Geography and location are fundamental in any analysis that is being conducted. In landscape ecology the focus is on the interactions between ecological processes and observed geographical patterns, how they influence and determine each other. Some methodological consideration for landscape ecology are first- (pattern as a result of environmental factor) and second-order (pattern a result of interactions) spatial autocorrelation processes, and first- (intensity constant over space) and second-order (absence of interactions) stationarity.

The main types of processes affecting landscape ecology have been discussed in lecture: abiotic, biotic, anthropogenic and disturbances. Climate, topography and soils are some of the major abiotic factors considered in landscape ecology analysis. Biotic factors include interactions between species, such as competition and predation. Anthropogenic or human influences could be such things as deforestation and urbanization. Lastly, disturbances are various natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, fires and floods drastically change landscape ecology. Landscape ecology is determined by a combination of all these factors and the different scales that we look at them. Three main factors can be used to explain differences in spatial patterns: local uniqueness, phase differences and dispersal.