A land developer and several ecologists are discussing how a parcel of private land should be developed while saving 20 hectares as natural habitat. The land developer suggests that the 20 hectares be divided into twenty separate 1-hectare areas. The ecologists suggest that it would be better to have one intact parcel of 20 hectares. What is the significance of these different arrangements of the 20 hectares?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Isolated plots are more vulnerable to edge effects, which occur when one ecosystem transitions into another. These edges can be affected by species invasion, changes in microclimate, and fragmentation. One intact parcel will have less edge compared to the isolated plots. The other options are not relevant in this scenario.

A Land Developer and Several Ecologists Are Discussing How a Parcel