Because of differences in the domains of scale, it is essential that researchers address scale in their studies. Organisms surely perceive their environments on spatiotemporal scales different from that at which humans view the world. If we impose a human scale onto landscape ecological studies, the potential for misinterpretion of results is high. A Newly Developed Principle of Human Influence Landscape ecology accepts humans as an intrinsic part of ecological systems, yet humans inevitably change landscapes as their influence increases. Natural landscapes are typically characterized by curved features and gradients rather than sharp boundaries.
Human edges are often linear and abrupt, a concept known as geometrization.
Subsistence agriculture is an example of moderate human influence that could increase a landscape's heterogeneity. If forest patches are interspersed with small agricultural fields, habitations, and roads, heterogeneity has increased. However, if humans continue to develop this area, heterogeneity may again be reduced as the area becomes a homogeneous urban landscape. The aforementioned newly created principles, like Forman and Godron's, are supported by direct and indirect evidence yet are not unconditionally proven. I believe they are important concepts in landscape ecology, and should augment existing landscape ecology principles.