What is Landscape Ecology?

Landscape ecology is an interdisciplinary field that has developed at the interface between biology and geography. It investigates the complex spatial, temporal and functional relationships between all elements and components of landscapes (e.g. air, soil, water, vegetation and wildlife). The aim is to better understand the causal relationships between the organisms living in landscapes and their abiotic environment; humans are usually regarded as part of the landscape. The knowledge gained in this process serves the protection and more sustainable use of natural resources, which are subject to constant pressures in the course of global change.