Land-use and land-cover change (LULCC); also known as land change) is a general term for the human modification of Earth's terrestrial surface.

Biodiversity is often reduced dramatically by LULCC. When land is transformed from a primary forest to a farm, the loss of forest species within deforested areas is immediate and complete. Even when unaccompanied by apparent changes in land cover, similar effects are observed whenever relatively undisturbed lands are transformed to more intensive uses, including livestock grazing, selective tree harvest and even fire prevention. The habitat suitability of forests and other ecosystems surrounding those under intensive use are also impacted by the fragmenting of existing habitat into smaller pieces (habitat fragmentation), which exposes forest edges to external influences and decreases core habitat area. Smaller habitat areas generally support fewer species (island biogeography), and for species requiring undisturbed core habitat, fragmentation can cause local and even general extinction. Research also demonstrates that species invasions by non-native plants, animals and diseases may occur more readily in areas exposed by LULCC, especially in proximity to human settlements.

Real invasions of alien species in our BioArea during the last decade = vespa-asiática (Vespa velutina)

Bolen, Eric, and William Robinson. Wildlife Ecology and Management. New York: Benjamin Cummings, 2008.

Garcia, L. S. (1999). "Classification of Human Parasites, Vectors, and Similar Organisms" (PDF). Clinical Infectious Diseases. 29 (4): 734–746.

Poulin, Robert (September 1995). "Evolution of parasite life history traits: myths and reality". Parasitology Today. 11 (9): 342–345

Robert Bear, David Rintoul; Principles of Biology

Online: <http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11569/1.24>

Armstrong, R.A., McGehee, R. (1980). "Competitive exclusion". American Naturalist. 115 (2): 151–170.

Leibold, M.A. (1995). "The niche concept revisited: mechanistic models and community context". Ecology. 76 (5): 1371–82

Topic n.º (5)

Hui, D. (2012) Food Web: Concept and Applications. Nature Education Knowledge 3(12):6

 

 

<< As an example of niche partitioning, several anole lizards in the Caribbean islands share common food needs—mainly insects. They avoid competition by occupying different physical locations. For example, some live on the leaf litter floor while others live on branches. Species who live in different areas compete less for food and other resources, which minimizes competition between species.>>

<< In the Galapagos Islands, finches with small beaks are more able to consume small seeds, and finches with large beaks are more able to consume large seeds. If a species' density declines, then the food it most depends on will become more abundant (since there are so few individuals to consume it). As a result, the remaining individuals will experience less competition for food.>>

 

<< Dung Beetle - As the name implies, dung beetles eat dung, both as adults and as larvae. They live on all continents except Antarctica. Dung is plentiful throughout the world, and over time, the dung beetle has learned to exploit it as a resource, and create its own niche. Dung beetles are known for the way in which they roll dung into a ball before transporting it. These balls area buried in an underground burrow to either be stored as food or used as brooding balls. The female lays eggs in the brooding ball and the larvae hatch inside. When they reach adult size, the beetles dig out of the ball and work their way to the soil surface. The actions of dung beetles serve several important functions in their habitat. Digging burrows and tunnels turns over and aerates the soil. The buried dung releases nutrients into the soil that benefits other organisms. In addition, the beetle’s use of dung leaves less available for flies to breed on, thus controlling some of the fly population.>>

<< Although the term ectoparasites can broadly include blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes (because they are dependent on a blood meal from a human host for their survival), this term is generally used more narrowly to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas, lice, and mites that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there for relatively long periods of time (e.g., weeks to months). Arthropods are important in causing diseases in their own right, but are even more important as vectors, or transmitters, of many different pathogens that in turn cause tremendous morbidity and mortality from the diseases they cause.>>

<< Malaria (Paludismo) is a life-threatening mosquito-borne blood disease. The Anopheles mosquito transmits it to humans. The parasites in mosquitos that spread malaria belong to the Plasmodium genus. Over 100 types of Plasmodium parasite can infect a variety of species. Different types replicate at different rates, changing how quickly the symptoms escalate, and the severity of the disease.>>

<< From the researchers' point of view, the relationship between wolves and moose gives the best picture of predator-prey relationships, as moose are almost the only prey for wolves on some isolated territory. After studying their relationship for decades, researchers have realized that the food shortage resulting from wolves eating too many moose, keeps a check on the wolf population as well.>>

<< In the freshwater biome, an osprey catching a fish will be a perfect example of predator and prey in action. This bird is found nearly everywhere where it can find fish to prey upon. With its exceptional eyesight, the osprey can see any movement in the water. It strikes at a lightning speed and pulls the fish out of water, thanks to its opposable claws and the sharp spiny scales on its toes. As for fish, their best defense is to avoid shallow water.>>