The concept and measurement of landscape connectivity and its applications

Landscape connectivity was defined by metrics to reflect landscape functional characteristic for it represents 'the degree to which the landscape facilitates or impedes movement among resource patches'.The theory and method of landscape connectivity is an important basis for landscape evaluation,management and ecological designing.It will also contribute to the regional sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.In this paper,the new progress of landscape connectivity research,including the concept,measurement and its ecological significationce were summarized,and the relationship between landscape connectivity and landscape elements,and its potential application perspectives were discussed.This review could serve as a guideline in further research and applications of the relationship between landscape pattern and ecological processes.