A small wooded area,once surrounded by pastures and shrubby areas,gradually became enclosed by housing developments.Ecologists studying the area noticed that,as housing developments encroached,some species disappeared from the woodland,but no new species entered.What is the most likely reason for this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that no new species entered the woodland suggests that the housing developments acted as a barrier to dispersal into and out of the area. The disappearance of some species also supports this idea, as they may have been unable to migrate to other areas or were negatively affected by habitat fragmentation. Pollution and erosion could also have contributed to the decline of the woodland, but they would not necessarily explain the lack of new species entering the area. The increase in extinction rates could also be a factor, but it would not explain why no new species were able to colonize the area.

A Small Wooded Area,once Surrounded by Pastures and Shrubby Areas,gradually