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Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation pp 266–285Cite as

Animal Behavior in Fragmented Landscapes

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Abstract

Concepts from island-biogeography theory (MacArthur and Wilson 1967) have been instrumental in testing and understanding current patterns of faunal distribution in fragmented landscapes. The species-area curve, for instance, has enabled us to examine the relationship between patch size and species richness in various landscapes (e.g., Robbins et al. 1989). The effects of fragmented landscapes on community structure (e.g., Friesen et al. 1995; Yahner 1997), reproductive success (e.g., Robinson et al. 1995), and population demographics (e.g., Wauters et al. 1994; Litvaitis and Villafuerte 1996; Wolff et al. 1997; Mahan and Yahner 1998) have been examined. These previous studies are vital to natural resource managers and conservation biologists concerned with biological conservation and ecosystem management. However, an important and largely untapped area of research is the effects of fragmented landscapes on animal behavior (Yahner and Mahan 1997a).

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Authors
  1. Richard H. Yahner
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  2. Carolyn G. Mahan
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  1. Department of Biology, Baylor University, P.O. Box 97388, Waco, TX, 76798-7388, USA

    Kevin J. Gutzwiller

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Yahner, R.H., Mahan, C.G. (2002). Animal Behavior in Fragmented Landscapes. In: Gutzwiller, K.J. (eds) Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0059-5_15

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