AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Habitat fragmentation is frequently caused by humans when native plants are cleared for human activities such as agriculture, rural development, urbanization and the creation of hydroelectric reservoirs. Habitats which were once continuous become divided into separate fragments.

Detailed explanation-2: -Habitat fragmentation can be described as the splitting of natural habitats and ecosystems into smaller, more isolated patches (Fig. 1, C). It is the process of subdividing a continuous habitat into smaller pieces (Fig. 1, A).

Detailed explanation-3: -Fragmentation happens when parts of a habitat are destroyed, leaving behind smaller unconnected areas. This can occur naturally, as a result of fire or volcanic eruptions, but is normally due to human activity.

Detailed explanation-4: -In summary, across experiments spanning numerous studies and ecosystems, fragmentation consistently degraded ecosystems, reducing species persistence, species richness, nutrient retention, trophic dynamics, and, in more isolated fragments, movement.

Detailed explanation-5: -Habitat fragmentation is defined as the process during which a large expanse of habitat is transformed into a number of smaller patches of smaller total area isolated from each other by a matrix of habitats unlike the original (Fahrig, 2003).