What does landscape ecology focus on?

Landscape ecology is a subfield of ecology that primarily examines the relationships between spatial patterns—such as the configuration and arrangement of different habitats—and ecological processes. This discipline focuses on how these spatial arrangements influence various ecological phenomena, including species distribution, population dynamics, and ecosystem functioning.

By understanding the interactions between landscape structure and ecological processes, landscape ecology provides insights into how alterations in land use, habitat fragmentation, and other environmental changes can affect biodiversity and ecological health. For example, examining how corridors between patches of habitat can facilitate animal movement and genetic exchange is a core aspect of this field.

The other options address different areas of ecological study. While motivational factors in animal behavior, soil conservation methods, and the impacts of climate change on species extinction are all important ecological topics, they do not specifically pertain to the core focus of landscape ecology, which is centered on the spatial dynamics and ecological interrelationships within various landscapes.