While the consequences of habitat loss have been known for some
time, new research just published, underlines just how grave the situation has
become.
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It’s called “habitat fragmentation.” And, it’s been happening on
such a large scale, it’s been hard to tell what aspects are the most
destructive. That's because ecologists - at least 'til now - haven't been able
to properly keep track of all wildlife within an entire eco-system when human
developments confine them to smaller and more isolated patches of livable space.
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Using a new computer modelling system, German scientists have concluded, such landscapes are a
big problem for large predators such as lions and wolves. They're the ones who
run out of food first as their prey diminishes. If these large predators
disappear, entire wildlife "communities" suffer.
The study concludes,
"Habitat isolation is the main driver causing species loss and diversity
decline." This can include the collapse of entire, complex "food
webs" and make these large "apex" predators the most vulnerable
to outright extinctions.
The study was published yesterday in the proceedings of The Royal Society.
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