International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 97-110 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 97 Research Report Open Access Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Bird Behavior and Extinction Mechanisms Jia Chen , Yanlin Wang Tropical Animal Resources Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572000, Hainan, China Corresponding email: jia.chen@hitar.org International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0011 Received: 01 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 12 Mar., 2024 Published: 01 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Chen and Wang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Chen J., and Wang Y.L., 2024, Effects of habitat fragmentation on bird behavior and extinction mechanisms, International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 14(2): 97-110 (doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0011) Abstract As the natural environment continues to change, particularly with the intensification of human activities, habitat fragmentation has become one of the critical challenges in global biodiversity conservation. This study explores the profound impacts of habitat fragmentation on bird behavior and extinction mechanisms. By outlining bird behavior and ecological theories, it provides a detailed analysis of the two main causes of habitat fragmentation and examines the widespread patterns of habitat fragmentation worldwide. The analysis indicates that habitat fragmentation significantly alters bird migration patterns, mating behaviors, and feeding habits, directly threatening bird survival and reproduction. Additionally, fragmentation leads to unstable population dynamics, reduced genetic diversity, and more complex species interactions, increasing the risk of bird extinctions. To address this issue, this study proposes conservation strategies, including restoring and enhancing habitat connectivity, improving legal and policy frameworks, and strengthening community involvement and education. These strategies provide a foundation for mitigating the effects of habitat fragmentation, protecting bird species and their habitats, and maintaining ecosystem balance and stability. Keywords Habitat fragmentation; Bird behavior; Extinction mechanisms; Conservation strategies; Biodiversity 1 Introduction Habitat fragmentation results from various anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion. It leads to the creation of habitat patches that are smaller and more isolated than the original habitat, disrupting ecological processes and species interactions. Fragmentation can alter the physical environment, increase edge effects, and create barriers to movement, which can have cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function (Nally et al., 2000; Bregman et al., 2014; Rutt et al., 2020). Globally, habitat fragmentation is recognized as a critical threat to biodiversity. Studies have shown that fragmentation affects species differently based on their ecological traits, such as habitat specialization, body size, and mobility (Nally et al., 2000; Bregman et al., 2014; Khimoun et al., 2016). For instance, tropical regions, which are biodiversity hotspots, are particularly vulnerable to fragmentation, leading to significant declines in bird populations and disruptions in ecological processes like seed dispersal and insect control (Korfanta et al., 2012; Bregman et al., 2014). In temperate regions, the impacts are more variable, with some species showing resilience while others decline (Ruiz‐Gutierrez et al., 2008; Bregman et al., 2014). Understanding how habitat fragmentation affects bird behavior and extinction mechanisms is crucial for several reasons. Birds play vital roles in ecosystems as pollinators, seed dispersers, and predators of insects. Changes in their behavior and population dynamics can indicate broader ecological shifts and help identify critical areas for conservation (Korfanta et al., 2012; Amos et al., 2014; Bregman et al., 2014). Moreover, studying these effects can reveal the underlying mechanisms driving species declines and extinctions, such as reduced genetic diversity, altered species interactions, and increased mortality rates (Ruiz‐Gutierrez et al., 2008; Simberloff, 2008; Khimoun et al., 2016). This study synthesizes existing knowledge and analyzes current research on the effects of habitat fragmentation on bird behavior and extinction mechanisms. Based on the ecological traits of birds and the specific characteristics of fragmented landscapes, it identifies how different bird species respond to fragmentation. The goal is to mitigate
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