Ecological considerations for protected area system design the need for an integrated approach to maintaining biological diversity

Abstract

Island biogeography, conservation biology, landscape ecology, paleoecology, non-equilibrium ecology , and hierarchy theory provide insight into protected area system design. Ecological criteria may be identified for site selection and boundary delineation. Considerations of viable populations, critical habitat area, patch dynamics. and landscape context address the question of how much area is required to maintain biological diversity. Strategic methodologies integrating autecologicaI, biogeographical, population viability and gap analyses provide context specific information for designing protected area systems. Biosphere reserve, node and corridor, and greater ecosystem models, and wilderness recovery, triad, coarse- and fine--filter, and target species approaches integrate protected area systems into broader sustainable regional landscapes.