2.3.

5 Explore: Effects of Climate Change

Holly Boyd 5/18/25 Environmental Science

1. a. What does habitat fragmentation mean?

Habitat fragmentation breaks a large continuous habitat into smaller

separated parts. Picture a forest being cut into pieces by roads, buildings, or
farmland. These smaller patches make it harder for animals and plants to
move or interact as they would.

b. How has a rising human population caused habitat fragmentation?

As more people need space to live, build, and farm natural areas often get
divided. Forests, grasslands, and other habitats get turned into places for
houses, roads, and crops. Logging, mining, and similar activities also play a
big role in splitting up these wild areas.

c. Estimates on wilderness habitat loss caused by fragmentation

Sources and studies show different numbers when estimating wilderness

habitat loss. Many reports emphasize a large decrease in natural spaces.
Some studies point out that deforestation has taken away major sections of
forests in tropical rainforests. Around the world other research shows that
much of the original untouched habitats have been split apart or wiped out.

2. a. Reasons why habitat fragmentation helps edge species:

Breaking habitats into smaller parts increases edges, which are places where
different habitats meet. These edges provide a blend of resources and
conditions, which works well for species comfortable living between two
ecosystems. Species that thrive near edges are often generalists. They can
use resources from both sides. On the other hand, species that live in the
middle of habitats struggle to adjust to edge environments.

b. Why a rise in habitat isolation reduces genetic diversity:

When isolation increases, it restricts how individuals move between groups,

which cuts down the exchange of genes and lowers genetic diversity. This
often causes population sizes to shrink. Smaller groups are more prone to
genetic drift, which is random shifts in allele frequencies, and face greater
risks of inbreeding. Inbreeding takes away genetic variety making it harder
for populations to adapt to changing environments and leaving them more
open to diseases.

c. What most affects an animal's ability to hunt food:

The biggest challenge to an animal's ability to hunt is likely the loss of

habitat and shrinking patch sizes. When habitats become fragmented into
smaller separate areas, finding prey and other resources needed for hunting
becomes much harder.

d. Results on California chaparral bird species:

After their habitats were broken into smaller and separate areas, California
chaparral bird species saw their populations shrink in both size and variety.
Smaller patches of land make it harder for these birds to locate good spaces
to nest, find mates, or gather food.

e. Why sage grouse struggle with smaller habitat patches:

Smaller habitat patches are a problem for sage grouse because they cannot
find nesting spots or mates. Sage grouse rely on big connected grasslands for
nesting and breeding, but habitat fragmentation leaves behind small
isolated spaces that do not meet their needs.

3. Part a: The statement talks about how habitat fragmentation and changes
in land use happen in the eastern U.S. People have caused this by
urbanizing, building, farming, and cutting down forests. Large connected
natural areas have shrunk leaving behind small patches of green spaces.
These broken-up habitats might not be big enough to keep many species
alive or allow animals to move around .

Part b: Animals on flat land need to travel greater distances to migrate

compared to those living in mountainous areas. Flat landscapes lack natural
barriers, which could guide or gather animals in specific spots. This makes it
tougher for them to locate suitable places to migrate or move. By contrast
mountainous regions have natural structures that gather animals together
and allow for shorter more focused movements. The different elevations in
these areas also create scattered habitats, which can support a wider
variety of species and movement routines.

4. a. What does "wildlife corridor" mean?

A wildlife corridor serves as a route linking two or more habitats. It helps

animals travel between these areas . This movement plays a key role in
keeping genetic diversity letting animals migrate, and helping them find
food and mates.

b. Name two general designs or shapes of wildlife corridors.

●​ Some are long and narrow stretches of habitat that join bigger
regions.
 ●​ Others are smaller habitat spots spread out like stepping stones letting
animals cross between larger zones.

c. What feature of a corridor’s design is crucial to ensure it supports the

widest range of species?

The width of a corridor and the condition of its habitat are crucial to boost
biodiversity. A broader corridor can support a larger number of species,
while good-quality and varied habitats inside the corridor ensure more
species thrive and find what they need to survive.

5. a. The researchers explored questions about how species used the area
how often collisions happened, and whether the habitat stayed connected.
They tracked if animals made use of the crossings, checked collision
frequencies, and looked into whether the structures linked habitats that had
been divided.

b. Researchers concentrated on large carnivores in the corridors because

their movements cover wide distances, and they face higher risks of
accidents with vehicles or habitat breaking apart. Making corridors work
well for these animals benefits many other species too.

6. The article, which focuses on animal migration corridors, points out

several issues with these efforts. It notes that they often fail to address how
climate change will shape the future needing more flexible strategies. It
also mentions that building corridors might lead to more edge effects where
the areas between the corridor and nearby habitats create problems for
animals. Lastly, there’s concern that these pathways could help spread
diseases and invasive species harming natural ecosystems.
1. a. What is habitat fragmentation?

