Editing Urbanization (section)

=== Habitat fragmentation ===
Urbanization can have a large effect on biodiversity by causing a division of habitats and thereby alienation of species, a process known as [[habitat fragmentation]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Urbanization, habitat loss, biodiversity decline: solution pathways to break the cycle |last1=Elmqvist |first1=Thomas |last2=Zipperer |first2=Wayne |last3=Güneralp |first3=Burak|year=2016|pages=139–151|chapter=10}}</ref> Habitat fragmentation does not destroy the habitat, as seen in [[habitat loss]], but rather breaks it apart with things like roads and railways.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Liu Z, He C, Wu J | title = The Relationship between Habitat Loss and Fragmentation during Urbanization: An Empirical Evaluation from 16 World Cities | journal = PLOS ONE| volume = 11 | issue = 4 | pages = e0154613 | date = 2016 | pmid = 27124180 | pmc = 4849762 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0154613 | bibcode = 2016PLoSO..1154613L | doi-access = free }}</ref> This change may affect a species ability to sustain life by separating it from the environment in which it is able to easily access food, and find areas that they may hide from predation.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1676/04-038|title = Nest Survival Relative to Patch Size in a Highly Fragmented Shortgrass Prairie Landscape|journal = The Wilson Bulletin|volume = 117|pages = 23–34|year = 2005|last1 = Skagen|first1 = Susan K.|last2 = Yackel Adams|first2 = Amy A.|last3 = Adams|first3 = Rod D.| issue=1 | bibcode=2005TWBu..117...23S |s2cid = 85173365|url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/210478|access-date = 25 December 2020|archive-date = 27 February 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210227094952/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/210478|url-status = live}}</ref> With proper planning and management, fragmentation can be avoided by adding corridors that aid in the connection of areas and allow for easier movement around urbanized regions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://conservationcorridor.org/wp-content/uploads/Connectivity_lesson_plan_habitat_fragmentation.pdf |title=Habitat Fragmentation and Wildlife Corridors |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925215417/https://conservationcorridor.org/wp-content/uploads/Connectivity_lesson_plan_habitat_fragmentation.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/urban-regeneration-and-greenspace-partnership/greenspace-in-practice/practical-considerations-and-challenges-to-greenspace/habitat-fragmentation-practical-considerations/|title=Habitat fragmentation – Practical considerations|work=Forest Research |access-date=2022-08-04|quote="Features such as footpaths, rivers and canals already offer green corridors in many urban areas. Greenspace that is not suitable breeding habitat for many species may still serve to improve permeability, and therefore movement, between breeding sites."|archive-date=24 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924185410/https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/urban-regeneration-and-greenspace-partnership/greenspace-in-practice/practical-considerations-and-challenges-to-greenspace/habitat-fragmentation-practical-considerations/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Depending on the various factors, such as level of urbanization, both increases or decreases in "species richness" can be seen.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McKinney|first=Michael L.|date=2008-01-29|title=Effects of urbanization on species richness: A review of plants and animals|journal=Urban Ecosystems|volume=11|issue=2|pages=161–176|doi=10.1007/s11252-007-0045-4|bibcode=2008UrbEc..11..161M |s2cid=23353943|issn=1083-8155}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sidemo-Holm|first1=William|last2=Ekroos|first2=Johan|last3=Reina García|first3=Santiago|last4=Söderström|first4=Bo|last5=Hedblom|first5=Marcus|title=Urbanization causes biotic homogenization of woodland bird communities at multiple spatial scales|journal=Global Change Biology|year=2022|volume=28 |issue=21 |doi=10.1111/gcb.16350|doi-access=free|pages=6152–6164|pmid=35983686 |pmc=9804485 |bibcode=2022GCBio..28.6152S }}</ref> This means that urbanization may be detrimental to one species but also help facilitate the growth of others. In instances of housing and building development, many times vegetation is completely removed immediately in order to make it easier and less expensive for construction to occur, thereby obliterating any native species in that area. Habitat fragmentation can filter species with limited dispersal capacity. For example, aquatic insects are found to have lower species richness in urban landscapes.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lundkvist|first1=E.|last2=Landin|first2=J.|last3=Karlsson|first3=F.|title= Dispersing diving beetles (Dytiscidae) in agricultural and urban landscapes in south-eastern Sweden |journal= Annales Zoologici Fennici |year=2002 }}</ref> The more urbanized the surrounding of habitat is, the fewer species can reach the habitat.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Liao|first1=W.|last2=Venn|first2=S.|last3=Niemelä|first3=J.|title=Environmental determinants of diving beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in an urban landscape|journal=Biodiversity and Conservation|year=2020|doi=10.1007/s10531-020-01977-9|doi-access=free|volume=29|issue=7|pages=2343–2359|bibcode=2020BiCon..29.2343L }}</ref> The negative effects of urbanisation on aquatic insects can be long-lasting from the temporal perspective.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Liao|first1=W.|last2=Soininen|first2=J.|title=Temporal alpha and beta diversity of diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) reveals biotic heterogenisation in urban ponds|journal=Freshwater Biology|year=2025|volume=70 |issue=1 |doi=10.1111/fwb.14374|doi-access=free|bibcode=2025FrBio..70E4374L }}</ref> Other times, such as with birds, urbanization may allow for an increase in richness when organisms are able to adapt to the new environment. This can be seen in species that may find food while scavenging developed areas or vegetation that has been added after urbanization has occurred i.e. planted trees in city areas.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McKinney|first=Michael|date=October 2002|title=Urbanization, Biodiversity, and Conservation|journal=BioScience|volume=52|issue=10|pages=883|doi=10.1641/0006-3568(2002)052[0883:UBAC]2.0.CO;2|doi-access=free}}</ref>