Question

Imagine that you do an experiment observing changes in species richness in a fragmented

landscape. As fragmentation increases in the landscape, you observe an increase in

reptile species richness within the remaining forest patches. This is surprising to you,

since fragmentation is usually associated with a decrease in species richness. Propose at

least one reasonable explanation for an increase in reptile species richness in forest

patches in a fragmented landscape.

Answer 1

This answer can be explained by the example of Darwin's finches. When Galapagos mainland seperated, the Galapagos finches population fragmented to various newly formed lands of the Galapagos. Due to the differences in micro habitat in every new lands, the Galapagos finches started adopting new environment. This leads to the accumulation of new habits. And finally it produces mutation. Mutations leads to the formation of new species. Increases the species richness of the frinches.

• So, here also in this question, the species richness of the reptiles increases in the fragmented forest patches because of the same reason. The fragmentation of the forest leads t the foormation of new micro environments. The adaptation of the reptile species in different forest patches accumulates new adaptation, adaptation leads to mutation and mutation leads to the formation of new species.