What is habitat fragmentation and how does it affect biodiversity?

Habitat fragmentation refers to the process in which large, continuous natural habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches due to human activities such as road construction, urban development, agriculture, and deforestation. This division reduces the total available habitat and isolates populations of species. As a result, species face limited access to resources, reduced breeding opportunities, and restricted movement between habitat patches. It also increases vulnerability to predators, environmental changes, and genetic decline due to inbreeding. Over time, habitat fragmentation leads to a decrease in species diversity, disrupts ecological interactions, and increases the risk of local and global extinction.