Which of the following is consistent with forest fragmentation research?
A) Productivity is the same in both fragmented forests and forest interiors.
B) Edge communities consistently have low species diversity.
C) Forest-interior species show declines in small patch communities.
D) New-edge species that migrate in do not seem to compete with forest species and often increase biodiversity in fragmented forests.
E) Species diversity is always lower in fragmented forests when compared to forest interiors in the same region.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Forest-interior species are adapted to specific habitat conditions such as low light levels, high humidity, and stable temperature regimes. These environmental conditions are significantly altered in small patch communities, negatively affecting forest-interior species.

Answer: B 
 The edge communities experience disturbances and environmental conditions that are different from the forest interior. The resulting microenvironment supports different species, generally with lower diversity compared to forest interiors.

Answer: D 
 New-edge species are unique to the disturbed edge zones and better adapted to tolerate the altered environmental conditions than forest-interior species. As these species expand into the disturbed edges, they won't compete with the forest-interior species but instead contribute to overall biodiversity.

Which of the Following Is Consistent with Forest Fragmentation Research