The United States, like much of the world, has experienced drastic land use changes over the past one hundred years. In 1937, Earle Draper, a city planner in the Southeast, first coined the term “sprawl” to describe the decreasing density of expanding cities. In 1790, only 5% of the U.S. population lived in urban areas. By 2000, this number had increased to 79% (Nechyba & Walsh 2004).

The later half of the twentieth century is marked by the rapid growth of suburbs. From 1950 to 1990, the land area and population of city centers remained fairly unchanged. Suburbs, however, developed greatly. In 1950, only 35% of people living in urbanized areas resided in the suburbs. By 1990, this percentage had increased to 65% (Nechyba & Walsh 2004).

Land use changes due to increased suburbanization have destroyed and fragmented critical habitat for many species. In turn, this loss of habitat has caused declines in many species’ populations. In addition, plants and animals must respond to changes in the remaining habitat fragments. Edge effects, which occur where two different habitat types meet, cause changes in air temperature, moisture availability, light intensity, and wind disturbance (Schlaepfer & Gavin 2001). The area of habitat that can support certain species may be further reduced due to edge effects.

Wildlife management has responded to declines in many species’ populations due to land use changes and other anthropogenic acts, such as over-hunting. This website will look at the history of three species in the U.S. and how land use changes and management practices have directly and indirectly affected theses species. In particular, white-tailed deer, coyotes, and Canada Geese, three species sometimes considered as “pests” to residents, are studied. Next, some of the impacts these species have had on ecosystems are examined. Overall, this website aims to look at the direct and indirect influences humans and abundant species may have on ecosystems.