.)
Pearson, D. (2005). Landscape ecology in Australia: a new interdisciplinary science or just a part of ecology. In: ‘Proceedings of Conference of Ecological Society of Australia’. University of Queensland, December 2005. (Ecological Society of Australia: Alice Springs, NT.)
Pearson, D. M., and Gorman, J. T. (2010a). Exploring the relevance of a landscape ecological paradigm for sustainable landscapes and livelihoods: a case-application from the Northern Territory, Australia. Landscape Ecology 25, 1169–1183.
| Exploring the relevance of a landscape ecological paradigm for sustainable landscapes and livelihoods: a case-application from the Northern Territory, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pearson, D. M., and Gorman, J. T. (2010b). Managing the landscapes of the Australian Northern Territory for sustainability: visions, issues and strategies for successful planning. Futures 42, 711–722.
| Managing the landscapes of the Australian Northern Territory for sustainability: visions, issues and strategies for successful planning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pearson, D. M., and McAlpine, C. A. (2010). Landscape ecology: an integrated science for sustainability in a changing world. Landscape Ecology 25, 1151–1154.
| Landscape ecology: an integrated science for sustainability in a changing world.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Potschin, M. (2002). Landscape and Landscape Ecology Landscape ecology in different parts of the world. In: ‘Development and Perspectives of Landscape Ecology’. (Eds O. Bastian and U. Steinhardt.) pp. 38–47. (Kluwer Academic Publications: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.)
Potschin, M., and Haines-Young, R. (2006). Rio+10, sustainability science and landscape ecology. Landscape and Urban Planning 75, 162–174.
| Rio+10, sustainability science and landscape ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Potschin, M., and Haines-Young, R. (2013). Landscapes sustainability and the place-based analysis of ecosystem services. Landscape Ecology 28, 1053–1065.
| Landscapes sustainability and the place-based analysis of ecosystem services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stafford Smith, M. (2008). The ‘desert syndrome’ – causally-linked factors that characterise outback Australia. The Rangeland Journal 30, 3–14.
| The ‘desert syndrome’ – causally-linked factors that characterise outback Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Termorshuizen, J. W., and Opdam, P. (2009). Landscape services as a bridge between landscape ecology and sustainable development. Landscape Ecology 24, 1037–1052.
| Landscape services as a bridge between landscape ecology and sustainable development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
The Rangeland Journal (2013). ‘Scope of the Rangeland Journal.’ Available at: www.publish.csiro.au/nid/202.htm.
Tongway, D. J., and Ludwig, J. A. (2010). ‘Restoring Disturbed Landscapes: Putting Principles into Practice.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Tress, B., and Tress, G. (2001). Capitalising on multiplicity: a trans-disciplinary systems approach to landscape research. Landscape and Urban Planning 57, 143–157.
| Capitalising on multiplicity: a trans-disciplinary systems approach to landscape research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tress, B., Tress, G., van der Valk, A., and Fry, G. (2003). ‘Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Landscape Studies: Potentials and Limitations.’ (Delta Series 2: Wageningen, The Netherlands.)
Tress, B., Tress, G., and Fry, G. (2005). Key steps for reaching integration. In: ‘From Landscape Research to Landscape Planning Aspects of Integration, Education and Application’. (Eds B. Tress, G. Tress, G. Fry and P. Opdam.) (Springer: Wageningen, The Netherlands.)
Troll, C. (1968). Pflanzensoziologie und Landschaftsökologie. In: ‘Berlin International Symposium Ver. Vegetationskunde, Stolzenau/Weser 1963’. (Ed. R. Tüxen.) pp. 1–21. (Junk: Den Haag, The Netherlands.)
Turner, M. (1989). Landscape Ecology: the effect of pattern on process. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 20, 171–197.
| Landscape Ecology: the effect of pattern on process.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wiens, J. (1992). What is landscape ecology really? Landscape Ecology 7, 149–150.
| What is landscape ecology really?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wiens, J. (2008). Allerton Park 1983: the beginnings of a paradigm for landscape ecology. Landscape Ecology 23, 125–128.
| Allerton Park 1983: the beginnings of a paradigm for landscape ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). ‘Our Common Future.’ (Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.)
Wu, J. (2006). Landscape ecology, cross-disciplinarity and sustainability science. Landscape Ecology 21, 1–4.
| Landscape ecology, cross-disciplinarity and sustainability science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXks1alsbc%3D&md5=6575201ce87778b7afab3bf9cb9b48edCAS |
Wu, J. (2007). Past, present and future of landscape ecology. Landscape Ecology 22, 1433–1435.
| Past, present and future of landscape ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wu, J. (2010). Landscape of culture and culture of landscape: does landscape ecology need culture? Landscape Ecology 25, 1147–1150.
| Landscape of culture and culture of landscape: does landscape ecology need culture?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zonneveld, I. S. (1995). ‘Land Ecology.’ (SPB Academic Publishing: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.)
