For many taxa birds, butterflies, rodents, reptiles, vascular plants, and more species richness in habitat fragments is positively correlated with fragment size. This is widely known as the species-area relationship. Thus, when habitats are fragmented into smaller pieces, species are lost; and the likely extent of this loss can be predicted from the species-area relationship. Further, species richness in ...

For many taxa birds, butterflies, rodents, reptiles, vascular plants, and more species richness in habitat fragments is positively correlated with fragment size. This is widely known as the species-area relationship. Thus, when habitats are fragmented into smaller pieces, species are lost; and the likely extent of this loss can be predicted from the species-area relationship. Further, species richness in ...

Small populations are vulnerable to local extinction, but a species has a greater likelihood of persistence where there are a number of local populations interconnected by occasional movements of individuals among them. Such a set of subdivided populations is often termed a “meta population” (Hanski 1999). Two main kinds of meta population have been described. A mainland-island model is ...

Small populations are vulnerable to local extinction, but a species has a greater likelihood of persistence where there are a number of local populations interconnected by occasional movements of individuals among them. Such a set of subdivided populations is often termed a “meta population” (Hanski 1999). Two main kinds of meta population have been described. A mainland-island model is ...

The size of any population is determined by the balance between four parameters: births, deaths, immigration, and emigration. Population size is increased by births and immigration of individuals, while deaths and emigration of individuals reduce population size. In fragmented landscapes, these population parameters are influenced by several categories of processes. Deterministic processes Many factors that affect populations in fragmented ...

The size of any population is determined by the balance between four parameters: births, deaths, immigration, and emigration. Population size is increased by births and immigration of individuals, while deaths and emigration of individuals reduce population size. In fragmented landscapes, these population parameters are influenced by several categories of processes. Deterministic processes Many factors that affect populations in fragmented ...

Many studies have described the occurrence of species in fragments of different sizes, shapes, composition, land-use and context in the landscape. For species that primarily depend on fragmented habitat, particularly animals, fragment size is a key influence on the likelihood of occurrence. As fragment size decreases, the frequency of occurrence declines and the species may be absent from many ...

Many studies have described the occurrence of species in fragments of different sizes, shapes, composition, land-use and context in the landscape. For species that primarily depend on fragmented habitat, particularly animals, fragment size is a key influence on the likelihood of occurrence. As fragment size decreases, the frequency of occurrence declines and the species may be absent from many ...

Removal of large tracts of native vegetation changes physical processes, such as those relating to solar radiation and the fluxes of wind and water (Saunders et al. 1991). The greatest impact on fragments occurs at their boundaries; small remnants and those with complex shapes experience the strongest “edge effects”. For example, the micro climate at a forest edge adjacent ...

Removal of large tracts of native vegetation changes physical processes, such as those relating to solar radiation and the fluxes of wind and water (Saunders et al. 1991). The greatest impact on fragments occurs at their boundaries; small remnants and those with complex shapes experience the strongest “edge effects”. For example, the micro climate at a forest edge adjacent ...

The theory of island bio geography (MacArthur and Wilson 1967) had a seminal influence in stimulating ecological and conservation interest in fragmented landscapes. This simple, elegant model highlighted the relationship between the number of species on an island and the island’s area and isolation. It predicted that species richness on an island represents a dynamic balance between the rate ...

The theory of island bio geography (MacArthur and Wilson 1967) had a seminal influence in stimulating ecological and conservation interest in fragmented landscapes. This simple, elegant model highlighted the relationship between the number of species on an island and the island’s area and isolation. It predicted that species richness on an island represents a dynamic balance between the rate ...

Humans have transformed a large fraction of the Earth’s land surface. Over the past three centuries, the global extent of cropland has risen sharply, from around 2.7 to 15 million km2, mostly at the expense of forest habitats (Turner et al. 1990). Permanent pasture lands are even more extensive, reaching around 34 million km2 by the mid-1990s (Wood et ...

Humans have transformed a large fraction of the Earth’s land surface. Over the past three centuries, the global extent of cropland has risen sharply, from around 2.7 to 15 million km2, mostly at the expense of forest habitats (Turner et al. 1990). Permanent pasture lands are even more extensive, reaching around 34 million km2 by the mid-1990s (Wood et ...

A second way to assess habitat loss is by contrastingmajor biomes or ecosystem types. Today, tropical rainforests (also termed tropical moist and humid forests) are receiving the greatest attention, because they are being destroyed so rapidly and because they are the most biologically diverse of all terrestrial biomes. Of the roughly 16 million km2 of tropical rainforest that originally ...

A second way to assess habitat loss is by contrastingmajor biomes or ecosystem types. Today, tropical rainforests (also termed tropical moist and humid forests) are receiving the greatest attention, because they are being destroyed so rapidly and because they are the most biologically diverse of all terrestrial biomes. Of the roughly 16 million km2 of tropical rainforest that originally ...

Some regions of the Earth are far more affected by habitat destruction than others. Among the most imperiled are the so-called “biodiversity hotspots”, which contain high species diversity, many locally endemic species (those whose entire geographic range is confined to a small area), and which have lost at least 70% of their native vegetation (Myers et al. 2000). Many ...

Some regions of the Earth are far more affected by habitat destruction than others. Among the most imperiled are the so-called “biodiversity hotspots”, which contain high species diversity, many locally endemic species (those whose entire geographic range is confined to a small area), and which have lost at least 70% of their native vegetation (Myers et al. 2000). Many ...

Ecosystems and their constituent species provide an endless stream of products, functions, and services that keep our world running and make our existence possible. To many, even the thought of putting a price tag on services like photosynthesis, purification of water, and pollination of food crops may seem like hubris, as these are truly priceless services without which not ...

Ecosystems and their constituent species provide an endless stream of products, functions, and services that keep our world running and make our existence possible. To many, even the thought of putting a price tag on services like photosynthesis, purification of water, and pollination of food crops may seem like hubris, as these are truly priceless services without which not ...