Description:    Understanding functional connectivity is critical for several issues in ecology and conservation. When animals actively search for habitat across landscapes, their perceptual range of habitats can profoundly influence connectivity. Nonetheless, conceptual development and estimation of perceptual ranges and their influence on connectivity have been limited. Signal detection theory (SDT) has a long tradition in several disciplines to address the problem of detecting stimuli in noisy and uncertain environments. SDT is particularly useful for understanding perceptual ranges because it acknowledges uncertainty in the detection process and distinguishes between two key parameters that have previously been confounded when interpreting the perceptual range of animals: signal detectability and response bias of individuals. Here we extend SDT to the concept of perceptual range, provide approaches for estimating patch detectability and response bias, and apply this framework to interpreting the perceptual range of cactus bugs ( Chelinidea vittiger ). We find that signal detectability of habitat by C. vittiger , and thus their perceptual range, is between 1 and 2 m, based on generalized linear models aimed at estimating signal detection parameters. SDT provides new insights into perceptual ranges and functional connectivity, which may help understand intra and interspecific variation in animal responses to modified landscapes. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9812-6 Authors Robert J. Fletcher Jr., Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA Christopher W. Maxwell Jr., Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Building 970 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA John E. Andrews, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA Wendy L. Helmey-Hartman, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Building 970 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    Landscape connectivity, defined as the degree to which the landscape facilitates or impedes movement among resource patches, has been considered to be a key issue for biodiversity conservation. However, the use of landscape connectivity measurements has been strongly criticised due to uncertainties in the methods used and the lack of validation. Moreover, measurements are typically restricted to the population level, whereas management is generally carried out at the community level. Here, we used satellite imagery and network metrics to predict the landscape connectivity at community level for semi-natural herbaceous patches in an urban area near Paris (France). We tested different measurement methods, both taking into account and ignoring the spatial heterogeneity of matrix resistance estimated by the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), and quantifying the link strength between patches with the shortest path and flow metrics. We assessed the fit of these connectivity predictions with empirical data on plant communities embedded in an urban matrix. Our results indicate that the best fit with the empirical data is obtained when the connectivity is estimated with the flow metric and takes into account the matrix heterogeneity. Overall, our study helps to estimate the landscape connectivity of urban areas and makes recommendations for ways in which we might optimise landscape planning with respect to conservation of urban biodiversity. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9817-1 Authors Audrey Muratet, ODBU, Observatoire Départemental de la Biodiversité Urbaine, Direction de la Nature, des Paysages et de la Biodiversité, Conseil Général de la Seine-Saint-Denis, Hôtel du Département, 93006 Bobigny Cedex, France Romain Lorrillière, UMR 7204 CNRS-MNHN-UPMC, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 61 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France Philippe Clergeau, UMR 7204 CNRS-MNHN-UPMC, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 61 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France Colin Fontaine, UMR 7204 CNRS-MNHN-UPMC, Conservation des Espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 61 Rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    The desire to improve urban sustainability is motivating many city planners to adopt growth strategies that increase residential density, leading to substantial changes to urban landscapes. What effect this change will have on biodiversity remains unclear, but it is expected that the role of public greenspace in providing wildlife habitat will become critical. We explored the role of urban “pocket parks” as habitat for birds, and how this role changed with increasing residential density in the surrounding neighbourhood. We found that parks in neighbourhoods with high levels of public greenspace (corresponding to less residential land) supported more bird species and individuals overall, and more woodland-dependent species, insectivores and hollow-nesters. Total greenspace area was more important (included in the best ranked models for all bird responses) than the configuration (number, average size and connectivity) of greenspace patches. The majority of species were common suburban birds, indicating that species we assume are tolerant to urban areas will be negatively affected by increasing residential density. Parks form part of an interconnected network of urban open space. For parks to continue to support a diverse native bird community, the network must be viewed, managed, and maintained in its entirety. We suggest three key management actions to improve the bird diversity values of urban greenspaces in compact cities: (1) Increase urban greenspace cover in residential neighbourhoods. (2) Increase vegetation structure in greenspace. (3) Encourage homeowners to plant trees and shrubs. