Book Review

by Paul Ganderton

Farina A. 1998. Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology. Chapman and Hall. ISBN 0 412 73040 5. pp xiv + 235. £24.99.

Now that landscape ecology is becoming more firmly established the range of publications dealing with it is increasing. This text deals with landscape modelling and the application of ecological ideas to landscape areas. The 8 chapters range from the introductory to advanced maths and GIS applications. Farina starts with an introduction to the concepts of landscape ecology which overviews the basic ideas. This is followed by two chapters examining models commonly used and the difficulties of scale. The author then turns to process and patterns in the landscape using basic ideas such as fragmentation and corridors and showing how then can be seen in a landscape context. Chapter 6 deals with the principles of landscape dynamics. This leaves the final two chapters to outline the principles of landscape conservation and management and to introduce the role of GIS models to the subject.

This is an advanced text aimed at teachers and undergraduates. By taking familiar topics and presenting them in a new way it stimulates debate and makes us look more critically at those ideas we may be taking for granted. There are some ideas which could usefully be translated for student use especially in fieldwork situations. Given that landscape ecology is an evolving field its study is becoming essential and this text is a very useful addition to the literature.