Chapter6

Site Inventory :
Biological Attributes
Bab 6
Inventarisasi situs:
Atribut biologi
6.1 INTRODUCTION
the site inventory process is divided into three parts in this book-each covered in a separate
chapter. this separation is a useful, but artificial, division. in site planning practice,
distinctions between these three activities are less pronounced. landscapes have both biotic
and abioticcomponents, and their stucture and ecological function are influenced by the
complex interplay of biological, cultural, and physical factors. Fox example, landscape
corridors of cultural origin may be barriers to the movement of ground-dwelling animals, or
serve as conduits for pathogens and invasive exotic species. Roads, utility corridors, and
other built, linear features may isolate endemic populations of plant and animal species, and
ultimately doom those species to extinction at the local level, and possibly at broader spatial
scales
6.2 ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES
An ecological community is an aggregation of interacting species living together in the same place.
Complex interactions among climate, soils, topography, natural disturbances, and the organisms
themselves influence the composition and spatial distributon of ecological communities (sadava et
al. 2006). Communities are often named for the dominant plant species, which may be dominant
because of either its physical size or abundance. Two examples of north american communities are
the beech-maple-hemlock and the oak savanna communities (carpenter et al. 1975). Econotes-the
spatial boundaries of communities-are especially important areas, biologically. Animals the are
mobile my find shelter in one ecotone but more abudant food in another.

6.2.1 Habitat Fragmentation

Human activities such as agricultur, forestry, and urban development have dramatically
altered the structure and ecological function of many, if not most, of the landscapes in europe

and heavily civilized parts of other continents. Continuing land use changes may destroy
some habitats but also fragment and functionally disconnect others. Fragmentation of
ecological corridors and other habitats is a global evironmental concern.

Natural corridors in the landscape facilitate the movement of organisms between

habitatats. Existing corridors, therefore, are particularly important elements in most
landscapes and require protection to help maintain biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity.
Identifying gaps in these corridors is also important because these can be targets for
restoration (hilty et al., 2006).
Large, contiguous natural areas, especially riparian corridors, should be given the highest
priority for protection from development. But simply leaving natural areas untouched may not be
enough to ensure their continued biodiversity. Small, isolated patches of forest, for example, may
lose indigenous animal species because of the barriers created by adjacent development. Many
animal species need more than one habitat type for different life cycle stages, such as reproduction
and migration. The daily activities of seeking food and water, for example, also may be hindered by
the habitats surroundings.

MAPPING
Land cover information for the United States is available through the U.S. Geological
Surveys Land Cover Institute (http:/ /www.landcover.usgs.gov/). A 30-meter resolution
National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) is available in digital format. The 31-volume compact
disc (CD) set contains 21 categories of land cover, percent tree canopy, and percent urban
imperviousness derived from 30-meter resolution Landsat imagery.

detailed land cover mapping. Color infrared photographs are helpful, for example, in
identifying differences in vegetation health and vigor. Detailed information concerning the
communitys compositioon of native and exotic species, as well as the abundance and health
of those species, is usually confirmed by visiting the site (figure 6-1). A chloropleth map can
show the locations of significant site vegetation (figure 6-2). In areas where plant
communities have evolved under a fire regime, the frequency of wildfires a natural hazard
for any nearby development may also be mapped (figure 6-3).

6.2.2 Exotic Species

For thousands of years, palnt and animal species have been adapting to habitats altered by
human activities. Coincident with European settlement of North America, many introduced
species became naturalized. Centuries of global trade, migration, and settlement have
introduced thousands of non-native or exotic to new environments. These exotic and
sometimes invasive species include megafauna, like horses and pigs. They also include
megaflora, like the eucalyptus and melaleuca trees. Examples of other exotic plants include
vines (kudzu) and shrubs (brazilian pepper).

Within the United States, an estimated 50,000 species of exotic plants, animals, and
microbes cause significant ecological changes in both managed and natural ecosystems
(Myers 1979; Pimentel et al., 2000, pp. 53-65). Nearly half of the species listed as threatened
or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act are at risk primarily because of
predation by, or competition with, invasive nonnative species (Wilcove et al., 1998, pp. 607615). Exotic species also have substantial economic impacts. Annual expenditures for the
control of nonindigenous species are estimated to exceed $6 billion per year in the United
States alone (pimentel et al., 2000, pp. 53-65).
Carried by ships, trucks, and airplanes, both large and small species have been introduced
into new habitats. Exotic species are particularly successful colonizers when

6.4 WILDLIFE
Populations of most wildlife species are naturally discontinuous. That is, the entire population
consists of groups of subpopulations, called metapopulations (McCullough, 1996). For
example, separated wooded patches may be home to colonies of birds, mammals, and other
animals. Local-scale extinctions of metapopulations are not unusual and often are a natural
part of ecosystem dynamics. This is a natural process involving local extinctions, migration
and colonization, and reproduction. It is essential, however, that the area in which a local
extinction occurs remains viable as a habitat for future colonization and repopulation of the
species. If the habitat is destroyed or degraded, or made inaccessible by intervening barriers,
then the geographic range of the species is permanently reduced.