Habitat ____________ splits ecosystems into pieces and makes populations more vulnerable to disturbances or climate change.
Responses
A diversificationdiversification
B extinctionextinction
C fragmentationfragmentation
D unification
C fragmentationfragmentation
The correct answer is C) fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation refers to the process of breaking large habitats into smaller pieces or fragments. This can be caused by various human activities such as urbanization, deforestation, or the construction of roads. Fragmentation can have negative effects on ecosystems as it separates populations and disrupts the natural interactions between species. It also makes populations more vulnerable to disturbances or climate change, as smaller and isolated fragments may struggle to adapt or maintain viable populations.
The correct answer is C) fragmentation.
To understand why habitat fragmentation splits ecosystems into pieces and makes populations more vulnerable to disturbances or climate change, we first need to understand what habitat fragmentation is.
Habitat fragmentation occurs when a large and continuous habitat is divided into smaller, isolated fragments or patches. This usually happens as a result of human activities such as urbanization, deforestation, or the construction of roads.
Fragmentation has several negative impacts on ecosystems and species. Here's how it leads to the described consequences:
1. Isolation of populations: When a habitat is fragmented, the once connected populations of plants, animals, and other organisms become isolated in separate fragments. This isolation restricts their movement and gene flow between populations, which can lead to reduced genetic diversity and increased inbreeding. Limited gene flow makes populations more vulnerable to disturbances or climate change because they have a diminished capacity to adapt to new conditions or recover from disturbances.
2. Reduced habitat size: As habitats become fragmented, the remaining habitat patches are generally smaller in size compared to the original contiguous habitat. Smaller habitat patches support smaller populations, and smaller populations have a higher risk of extinction due to factors such as reduced availability of resources, increased competition, and higher susceptibility to disease, predation, or extreme weather events. Thus, fragmentation increases the risk of population extinction.
3. Increased edge effects: Fragmentation creates new edges between different habitat patches. These edges have different environmental conditions compared to the interior areas of the habitat, leading to what is known as edge effects. Edge effects can include increased exposure to wind, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations, as well as higher levels of disturbance from human activities. These altered edge conditions can disrupt the natural ecological processes, compromise species' habitat preferences, and make populations more susceptible to disturbances and climate change impacts.
In summary, habitat fragmentation splits ecosystems into pieces, isolates populations, reduces habitat size, and increases edge effects. These consequences diminish the resilience and adaptability of populations, making them more vulnerable to disturbances or climate change.