Ecology/Habitat Fragmentation
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Chapter 10. Habitat Fragmentation
[edit] Introduction
Habitat Fragmentation is one of the two largest current causes of species extinctions, along with invasive species. We know that an ecosystem requires land and resources to maintain its diversity, but how much is enough? And when an ecosystem becomes isolated, will the edges of that isolated area remain the same kind of ecosystem as the center?
These questions are studied and answers are inferred through the study of truly isolated habitats: islands.
Islands have less diverse populations than large continents do, especially those far from mainlands that have less opportunity for colonization. In order to apply what we know about islands to fragmented habitats, we must recognize colonization and extinction as constantly occurring within populations.
