Knowra Habitat fragmentation Habitat fragmentation Habitat fragmentation is the division of continuous habitat into smaller, more isolated patches. It reduces connectivity and changes conditions within patches, often through land-use change.
Habitat loss : The reduction or disappearance of natural habitat, usually through conversion to other land uses. Habitat loss often accompanies fragmentation, shrinking the area available to species.
Island biogeography : The study of how island area and isolation affect species richness and extinction. Its island-area and isolation principles have been applied to habitat patches.
Wildlife corridor : A landscape feature designed or managed to help wildlife move between habitat areas. Corridors are a common intervention for reconnecting habitat patches.
Habitat degradation : A decline in habitat quality that reduces its capacity to support organisms or ecological processes. Degradation changes habitat condition; fragmentation changes its spatial continuity and configuration.
Edge effect : A change in ecological conditions or species interactions near the boundary between two habitats. New patch boundaries expose interior habitat to altered light, wind, temperature, and interactions.
Species–area relationship : The recurring pattern that larger areas tend to contain more species than smaller areas. Fragmentation reduces patch area, often lowering the number of species each patch can support.
Landscape ecology : The study of how spatial patterns in landscapes affect ecological processes. It provides methods for analyzing patch size, arrangement, and connectivity.
Habitat connectivity : The extent to which habitat areas are linked in ways that permit movement or ecological exchange. Connectivity can be low without extensive patch subdivision, and high across some fragmented landscapes.
Landscape connectivity : The degree to which a landscape enables organisms, genes, or ecological processes to move among habitat areas. Connectivity determines whether isolated patches remain accessible to dispersing organisms.
Extinction debt : The delayed loss of species caused by past habitat changes whose effects unfold over time. Species may persist temporarily in fragments despite conditions that make their eventual loss likely.
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