Habitat fragmentation is the alteration of habitat resulting in spatial separation of habitat units from a previous state of greater continuity. Larger areas of habitat tend to be more desirable for species. Various things, such as the constructions of a road or formation of a stream, can cause a habitat to become fragmented. The smaller the habitat, the more vulnerable species within the habitat, the more vulnerable the species within the habitat are to disease and even natural disasters.
Pratt, Ph.D., Douglas C. “Habitat Fragmentation.” Environmental Encyclopedia. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 829-830. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=nclivedc&tabID=T003&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX1918700715&&docId=GALE|CX1918700715&docType=GALE>