%0 Journal Article %A Qiu Yang %A Zhang Jintun %A Zheng Fengying %T The Kernel of Landscape Ecology: Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity in Ecological Systems %D 2000 %R %J Chinese Journal of Ecology %P 42-49 %V %N 2 %X Based on the concepts of landscape ecology and landscape heterogeneity, this paper concludes that the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in ecological systems is the kernel of landscape ecology. From views of structure, function and dynamics, the concepts and ecological significance of the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of landscape as well as its roles and applications in landscape ecology are reviewed. Finally, the characteristics of hierarchy and scale, and the effects of human on the landscape heterogeneity are discussed. %U http://www.cje.net.cn/EN/abstract/article_19232.shtml