What makes habitat fragmentation potentially more damaging than simple acreage loss for wide-ranging species like the Amur leopard?
Answer
It results in isolated pockets too small to support viable breeding or genetic exchange
When infrastructure like roads divides large forests, the resulting isolated habitat pockets prevent necessary migration for genetic exchange and may be too small to maintain a viable breeding population.
Related Questions
Historically, what was the critically low estimate for the wild population of the Amur leopard?What is cited as the primary assault leading to the decline of the Amur leopard population?Which regions historically comprised part of the Amur leopard's range beyond the Russian Far East?What makes habitat fragmentation potentially more damaging than simple acreage loss for wide-ranging species like the Amur leopard?What two main elements drive the high demand for Amur leopards on the black market?Why are leopard bones specifically sought after by poachers?Which of the following is NOT listed as a primary component of the Amur leopard's diet?What is the main negative consequence associated with the genetic bottleneck in the remaining Amur leopard population?What major conservation measure was established in Russia to shield the majority of the remaining wild population?What specific methods are employed by researchers within the protected areas to monitor the population?