Geology ecology and landscapes

Landscape evolution studies have been taken the interest of different scholars from different perspective-ecology, geology, and many other disciplines. Earth’s landscape is shaped by the interaction between tectonics and climate (Patil et al., 2019). This simple statement manifested that in principle it is acceptable to consider both tectonic rates and variation in climate regimes as a key factor for the dynamic interface (Earth’s surface) (D’Agata et al., 2020; Whittaker, 2012). Similarly, landscape ecology is mainly focused on the interplay among spatial patterns and ecological processes. More precisely, landscape ecology involves the expansion and dynamics of spatial heterogeneity as well as their effects on the biotic and abiotic process (Turner & Gardner, 2015). Besides, landscape ecology is sometimes taken as a multidisciplinary science deals with “built” environments, in which humans play the main role behind landscape change (Çelik, 2013).

Landscape could be found everywhere, and it is considered an essential element for quality life, which assists in the addition of local cultures. There are different processes including physical, chemical, and biological routes acting across the landscape that participate in the movement of particulate sediments and solute from source to sink through the sediment-routing system (Allen, 2008). It is also endorsed that both erosional and depositional landscapes are connected with the sediment-routing system. The physical features of the landscape need proper consideration for both scientifically and from a management perspective (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Editorial overview: geology, ecology, and landscapes.

With the rapid population expansion, the increasing demand for commodities and services from the global ecosystem has become a cause of the various ecological dilemmas. The evidence of ecosystem limits could be seen in the form of altered flooding regimes, remarkable abatement of thousands of species, and a rise in suspended loads as well as chemical contamination found in every temperate river around the globe (McGarigal & Urban, 2001). Many of these proclaimed crises are the result of the overall impacts of land-use pattern changes that happened over a vast spatial scale, which is termed as landscapes. It supported that anthropogenic activities or human intervention become a cause of variation in landscape context as well as the interaction between spatial pattern and ecological process.

Landscape fragmentation, which is the division of larger natural land cover areas into isolated small patches, has tremendously influenced habitat and wildlife, which become a cause of disruption of connectivity and environmental diversity (Mandal & Chatterjee, 2020; Uddin et al., 2019). The perception of “environmental diversity” can be presumed through the connectivity of biodiversity and geodiversity (Farabollini et al., 2014). For example, the construction of man-made landscape elements such as dams and road structures can act as obstruction among the motion of organisms across the landscape. However, the deleterious effects of fragmentation could be mitigated by the creation of a link between isolated small patches such as greenbelts formation (Ersoy, 2016).

Virtually, the consideration of landscape ecology practices is very limited adopted in case of decision-making about sustainable land use. Therefore, the resource managers should understand the spatial pattern and ecological process interplay over the wide spatial range (i.e. landscape) and focus on the role of humans’ intervention, which creates, and affect these relationships. (Termorshuizen & Opdam, 2009). Therefore, landscape ecology practices should be adopted in landscape planning to protect nature and biodiversity. Lastly, there is a policy and legal mandate to incorporate a landscape perspective for the resource management decisions point of view (Naveh, 2007).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.