Application of ecological models to landscape planning: the case of the Mediterranean basin

Landscapes in the Mediterranean basin have been modified by human exploitation for ages. Currently, European Community (EC) agricultural policies are reshaping land use patterns and vegetation disturbance regimes. It is uncertain how vegetation and animal population dynamics will be modified by the novel spatial patterns of habitat fragmentation and disturbance. Therefore, landscape planners need diagnostic tools to evaluate the impact of alternative management schemes on habitats and wildlife. In this contribution, we discuss the possible role of ecological models in describing how animal and plant community dynamics are affected by anthropogenic processes. First, we review models of landscape change and their applicability to habitat modeling in the Mediterranean basin. Second, we discuss different approaches to investigate the effect of habitat spatial structure on the long-term persistence of animal populations.