Implications of habitat fragmentation
Fragmentation brings about a
series of effects associated with patch size and number, connectivity
and isolation, and species movement. Habitat fragmentation could bring
about changes in microclimate
or the isolation
of patches. It can have a range of spatial
effects and species
effects.
Fragmentation affects nearly
all ecological patterns and processes from genes to ecosystem functions.
- There are increases in metapopulation
dynamics and genetic inbreeding.
- There are decreases in internal
habitat heterogeneity and in the size of disturbance patches
- Factors that can increase,
decrease or stay constant as a result of fragmentation include natural
disturbance, hydrologic flows, wind movement, nutrient cycling, productivity
and gene flow (Forman,
1995).
An example of the effects of habitat fragmentation can be seen in the study on forest fragmentation and birds.
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Comparing fragmentation
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| Is Kellerberrin more or less fragmented than New England? What are some of the implications of a high degree of fragmentation? | ||