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9811-7 Authors Karen Ikin, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia R. Matthew Beaty, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Black Mountain Laboratories, Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia David B. Lindenmayer, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Emma Knight, Centre for Mathematics and Its Applications, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Joern Fischer, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Adrian D. Manning, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    Large wood (LW) is critical to the structure and function of streams and forests are the main LW source to stream channels. To assess the influence of forest cover changes at different spatial scales on in-stream LW quantity, we selected eighteen catchments (2nd–4th order) in Southeastern Brazil with forests at different levels of alterations. In each catchment we quantified the pattern of forest cover (% cover and relative catchment position), the physical characteristics of catchments (elevation and slope), the characteristics of channels (wetted channel width and depth), the abundance and volume of in-stream LW, and the frequency of LW pools. We used simple and multiple linear regression to assess the response of LW variables to landscape and stream reach variables. Most of the LW was relatively small; 72 % had a diameter 〈20 cm, and 66 % had a length 〈5 m. Although percent forest cover at reach scale had substantial support to explain LW variables, the best predictors of LW variables were forest cover at broader scales (LW abundance and LW pool frequency were best predicted by forest at intermediate distance at the catchment scale and LW volume was best predicted by forest cover at the drainage network scale), suggesting that downstream transport is an important process in addition to local processes in our study area. These findings have important management implications because although low forested reaches receive less LW from local forests (or no LW in the case of deforested stream reaches), they are receiving LW from upstream forested reaches. However, the material is generally small, unstable and likely to be easily flushed. This suggests that not only should riparian forest conservation encompass the full drainage network, but forests should also be allowed to regenerate to later successional stages to provide larger, higher quality LW for natural structuring of streams. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9809-1 Authors Felipe Rossetti de Paula, Department of Biosystems, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 CP 9, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil Pedro Gerhard, Natural Resources Management Thematic Group—Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Trav. Doutor Enéas Pinheiro, s/n, CP 48, Belém, PA 66095-100, Brazil Seth J. Wenger, Trout Unlimited, 322 E. Front St., Suite 401, Boise, ID 83702, USA Anderson Ferreira, Isotopic Ecology Laboratory, Nuclear Energy Center for Agriculture—CENA/USP, University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário, 303, CEP 13416-970, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil Carlos Alberto Vettorazzi, Department of Biosystems, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 CP 9, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil Silvio Frosini de Barros Ferraz, Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, CP 9, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    Understanding what features of the landscape affect species distribution is critical to effectively implement conservation strategies. This study investigates how a boundary analysis framework can be used to characterize the spatial association between boundaries (i.e., spatial locations of high rates of change) in bird species’ distributions and landscape features at the regional scale. The study area covers 92,000 km 2 in southern Ontario (Canada) and extends from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence biome to the southern Canadian Shield biome. Landcover composition was derived from Ontario Land Cover data (1991–1998; 7 types) and elevation data were derived from the Canada3D digital elevation model. Bird distributions were estimated using indicator kriging based on point counts obtained from the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas data (2001–2005; 60 species). Boundaries were delineated for both data types using a 10 × 10 km cell resolution. Spatial boundary overlap statistics were used to quantify the spatial relationship between landscape features and bird boundaries and tested using a randomization procedure. There was significant positive association and spatial overlap between delineated landscape feature boundaries and bird boundaries. The number of spatially overlapping cells between the two boundary types was 67 out of 164 (41 %) and 76 % of cells were within 11.42 km of each other. These results were statistically significant ( P  〈 0.001) and suggest a strong spatial relationship between high rates of change in landscape features and bird species’ distributions at the regional scale. A boundary analysis framework could be used to identify boundary shifts in response to climate change and anticipate changes in species distributions. