Habitat fragmentation in the temperature zone: a perspective for managers

Habitat fragmentation occurs when a large, fairly continuous tract of vegetation is converted to other vegetation types such that only scattered fragments of the original type remain. Problems associated with habitat fragmentation include overall habitat loss, increase in edge habitat and edge effects (particularly higher parasitism and nest predation rates), and isolation effects. Birds show variable responses to fragmentation, with the most conservation concern focused on so-called 'area-sensitive' species that remain only on large habitat fragments. Management responses to fragmentation include preservation of large tracts of habitat with minimal amounts of edge.