Landscape ecology provides a perspective on both environmental structure and function. The structure of a landscape is reproduced continually through environmental functions which are controlled by the existing structure. Topology matters, but the vast number of interactions in, and the history of, landscapes makes each one unique, and thus place, as well as space, is important (Malanson 1987). Because of the unique character of landscapes the derivation of specific and generalizable scientific principles is difficult, but even the less specific principles that are now being proposed and tested by landscape ecologists are noteworthy. The importance of spatial scale for the organization of ecological information is one such area (e.g. Baker 1989; King 1991; Turner et al. 1991), and the recognition that at landscape-scales new ecological principles may emerge is stimulating. In concluding, I review the concepts presented earlier from the perspective of landscape reproduction, and I address some problems of studying landscape ecology. I specifically consider simulation modeling and geographic information systems as tools, and I use the context of understanding landscape-level biodiversity as a focus for this discussion.

Reproduction of the landscape

Landscape structure

Riparian environments have two major patterns or structures which can be considered as gradients.