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9804-6 Authors Aleksandra E. Polakowska, Department of Ecology Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada Marie-Josée Fortin, Department of Ecology Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada Andrew Couturier, Bird Studies Canada, P.O. Box 160, 115 Front Street, Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0, Canada Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    Fuel characteristics play an important role in driving fire ignition and propagation; at the landscape scale fuel availability and flammability are closely related to vegetation phenology. In this view, the NDVI profiles obtained from high temporal resolution satellites, like MODIS, are an effective tool for monitoring the coarse-scale vegetation seasonal timing. The aim of this paper is twofold: our first objective consists in classifying by means of multitemporal NDVI profiles the coarse-scale vegetation of Sardinia into ‘phenological clusters’ in which fire incidence is higher (preferred) or lower (avoided) than expected from a random null model. If fires would burn unselectively, then fires would occur randomly across the landscape such that the number of fires in a given phenological cluster would be nearly proportional to the relative area of that land cover type in the analyzed landscape. Actually, certain vegetation types are more fire-prone than others. That is, they are burnt more frequently than others. In this framework, our second objective consists in investigating the temporal parameters of the remotely sensed NDVI profiles that best characterize the observed phenology–fire selectivity relationship. The results obtained show a good association between the NDVI temporal profiles and the spatio-temporal wildfire distribution in Sardinia, emphasizing the role of bioclimatic timing in driving fire regime characteristics. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9808-2 Authors Antonella De Angelis, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy Sofia Bajocco, National Council for Research in Agriculture, Unit of Climatology and Meteorology Applied to Agriculture (CRA-CMA), Via del Caravita 7a, 00186 Rome, Italy Carlo Ricotta, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    We determined the relationship between acoustic diversity and metrics of vertical forest structure derived from light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data in a neotropical rainforest in Costa Rica. We then used the LIDAR-derived metrics to predict acoustic diversity across the forest landscape. Sound recordings were obtained from 14 sites for six consecutive days during dusk chorus (6 pm). Acoustic diversity was calculated for each day as the total intensity across acoustic frequency bands using the Shannon index and then averaged over the 6 days at each site. A 10 m radius around each site was used to obtain several LIDAR-derived metrics describing the vertical structural attributes of the forest canopy. Multiple linear regression (MLR) with Akaike information criterion was used to determine a top-ranked model with acoustic diversity as the dependent variable and the LIDAR metrics as independent variables. Acoustic diversity was modeled for forested areas (where canopy height was 〉20 m) at 20 m resolution using coefficients obtained from the MLR, and a hotspot analysis was conducted on the resulting layer. Acoustic diversity was strongly correlated ( R 2  = 0.75) with the LIDAR metrics suggesting that LIDAR-derived metrics can be used to determine canopy structural attributes important to vocal fauna species. The hotspot analysis revealed that the spatial distribution of these canopy structural attributes across the La Selva forest is not random. Our approach can be used to identify forest patches of potentially high acoustic diversity for conservation or management purposes. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9806-4 Authors Burak K. Pekin, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA Jinha Jung, Institute for Environmental Science and Policy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA Luis J. Villanueva-Rivera, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA Bryan C. Pijanowski, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA Jorge A. Ahumada, Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring Network, Science and Knowledge Division, Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    Intense harvesting and slash fires during the late 1800s and early 1900s led to homogenization throughout the Great Lakes region via the conversion from tamarack, pine, and spruce forests to aspen forests, which are supported by the forest products industry. Subsequently, mesophication occurred in the eastern United States due to fire suppression, transforming oak woodlands to mixed mesophytic forests. We explored both homogenization and mesophication at a regional scale by quantifying changes in community composition and density between historical General Land Office survey points and current USDA Forest Analysis and Inventory plots for Minnesota’s Laurentian Mixed and Eastern Broadleaf Forest provinces. We used the Morisita plotless density estimator and applied corrections for surveyor bias to estimate density for historical forests and we used known densities of FIA plots to predict current densities with random forests, an ensemble regression tree method, and terrain and soil predictor variables. Of the 43 ecological units used in the analysis, only one current community was similar to its historical counterpart. Within the Laurentian Mixed Forest province, forest density of primarily mature aspen stands is reduced slightly today compared to the tamarack-dominated forests of the past. Conversely, in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest province, forest densities have increased compared to historical pine and oak woodlands, due to increases of densely growing, fire-sensitive species. Ordinations of functional traits and structure showed substantial changes between current and historical communities as well as reduced differentiation among current communities compared to their historical counterparts. Homogenization in the Laurentian Mixed Forest is occurring by transition from early-successional to late-successional species, with associated changes in forest ecosystems, and homogenization and mesophication in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest are occurring by transition from disturbance-stabilized genera of open forest ecosystems to non-disturbance-dependent genera of dense forests. Despite different starting points of historical forest ecosystems in the Laurentian Mixed Forest and Eastern Broadleaf Forest, we found homogenization and mesophication to be interrelated in the convergence of composition and densities along a common trajectory to dense forests composed of late-successional species in Minnesota. