Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Habitat fragmentation occurs when large areas of habitat are divided into smaller, isolated fragments due to human activities such as urbanization or deforestation. This separation can disrupt ecological processes and lead to a loss of biodiversity.
Related terms
Edge effect: The edge effect refers to changes in environmental conditions at the boundary between two different habitats caused by habitat fragmentation.
Corridors: Corridors are strips of habitat that connect fragmented areas together, allowing organisms to move between them more easily.
Fragmented populations: Fragmented populations are groups of individuals from the same species that are separated by habitat fragmentation. These populations may have reduced genetic diversity and face higher risks of extinction.