Habitat Fragmentation and its Effect on the Environment By: Megan Butcher and Kirby Caraballo

Our 5 connections HF impacts organisms negatively 2. HF also impacts surrounding cultures 3. HF impacts the environment and the systems within it 4. HF influences forest management 5. How HF influences our modern day economy -before we get into what habitat fragmentation is, we want to just quickly outline what habitat fragmentation deals with and what it impacts in our five key connections:

What is Habitat Fragmentation? Habitat Fragmentation: the process by which habitat loss results in the division of large, continuous habitats into smaller, more isolated areas Habitat Fragmentation occurs through human interaction Can happen through natural disasters Examples of human interaction causing HF come from the process of industrialism. dams, roads, buildings, and structures Interrupt the natural breakup of surrounding environments and organisms in that environment. --small intro-- The destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats is a result of human land-use and natural disasters. In places all over the world, much of original habitats are destroyed, now only small fragments among the land given to humans. This fragmentation of habitats is a major factor in the decline of biodiversity worldwide. Now before we go in depth, lets answer the most basic question- what exactly is habitat fragmentation? slide 3 -Most of the time Habitat Fragmentation happens through human interaction with certain environments, but it can happen through natural disasters, such as earthquakes or severe storms. -Some examples of human interaction causing habitat fragmentation come from the process of industrialism. We build things such as dams, roads, buildings, and structures that interrupt the natural breakup of surrounding environments, and sequentially, the organisms in that environment.

How does HF impact organisms? Organisms directly affected during construction Edge Effect some animals can only live in the “inner forest” HF causes more edges to be created, therefore creating less inner forest habitats Speciation species rely on a specific type of habitat/food and once this habitat has been altered, the habitat no longer offers a suitable environment. A natural forest that has been fragmented by the construction of a road. This forest may be subject to the edge effect. (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roadside_Forest_-_geograph.org.uk_-_204572.jpg) -organisms can be directly and indirectly affected. Directly, through accidental killing/destruction of organisms during the construction of a potential habitat (such as building roads or a buildings) and Indirectly through the long-term degradation of the organisms habitat (an example being the degradation overtime of roadside forest areas due to human interaction ie: pollution/littering) Edge effect -The Edge Effect theory describes the result of HF. New “edges” are created, and the conditions around a fragment’s edge are different from the interior of that fragment. Organisms that flourish in the interior of forests may struggle to reproduce and survive on a newly created “edge”. -Organisms living on the edge are often more susceptible to predator attacks, increase of light, outside elements, etc. - Some species rely on a specific type of habitat or food and once this habitat has been altered, the habitat can no longer offer the organisms a suitable environment, leading to possible extinction or forced migration to a different habitat

How does HF affect surrounding cultures? Affect food chains species/organisms destroyed or relocated food chain can be negatively affected natural habitat surrounding homes of organisms (including humans) disrupted Migration of species A diagram showing the edge effect; http://wildflowerturfblog.wildflowerturf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/principles8-12n4vvp.jpg Because of effects such as the edge effect, disruption of habitat, and the relocation or extinction or species or a population of an organism, the food web in an ecosystem can be disturbed. When the disturbance of a food web occurs, overpopulation, extinction of prey species, and forced alteration of organism’s diet become common Organisms that are unable to adapt may be forced to migrate into similar habitats, reducing the overall biodiversity of the area and further altering the food chains in that particular ecosystem This can be traced back to humans, for the increase of predators/preys may be a hazard to surrounding populations and even affect human diet and what is available to hunt

How does HF affect the natural environment? Can lead to a decrease in organisms within a certain area edge effect- organisms vulnerable human intervention- killing of animals Degradation of natural habitat small fragments represent a small percentage of the original environment clear cutting Once HF occurs, the original habitat can not be restored Degradation of a natural forest habitat through clear cutting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearcutting) HF can also lead to the degradation of the environment itself Dividing continuous sections of land into smaller, isolated areas can result in the reduction of biodiversity, ecoysystems, and the complete destruction of the original habitat. Clear cutting is mainly used to create these fragmented areas, leading to severe erosion of the cleared area and the destruction of all habitats and resources. Building dams and changing the natural flow of rivers and lakes affect water conditions vital to us and other organisms in the area. It also can lead to intentional flooding of valley areas, destroying the soil and all habitats. Many organisms are unable to adapt to a new environment, for it took them thousands of years of slow adaption to allow to to live in the conditions present. Once fragmentation occurs, there is no way to restore the original habitat and its inhabitants

How HF influences our modern day economy Many cases connected with increase in economy The conversion of land, once wildlife habitat, to developed land housing developments roads offices strip malls and parking lots industrial sites dams docks/beaches Profit from these industries fuel our economy Dams interrupt the natural habitat of many fish and other organisms in that body of water. (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USACE_Gavins_Point_Dam.jpg) Maintenance of roads around forest areas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_forestry) We have been altering our environment since the start, to make ourselves better off Fencing off areas, livestock grazing, industrial pollution, and deforestation are all examples of human intervention In order to have the standard of living we do now, we create business, trade with other countries, and compete in world wide technological competitions however, these things all come at a price In order to do all these great things and make profit, we need land space We clear and divide up land to build houses, roads, offices, malls, parking lots, factories, and plants that fuel our economy So while HF may hurt organisms and their habitats, it benefits human economy and prosperity Forest management workers and management don't work for free, and without pay, our forests would be left with less protection

How HF influences forest management Organizations working to prevent habitat fragmentation: National Wildlife Federation The Nature Conservancy Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Declining lumber and biodiversity rates brought attention to forest health and sustainability Important aspect of protecting biodiversity is reduction of habitat fragmentation Forest Education in Colorado helped pass the Forest Action Plan, providing sustainability strategies and hot spots where attention should be focused since habitat fragmentation causes such a disturbance in the surrounding environment that the environment cannot be restored to its original health and status, “complete restoration” is practically impossible once the damage has been done. however, preservation and conservation efforts are a good way to soften the impacts of habitat fragmentation organizations such as the national wildlife federation work to protect and conserve specific environments from habitat fragmentation forest management techniques have changed over time due to the impacts of HF - Today, a strong body of research regarding forest management and sustainability has led to the development of better methods for the planting, protecting,controlled thinning,and burning, extracting, and processing timber. This research has lead to the slow decline of HF and spreading the knowledge of how fragmentation affects the environment With more knowledge available to the public, HF will decline even more, preserving endangered species and their habitats For example Every year, the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) reaches out to thousands of Coloradans with forestry education, information, and forest health reports. With the peoples support, in December 2009, the CSFS started what is known as the Forest Action Plan. The plan provides a science-based foundation to assist agencies in identifying areas of greatest need and opportunity for forest management across their state, and developing long-term sustainability strategies. With better education comes better results and prevention

Works Cited http://wildflowerturfblog.wildflowerturf.co.uk/2012/02/16/habitat-fragmentation/: http://www.conbio.org/ http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/forests-management.html