Sources: Petit & Usher 1998, van Mansvelt & van der Lubbe 1999, *EUROPEAN CONSERVATION INSTITUTES RESEARCH NETWORK)
Some Guidelines for Patches, Corridors and the Matrix PATCHES
- Wet and Woody! Wet and woody habitats make excellent corridors for a wide variety of species.
- The Bigger the Better Larger patches tend to create a more stable population, even if this patch is isolated from other patches.
- Patch arrangement is important. How patches are spatially arranged in relation to each other can affect which species use these patches. For instance, if patches are too far apart, species may not be able to access them.
- Juxtaposition of patches. If a patch's boundary is sharply defined from the surrounding matrix, this may make the patch more vulnerable to wind damage and pest invasion. A patch boundary may also affect species access. Feathering " patch edges with vegetation can make patch edges more gradual, harmoninzing the patches better with the landscape and facilitating easier access.
- Patch Disturbance. If patches are disturbed frequently by practices such as farm practices or natural effects, negative impacts upon species may result. If a species are disturbed to the point that they cannot establish themseleves in a patch, then spatial arrangement of the patches is meaningless. This is one way in which temporal issues are integral to landscape ecology.
- Avoid destruction of well-established habitat patchesWhere possible, avoid the destruction of old, well-established habitat patches (such as well developed forest patches) even if new land shall be set aside for habitat patch purposes. The destrutiction of established land may impact sensitive species which cannot recolonize after their patch has been destroyed.
- Buffer zones. As with corridors, patches can benefit from a 1-2m beffer strip aournd them.
CORRIDORS
Sources: Burel 1996, Dobrowolski et al. 1993, van Mansvelt & van der Lubbe 1999, Foreman & Gordon 1986.
- Wet and Woody! Water and woody habitats make excellent corridors for a wide variety of species.
- The Wider the Better Generally, it is believed that the wider the corridor, the easier it is for a species to move. If a corridor is to narrow, a species may cross the corridor as opposed to using it as a means of travel. Howver, too wide and teh species movement may become inefficient . For example, zig-zagging as opposed to travelling in a straight line. Though wide corridors are generally recommended, the appropriate width depends upon the species in question.
- Breaks within corridors can affect movement.Space interrupting the flow of a corridor such as breaks within a hedgerow can affect the movement of species, helping the movement of some while hindering the movement of others.
- Effect of land immediately adjacent to the corridor. Land located on either side of a corridor can affect which species decide to use the corridor. For example, certain crops located on either side of a hedgerow may increase the use of the hedgerow by beetles. Ditches located immediately on either side of a hedgerow can determine which species can access the hedgreow as well as affecting the flow of wind and water.
- Buffer zones. Buffer zones on either side of the corridor, such as a 1-2m margin, can provide extra protection from agriculture.
THE MATRIX
**author's note: Guidelines for the Matrix still to be added !**