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-18 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9805-5 Authors Brice B. Hanberry, Department of Forestry, University of Missouri, 203 Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO 65211, USA Brian J. Palik, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA Hong S. He, Department of Forestry, University of Missouri, 203 Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO 65211, USA Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    Factors affecting intraspecific variation in home range size have rarely been examined using modern statistical and remote sensing methods. This is especially true for animals in seasonal savanna environments in Africa, despite this biome’s importance for both conservation and development goals. We studied the impacts of spatial and temporal variability in environmental conditions, along with individual and social factors, on home range sizes in African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) in northeastern Namibia. Our data set spans 4 years, is derived from 32 satellite tracking collars, and contains over 35,000 GPS locations. We used the local convex hull method to estimate home range size from 31 buffalo captured at 6 sites. We used a variety of remotely sensed data to characterize potential anthropogenic and natural boundaries, as well as seasonal and temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions. Using an information-theoretic, mixed effects approach, our analyses showed that home ranges varied over two orders of magnitude and are among the largest recorded for this species. Variables relating to vegetation and habitat boundaries were more important than abiotic environmental conditions and individual or social factors in explaining variation in home range size. The relative contributions of environmental, individual, social, and linear boundary variables to intraspecific home range size have rarely been examined and prior to this had not been assessed for any species in seasonal savannas of Africa. Understanding the factors that condition space-use patterns of wildlife in this area will lead to better-informed conservation and sustainable development decisions. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9807-3 Authors Robin Naidoo, WWF-US, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC, USA Pierre Du Preez, Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Private Bag, 13306 Windhoek, Namibia Greg Stuart-Hill, WWF in Namibia, P.O. Box 9681, Windhoek, Namibia L. Chris Weaver, WWF in Namibia, P.O. Box 9681, Windhoek, Namibia Mark Jago, Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Private Bag, 13306 Windhoek, Namibia Martin Wegmann, Department of Remote Sensing, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973

Description:    Landscape dynamics increasingly challenge agronomists to explain how and why agricultural landscapes are designed and managed by farmers. Nevertheless, agronomy is rarely included in the wide range of disciplines involved in landscape research. In this paper, we describe how landscape agronomy can help explain the relationship between farming systems and agricultural landscape dynamics. For this, we propose a conceptual model of agricultural landscape dynamics that illustrates the specific contribution of agronomy to landscape research. This model describes the relationship between three elements: farming practices, landscape patterns and natural resources. It can stimulate agronomists to deal with research issues in agricultural landscape dynamics and enhance the interdisciplinary integration of farming systems in wider landscape research. On these premises, we discuss the main research issues that will benefit from an active involvement of agronomy, to understand, but also to assess landscape dynamics and to design relevant decision support systems. Content Type Journal Article Category Perspective Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10980-012-9802-8 Authors Marc Benoît, INRA, UR 055 SAD ASTER, F-88500 Mirecourt, France Davide Rizzo, INRA, UR 055 SAD ASTER, F-88500 Mirecourt, France Elisa Marraccini, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Istituto di scienze della vita, Land Lab, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy Anna Camilla Moonen, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Istituto di scienze della vita, Land Lab, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy Mariassunta Galli, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Istituto di scienze della vita, Land Lab, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy Sylvie Lardon, INRA & AgroParisTech, UMR1273, UMR AgroParisTech/Inra/Irstea/VetAgroSup: Mutations des Activités, des Espaces et des Formes d’Organisation dans les Territoires Ruraux, Sciences Pour l’Action et le Développement, Centre de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, 24 avenue des Landais, 63172 Aubière Cedex, France Hélène Rapey, Irstea, UMR1273, UMR AgroParisTech/Inra/Irstea/VetAgroSup Mutations des Activités, des Espaces et des Formes d’Organisation dans les Territoires Ruraux, 24 avenue des Landais, 63172 Aubière Cedex, France Claudine Thenail, INRA, SAD-Paysage, 65, rue de Saint-Brieuc, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Enrico Bonari, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Istituto di scienze della vita, Land Lab, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy Journal Landscape Ecology Online ISSN 1572-9761 Print ISSN 0921-2973