Habitats and landscape ecology

Habitat research requires information on geographical positioning of animals and populations as well as habitat classified map data and other kinds of background information. Position data can be collected in several ways. Such data is obtained by e.g. radio trackning or observations from the wildlife triangle counts. The Finnish habitat mapping, and especially the remote sensing of forest habitats, are of a very high standard. An efficient linking of these different sets of information provides unique possibilities to study wildlife habitats on different geographical scales.

The problems asked are on several levels. One of the most commonly asked questions is: what habitat is optimal for a species. To provide the answers, we usually study things like food supply, cover and risk of predation. Even this very basic perspective can still provide successful applications in agriculture and forestry.

In landscape ecology habitats are viewed on a broader scale than the very place where an animal is encountered. Photo marcus Wikman

Landscape ecology is a discipline that studies ecological phenomena on a broader scale. In this field our know how and possibilities for detailed analysis are at their very best. The success of populations and individuals are best explained by the habitat characteristics of a wider area than of the very place where the animal is encountered. The reproductive success of a female black grouse is best expalined by the habitat of an area with a 10 km radius. We can also study habitats and landscapes on a geographical level, and at that we are approaching a species’ basic premises to survive in an area. Is there enough suitable habitat to support a species. The heavy fragmentation of forest habitats gives some reason to suspect that these basic needs are not always met.

Large scale forest fragmentation is a great challenge for wildlife research and management. Phot marcus Wikman

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