Chapter 56, Problem 56.3CR

Summary Introduction

To analyze: Two examples that show how habitat fragmentation can harm species in the long term.

Introduction: The reasons for the occurrence of habitat fragmentation leading to the harm to the species include changes in the climate, temperature, cutting of forests and pollution due to the release of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. These activities have led to an unbalance and disturbance in the ecosystem and the natural habitat. The release of toxic products from industries into the oceans and rivers leads to the accumulation of these chemicals in fishes. This causes the death of fishes due to toxicity. The nutrient and oxygen availability to sea organisms like fishes, whales, prawns, and other river animals get reduced due to the growth of plants leading to the phenomenon of eutrophication or algal bloom.