Habitat fragmentation is the process of dividing a large, continuous area of

habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Imagine a forest being split up by
roads, development, or agriculture, creating smaller, separate forested
areas. This fragmentation disrupts the natural movement and interactions
of species within the habitat.

b. Why has the growing human population led to habitat fragmentation?

As human populations grow, there's an increasing demand for land to build

homes, develop infrastructure, and practice agriculture. This expansion
often leads to the conversion of natural habitats into these
human-dominated areas, effectively fragmenting the remaining wilderness.
Other activities like logging and mining also contribute to habitat
fragmentation.

c. Estimates for wilderness habitat loss due to fragmentation

Specific figures for wilderness habitat loss vary depending on the source and
region studied. However, many reports highlight the substantial decline in
natural areas. For instance, some research suggests that large portions of
forested areas, particularly tropical rainforests, have been lost to
deforestation. Other studies estimate that globally, a significant percentage
of original wilderness habitats has been fragmented or destroyed.

2. a. Why habitat fragmentation favors edge species:

Habitat fragmentation creates more edges, which are transitional zones
between different habitat types. These edges offer a mix of resources and
conditions, making them favorable for species that are adapted to live
along the boundary between different ecosystems. Edge species are often
generalists, able to utilize resources from both sides of the edge, while
interior species are less adaptable to edge conditions.

b. How increased habitat isolation lowers genetic diversity:

Increased isolation limits the movement of individuals between

populations, reducing the flow of genes (genetic diversity). This can lead to
smaller populations, which are more susceptible to genetic drift (random
changes in allele frequencies) and inbreeding. Inbreeding reduces the
genetic variability within a population, making it less adaptable to
environmental changes and more vulnerable to diseases.

c. Which effect most harms an animal's ability to hunt for food:

The most harmful effect on an animal's ability to hunt for food is likely loss
of habitat and reduced patch size. Fragmentation leads to smaller, isolated
patches of habitat, which reduces the availability of prey species and other
resources essential for hunting.

d. Impact on California chaparral bird species:

Following habitat fragmentation and isolation, California chaparral bird

species have experienced a decline in population size and diversity. The
reduced habitat patches make it more difficult for them to find suitable
nesting sites, breeding partners, and food resources.

e. Why sage grouse are affected by reduced habitat patch size:

Reduced habitat patch size is harmful to sage grouse because it limits their
ability to find mates and adequate nesting sites. Sage grouse need large,
contiguous grasslands for breeding and nesting, and the smaller, isolated
patches left by habitat fragmentation are not suitable for their needs.

3. Part a: The statement is likely referring to the effects of habitat

fragmentation and land use changes in the eastern U.S. Human activities
like development and urbanization, along with agriculture and logging, have
drastically reduced large, connected natural areas, leaving only isolated
pockets of green space. These fragmented habitats can be too small to
support populations of many species, limiting the movement and survival of
animals.
Part b: Animals in flat terrain need to migrate farther than those in
mountainous regions for several reasons. In flat terrain, the landscape offers
fewer natural barriers that can help concentrate animals, making it harder
for them to find suitable locations for movement and migration.
Mountainous areas, on the other hand, can provide natural barriers that can
help concentrate animal populations and support more localized
movements. Additionally, the varying elevations in mountainous regions can
create a mosaic of different habitats, supporting more diverse species and
movement patterns.

4. a. What is a wildlife corridor?

A wildlife corridor is a passage connecting two or more habitat areas that
allows animals to move between them safely. This movement is important
for maintaining genetic diversity, allowing for migration, and facilitating
the search for food and mates.

b. What are two general structures or shapes for a wildlife corridor?

●​ These are long, narrow strips of habitat connecting larger areas.

●​ These consist of smaller patches of habitat scattered across the
landscape, acting as waypoints for animals to move between larger
areas.

c. What property of a corridor's design is most important, allowing it to

maximize biodiversity?

The most important property for maximizing biodiversity is the width of the
corridor and the quality of the habitat within it. A wider corridor allows for
more species to use it, while a corridor with diverse and healthy habitat
supports a greater number of species and provides resources for their
survival.
5.a. The researchers would have been asking questions about species
utilization, collision rates, and habitat connectivity to determine if the
wildlife management techniques were effective. This would have involved
tracking whether animals used the crossings, how often collisions occurred,
and if the structures helped connect fragmented habitats.

b. Large carnivores were a focus of the corridors because their movement

patterns often span larger areas, and they can be more vulnerable to vehicle
collisions and habitat fragmentation. By ensuring corridors are effective for
large carnivores, the benefits extend to other wildlife species as well.

6. The article, likely discussing animal migration corridors, criticizes these

projects for several reasons. First, they often overlook the long-term
impact of climate change and the need for more adaptable solutions.
Additionally, corridor creation can inadvertently increase edge effects,
where the boundary between the corridor and surrounding habitat
negatively impacts wildlife. Finally, there are concerns that corridors may
facilitate the spread of diseases and invasive species, further disrupting
ecosystems.