What impact does forest fragmentation have on ecosystem health?

Forest fragmentation significantly harms ecosystem health due to the disruption of habitat connectivity and the alteration of ecological processes. When large, contiguous habitats are broken into smaller patches, species may struggle to migrate, find mates, or access food resources. This fragmentation can lead to a decrease in biodiversity, as interior forest species, which require larger uninterrupted areas to thrive, may be unable to survive.

Moreover, edge effects arise from fragmentation, where the conditions at the boundaries of these smaller patches differ from those in the interior. This can expose species to greater predation, increased competition, and changes in microclimates, all of which can adversely affect both flora and fauna. Fragmentation also makes ecosystems more vulnerable to invasive species, as pathways are created for non-native species to invade and outcompete native flora and fauna.

By increasing these pressures on the ecosystem, fragmentation usually results in weakened overall health, making it a significant concern for conservation efforts and ecosystem management strategies.