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Disturbance by Beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl) and Increased Landscape Heterogeneity

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Landscape Heterogeneity and Disturbance

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 64))

Abstract

A landscape is defined as an area having a common geomorphology, climate, and disturbance regime encompassing all types, frequencies, and intensities of disturbance through time (Mooney and Godron 1983; Forman and Godron 1986; and Risser, Chapter 1). Disturbances are discrete events in time which disrupt an ecosystem, community, or population structure and change resources, substrate availability, or the physical environment (Pickett and White 1985). The relationship between disturbance and heterogeneity in a landscape is complex and depends on the scale of the disturbance and important underlying environmental gradients. Disturbances may either increase or decrease heterogeneity (Denslow 1985), whereas landscape heterogeneity may enhance or inhibit the spread of disturbance (Risser et al. 1984).

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Remillard, M.M., Gruendling, G.K., Bogucki, D.J. (1987). Disturbance by Beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl) and Increased Landscape Heterogeneity. In: Turner, M.G. (eds) Landscape Heterogeneity and Disturbance. Ecological Studies, vol 64. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4742-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4742-5_6

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