Describe the terms patches, matrix, boundaries, connectivity, and corridors.

Question: Define and provide examples for the five key landscape ecology terms: patches, matrix, boundaries, connectivity, and corridors. Answer: Patches are distinct habitats or land cover types within a landscape, such as a forest within an urban area. The matrix is the dominant surrounding land cover that influences species movement, like an agricultural field or an urban area. Boundaries are the edges of a patch where it meets the matrix, affecting the exchange of species and resources. Connectivity refers to how well patches are connected, allowing for the movement of species and resources. Corridors are linear habitats, like riverbanks, connecting different patches and helping maintain connectivity in fragmented landscapes.