Integrative methods to study landscape changes

In order to study landscape changes, an interdisciplinary approach that int egrates landscape ecology and history is vital. This paper presents two met hods to facilitate this integration. The first method aims at improving com munication between the two disciplines by defining "interface categories" t o talk more specifically about human impact on ecosystems. This procedure i s illustrated with an example of forest changes in the Swiss lowlands. In t he second method patterns of change in environmental features across region s are compared with regional differences in the importance of human activit ies with potential impact on the environmental feature under study. This me thod, referred to as double comparative study, is illustrated with an examp le of changes in forest composition in the northeastern United States. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.