An ecosystem is a biotic and functional system/unit, which sustains life and includes all biological and non-biological variables. Studies are on to understand ecosystems, relative to the structure, metabolism and bio and geochemistry of their landscape. Quantification of the relationship of structural and functional components at various scales has become an important aspect of conservation, restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems. However, ecological investigations can only be carried out in a few places and over short periods of time. To overcome this hurdle, models of ecological processes have been developed worldwide to further understand the dynamics, structures and functional interrelations of ecosystems. They help in evolving appropriate land use strategies which go a long way in preserving an ecosystem. Ecosystem modelling requires management of geographically referenced information detailing complex interactions between climatic, topographic, hydrologic, pedological and ecological processes as illustrated in Figure 1.
The main objective of the research project (30 months duration, w.e.f January, 2007) taken up by the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and funded under an NRDMS programme of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, is to develop such ecological models of the Himalayan region to examine the effects of land use changes in watersheds on landscape structures and functions. This involves:
i. Deforestation analysis through metrics of pattern change. It is meant
a) to relate habitat use patterns to regeneration of vegetation across landscapes
b) to model changes in habitat use patterns due to forest fragmentation caused by human induced changes
c) to determine the influence of natural and human induced landscape pattern changes on the diversity and distribution of flora and fauna
d) to develop a modelling approach through calibration and validation of the process and pattern of fragmentation in the Indian Himalayan region.