Landscape Fragmentation and Modelling

Landscapes are never static; they are forever changing. Such change may be gradual and unperceived; other changes may be rapid often of great concern for people living within them. Research done thus far has concentrated on changes in Northamptonshire and adjoining regions. In collaboration with the Wildlife Trust for Northamptonshire, Duncan McCollin analysed the changing flora of Northamptonshire in relation to landscape change 1930-1995. The results of this work were published in Biological Conservation (McCollin et al., 2000).

Jolyon Alderman completed his PhD successfully in 2005. His project involved modelling the effects of landscape change on the survival of populations. Central to this was the development of a computer model, PatchMapper, which allows him to simulate the effects of landscape change on the Nuthatch Sitta europaea. This work was done in collaboration with Paul Bellamy and Shelley Hinsley at CEH Monks Wood.

Paul Clarkson also completed his PhD in 2005, investigating edge effects on the ecology and social behaviour of the Wood Ant Formica rufa. This work also had a Northamptonshire focus - the bulk of it being done in Harlestone Firs. Here, Paul has detected significant microclimate differences by aspect with startling consequences for the ecology and social behaviour of the Wood Ant.

Publications:

Alderman, J, McCollin, D. Hinsley, S.A., Bellamy, P.E., Picton, P., & Crockett, R. (2005) Modelling the effects of dispersal and landscape configuration on population distribution in fragmented habitat. Landscape Ecology 20: 857-870. (Acrobat 298KB)

Alderman, J., McCollin, D., Hinsley, S., Bellamy, P., Picton, P. and Crockett, R. 2004. Simulating population viability in fragmented woodland: nuthatch ( Sitta europaea L. ) population survival in a poorly wooded landscape in eastern England . In: Smithers, R. (ed) Landscape ecology of trees and forests: Proceedings 12th Annual IALE(UK) Conference, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. pp. 76-83.

McCollin, D., Moore, L. & Sparks, T. (2000) The flora of a cultural landscape: environmental determinants of change revealed using archival sources. Biological Conservation 92(2): 249-263