Habitat Loss

Synonyms

Habitat clearing; Habitat conversion; Habitat destruction; Habitat reduction

Definition

Airoldi and Beck (2007) have defined habitat loss as a measurable reduction in the abundance and distribution of natural habitats. Habitat loss is a term that is now in widespread use because of the ongoing impacts on natural systems associated with human population growth and the increasing need for development space and natural resources (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). At the same time, the term “habitat loss” is often defined in inconsistent ways. Most often “habitat” refers to the predominant features that create structural complexity in the environment, such as plants (e.g., pine forests, sea grass meadows) or animals (e.g., coral reefs), and “loss” indicates a focus on a measurable reduction in habitat cover (i.e., areal extent). Loss clearly occurs when natural habitats, such as forests, are cut down and slated for construction of buildings and roads or when salt marshes...