Landscape Ecology (Essay Sample)

Landscape Ecology
Name
Institution
Landscape Ecology
Ecology is the study of the interrelationship existence between organisms and their environment. It serves to draw a distinct correlation between the various dynamics of the environment including biotic and abiotic patterns and their effect on species distribution. Notably, landscape ecology is a branch of ecology that focuses on the study of landscape structures upon which we will base our discussion. It primarily dictates the abundance and distribution of organisms (Turner & O'Neill, 2001). Landscape ecology also includes indirect effects, for instance, the effect of abiotic process on landscape structure which subsequently affects the distribution of the species of interest, aspects of population genetics and species interactions. All these attributes have a direct implication on disease dynamics. There are two smaller ecological units that are of great significance in our study of disease spread, and these include the patch and corridors.
A patch is fundamentally referred to as a relatively homogenous area that differs significantly from its surroundings. Patches take up the basic unit of a landscape that fluctuates through a process called patch dynamics. Secondly, we have the corridors that primarily refer to a transitory region that facilitates movement between distinct patches. The corridors hence play an instrumental role in establishing a network of interconnected systems (Turner & O'Neill, 2001). The objective of this paper review is to conduct research on endangered species Tasmanian devil, its vectors and parasites and possible remedies to control and conserve the species. The facial tumor disease is threatening to swipe out the species.
The Tasmanian devil is primarily a carnivorous marsupial that originates from the family Dasyuridae. The species are commonly found in the wild and have been localized only around the Australian island and specifically in the state of Tasmania from where the name originated. Tasmanian devil has been largely known for their characteristic; large head and neck enabling the species have one of the strongest bites among existing land predators. As elucidated by Wallace (2010), the Tasmanian devils have the capacity to regulate their bodily temperatures efficiently unlike other dasyurids hence the reason they remain active for the most of the day regardless of the midday temperatures. The animals also have the ability to climb trees and swim on water.
Research has exhibited concerns as to the sustainability of the species owing to their declining numbers that are now restricted to three relict populations and their decrease in number has been associated with various diseases, encroachment and destruction of habitats and hunting by people. Regardless of all the factors, it is evident that a big proportion of the Tasmanian devils has been eliminated with the development and spread of the large facial tumors and was referred to as the Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD). The disease is primarily a fatal condition for the Tasmanian devils owing to its cancerous infection in the mouth region. The disease is significantly new and has been restricted largely to Tasmanian devils as discovered around 1996. For the several years the disease has been discovered, thousands of the species have already succumbed to the fatal contagious cancerous infection.
Pathogen-Host Relationship
Devil facial tumor disease is a contagious cancerous infection that has been largely associated with the Tasmania devil species. The disease is known to be an aggressive parasitic cancer common in Australia. The vitality of the disease over the past decade has resulted to a declining range from the previous 20% in the inceptive years to over 50% of the devil population demonstrating its fatal nature and threat to the species (Forman, 2013). The disease has been known to begin with lesions and lumps around the mouth region that then progresses into tumors that are cancerous in nature and have the potential to spread to the rest of the body. Infected animals have been documented to succumb after approximately six months to the disease. The feeding habits of the Tasmania Devils have resulted in the increased incidence and spread of the disease among the species. When their canine teeth get into contact with infected organs, the spread proceeds aggressively. Consequently, the species provides a viable, efficacious environment for the rapid replication of the parasitic cancer hence an appropriate host for DFTD. The ecological niche provides the environment is Australia such as low temperatures and high calcium levels in soil are equally a contributing factor to the survival of the parasite in a dominant state for a prolonged period until the time when its ingested by an appropriate host; the Tasmania Devils.
Patches and Corridors
As construed by Wu (2006), the Tasmanian devil population is being keenly monitored to keep track of the patches as well as disease spread, trends, and incidence. This includes undertaking an extensive survey of the population and quarantine all infected animals from the various patches- that are tested positive for the infection. Notably, this allows monito...