Landscape or habitat fragmentation is the breaking up of a habitat or vegetation type into smaller, disconnected sections. It is generally a consequence of land use: agricultural activities, road building, and housing development all break up existing habitat.

What happens when land is fragmented?

Habitat fragmentation often changes the microenvironment at the fragment edge, resulting in increased light levels, higher daytime temperatures, higher wind speeds, and lower humidity. ... Also, increased wind, lower humidity, and higher daytime temperatures make fires more likely in forest fragments.

What causes fragmented landscape?

Fragmentation is often defined as a decrease in some or all types of natural habitats in a landscape, and the dividing of the landscape into smaller and more isolated pieces. ... Fragmentation can be caused by natural processes such as fires, floods, and volcanic activity, but is more commonly caused by human impacts.