Decision tree for deciding whether spatial features need to be considered in studying ecosystem function in heterogeneous ecological systems (landscapes) (Adapted from fig 24.2 of Lovett and others [5]).
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Abstract
<p>The decision tree leads to three different models to dealing with spatial heterogeneity: (<i>Homogeneous</i>) assumes spatial homogeneity and characterizes the landscape system by average values of its pools and fluxes; (<i>Mosaic</i>) considers composition only using a mosaic approach, in which the behavior of the process in each ecosystem is modeled separately and the results are summed to yield the whole system behavior; and (<i>Interactive</i>) considers composition, configuration and interacting ecosystems using an interactive model which incorporates the inter-ecosystem exchanges [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0192569#pone.0192569.ref005" target="_blank">5</a>]. That is, perhaps spatial heterogeneity could be safely ignored if there are no lateral fluxes, no spatially variable drivers, and no nonlinearities; however, if there are nonlinearities, then at least, composition of a landscape system must be considered; if lateral fluxes are significant too, then both composition and configuration of a landscape system will be required [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0192569#pone.0192569.ref001" target="_blank">1</a>].</p