Conservation Biology: Habitat Fragmentation and Restoration

Study Notes

Maintaining Habitat for Conserving Species

Habitat Fragmentation

Definition: The process of breaking apart a large habitat into smaller, isolated patches
Causes: Human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and infrastructure development
Effects:
- Reduced population sizes and increased isolation
- Decreased genetic diversity and increased inbreeding
- Increased vulnerability to extinction
- Disrupted species interactions and ecosystem processes

Corridors And Connectivity

Definition: Corridors are habitat connections between fragmented patches, allowing species to move and interact
Importance:
- Maintains genetic diversity and population viability
- Enables species to adapt to changing environmental conditions
- Facilitates species migration and range shifts
- Supports ecosystem resilience and function
Types of corridors:
- Wildlife corridors: designed for species movement and habitat connectivity
- Ecological corridors: focus on maintaining ecosystem processes and services

Ecological Restoration

Definition: The process of rehabilitating degraded or damaged habitats to their natural state
Goals:
- Re-establish ecosystem processes and functions
- Recover native species and communities
- Enhance biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
- Support ecosystem services and human well-being
Approaches:
- Passive restoration: allowing natural processes to recover habitats
- Active restoration: human intervention to restore habitats (e.g., replanting, habitat reconstruction)

Wildlife Corridors

Definition: Specifically designed corridors to connect isolated habitats and facilitate species movement
Importance:
- Maintains population connectivity and genetic diversity
- Supports species migration and range shifts
- Enhances ecosystem resilience and function
- Reduces human-wildlife conflict
Design considerations:
- Species-specific requirements and habitat needs
- Landscape features and barriers to movement
- Human land-use and infrastructure planning

Invasive Species Management

Definition: The control and eradication of non-native species that harm native ecosystems and species
Importance:
- Prevents biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption
- Reduces economic and environmental impacts
- Supports ecosystem resilience and function
Management strategies:
- Prevention: preventing invasive species introductions
- Early detection and rapid response: quickly identifying and controlling invasive species
- Control and eradication: managing invasive species populations and habitats
- Restoration: rehabilitating degraded habitats and ecosystems

Description

Test your knowledge on habitat fragmentation, corridors, ecological restoration, and invasive species management in conservation biology. Learn how these concepts impact species conservation and ecosystem resilience.