Figure 1
From: Model systems to elucidate minimum requirements for protected areas networks
A schematic of the hierarchical structure of the proposed model system for landscapes. At the smallest scale (panel A) the landscape is centimeters in extent and is comprised of patches of lichens on the bole for trees. Each tree can be considered a replicate microlandscape. Within a single forest stand (panel B), the landscape is metres in extent. Some stands are homogenous in terms of tree species, age/size, but across the stand there will be fine-grained heterogeneity in microtopography and microclimate. These stands are then patches in a kilometers-extent landscape (panel C); some stands of similar composition may be replicated across the landscape but interspersed with other patch types (e.g., non-forested bog, meadow, anthropogenic patches).
