Types of patches

Five main types of patches are to be found in the landscape;

• Spot disturbance patches are a result of disturbance to a small area of the matrix, by natural events like trampling or human activity like logging in forests, or burning grasslands.
  
  
• Remnant patches are caused by widespread disturbance surrounding a small area. This is the inverse of a disturbance patch; it is embedded in a matrix that has been disturbed.
  
  
• Environmental resource patches are patches that are relatively stable and unrelated to disturbance. Instead they are determined by the environmental conditions of the area - ie patches that reflect distribution of resources in the environment.
  
  
• Introduced patches are the result of humans introducing organisms into an area ie the result of introduced species becoming dominant in an area within the matrix.
  
  
• Ephemeral patches occur because of fluctuations in resource levels
  

It is important to consider the presence and existence of all these patches in analysis of pattern in the landscape. (Forman and Godron, 1981 and 1986)

	Classify patches
What types of patches are found in Kellerberrin. Do the same type of patches exist in New England?

Are you ready to check your understanding of patch, corridor and matrix?