Staff profileArvid studies life-sustaining capacities of heterogeneous landscapes by applying and developing spatial models. He currently explores the possibility to represent habitat connectivity as networks. This approach is based on meta population theory saying that the degree to which a landscape sustains biodiversity over time depends on how well the biotope pattern facilitates dispersal, i e movements of organisms in the landscape. When habitat area is limited the pattern of habitat patches becomes crucial. This is the case for nearly all species living in human dominated landscapes. Networks analysis permits us to construct spatial scenarios and simulate ecological consequences of changed land use (for instance due to densification and expansion of cities). Network analysis can be a useful management tool when locating habitat to conserve, restore or create. It can be applied to assess how a proposed exploitation of a specific green space in an urban landscape potentially affects biodiversity on a larger scale. Some examples of concepts that Arvid explores are:
- Time-series of networks. Response, reorganization and hysteresis effects after changes in network topology.
- Spatial resilience and independent dispersal pathways.
- Modularity - zones of high connectivity and propagation of disturbances.
Some of these ideas are tested in an empirical study in northern Sweden that focuses both on cultivated and protected forests. In another research project Arvid studies the role of ecological concepts in the policy and practice of urban planning. What knowledge, methods and tools are used to assess values of green spaces in cities? How are social and economic values assessed? How are these models and values understood, applied and communicated by different actors?
Arvid holds a MSc in Engineering of Sociotechnical Systems and a BA in History and Sociology of Science.
