élhelyszétapródulás

The Hungarian term "élhelyszétapródulás" translates to habitat fragmentation in English. It describes the process by which a large, continuous habitat is broken down into smaller, isolated patches. This fragmentation can occur due to natural events like fires or floods, but is more commonly driven by human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development.

Habitat fragmentation leads to several ecological consequences. The total area of the habitat may not decrease significantly, but the remaining patches are often smaller and more isolated from each other. This reduces the overall connectivity of the landscape, making it difficult for species to move between patches for foraging, breeding, or finding mates. Smaller patches can also support smaller populations, making them more vulnerable to extinction due to genetic drift, inbreeding, and random environmental fluctuations. Edge effects, where the boundary between habitat and non-habitat becomes a significant portion of the remaining area, can also negatively impact species that are sensitive to these changes.

Species diversity often declines as a result of habitat fragmentation. Larger, more specialized species that require extensive territories are particularly susceptible. The isolation of populations can also disrupt ecological processes, such as pollination and seed dispersal. Conservation efforts aimed at mitigating habitat fragmentation often focus on creating wildlife corridors to connect isolated patches, restoring degraded habitats, and protecting remaining large, intact areas.