EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -In addition to loss of habitat, the process of habitat fragmentation results in three other effects: increase in number of patches, decrease in patch sizes, and increase in isolation of patches.

Detailed explanation-2: -Orangutans, tigers, elephants, rhinos, and many other species are increasingly isolated and their sources of food and shelter are in decline. Human-wildlife conflict also increases because without sufficient natural habitat these species come into contact with humans and are often killed or captured.

Detailed explanation-3: -Effects of Habitat Fragmentation The edge effect increases the mortality rate of animals due to either the lack of food in the area or poses a higher chance of animals being hunted by other predators. For instance, the mountain caribou has become one of the most endangered species in North America.

Detailed explanation-4: -Habitat fragmentation affects biodiversity by increasing isolation between populations and decreasing effective population size, which alters inbreeding and genetic drift within populations, as well as gene-flow frequency between populations3, 4, 5.