Habitat fragmentation

Definition

Habitat fragmentation occurs when large areas of habitat are divided into smaller, isolated fragments due to human activities such as urbanization or deforestation. This separation can disrupt ecological processes and lead to a loss of biodiversity.

Analogy

Think of a jigsaw puzzle that represents a natural habitat. When you break apart some pieces and scatter them around the room, it becomes harder for you to see the complete picture. Similarly, habitat fragmentation breaks up ecosystems into smaller pieces that make it challenging for species to thrive.

Related terms

Edge effect: The edge effect refers to changes in environmental conditions at the boundary between two different habitats caused by habitat fragmentation.

Corridors: Corridors are strips of habitat that connect fragmented areas together, allowing organisms to move between them more easily.

Fragmented populations: Fragmented populations are groups of individuals from the same species that are separated by habitat fragmentation. These populations may have reduced genetic diversity and face higher risks of extinction.