Editing Habitat fragmentation (section)

=== Effect on microorganisms ===
While habitat fragmentation is often associated with its effects on large plant and animal populations and biodiversity, due to the interconnectedness of ecosystems there are also significant effects that it has on the [[microbiota]] of an environment. Increased fragmentation has been linked to reduced populations and diversity of fungi responsible for decomposition, as well as the insects they are host to.<ref name="Nordén2013">{{Cite journal|last1=Nordén|first1=Jenni|last2=Penttilä|first2=Reijo|last3=Siitonen|first3=Juha|last4=Tomppo|first4=Erkki|last5=Ovaskainen|first5=Otso|date=May 2013|editor-last=Thrall|editor-first=Peter|title=Specialist species of wood-inhabiting fungi struggle while generalists thrive in fragmented boreal forests|journal=Journal of Ecology|language=en|volume=101|issue=3|pages=701–712|doi=10.1111/1365-2745.12085|s2cid=85037421 |issn=0022-0477|doi-access=free|bibcode=2013JEcol.101..701N }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kiesewetter |first1=Kasey N. |last2=Otano |first2=Leydiana |last3=Afkhami |first3=Michelle E. |date=June 2023 |title=Fragmentation disrupts microbial effects on native plant community productivity |url=https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.14097 |journal=Journal of Ecology |language=en |volume=111 |issue=6 |pages=1292–1307 |doi=10.1111/1365-2745.14097 |bibcode=2023JEcol.111.1292K |issn=0022-0477}}</ref> This has been linked to simplified food webs in highly fragmented areas compared to old growth forests.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Komonen|first1=Atte|last2=Penttila|first2=Reijo|last3=Lindgren|first3=Mariko|last4=Hanski|first4=Ilkka|date=July 2000|title=Forest fragmentation truncates a food chain based on an old-growth forest bracket fungus|journal=Oikos|language=en|volume=90|issue=1|pages=119–126|doi=10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.900112.x|bibcode=2000Oikos..90..119K |issn=0030-1299}}</ref> Furthermore, edge effects have been shown to result in significantly varied [[Microenvironment (ecology)|microenvironments]] compared to interior forest due to variations in light availability, presence of wind, changes in precipitation, and overall moisture content of leaf litter.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Matlack|first=Glenn R.|date=1993|title=Microenvironment variation within and among forest edge sites in the eastern United States|journal=Biological Conservation|language=en|volume=66|issue=3|pages=185–194|doi=10.1016/0006-3207(93)90004-K|bibcode=1993BCons..66..185M }}</ref> These microenvironments are often not conducive to overall forest health as they enable [[Generalist and specialist species|generalist]] species to thrive at the expense of [[Generalist and specialist species|specialists]] that depend on specific environments.<ref name="Nordén2013" />