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The Ecological Landscape Modeling team focuses its research on understanding, simulating, and predicting the interactions between ecological patterns, processes, and the landscape. This multidisciplinary team, deeply rooted in the field of landscape ecology, combines principles of ecology, geography, and statistics to analyze the complex relationships between biota and ecosystems. A central aspect of the lab's research is investigating landscape patterns, including their underlying composition, structure, and spatial complexity, to uncover how the landscapes influence ecological processes and dynamics. |
Researchers use various methods, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and statistical modeling, to capture the spatial and temporal dynamics of landscapes. By integrating these techniques, it is possible to quantify and simulate ecological phenomena such as connectivity, habitat fragmentation, species distribution (native and invasive), habitat/landscape suitability, ecological niches, and biodiversity patterns. This research enables the identification of key ecological landscape features and processes, facilitating predictions of future ecological dynamics. Understanding the patterns and complexity of landscapes is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
Research areas
- Landscape Modeling: Developing and applying models to analyze, simulate and predict ecological processes and changes in landscape dynamics.
- Landscape Complexity and Patterns: Investigating the spatial configurations and diversity of landscape elements to understand how these patterns influence ecological processes and the functioning of ecosystems.
- Ecological Connectivity and Habitat Fragmentation: Understanding the links between habitats and the effects of habitat fragmentation on the movement of species and genetic flow.
- Habitat/Landscape Suitability: Assessing the landscapes and habitats capacity to support species by evaluating the availability of resources and suitable environmental conditions.
- Biodiversity Patterns and Species Distribution: Identification, analysis, and mapping of species diversity, including the distribution of native and invasive species across different regions and habitats.
