Final answer:
Habitat heterogeneity is the variety of different habitats, ecological niches and species within a certain area that contributes to higher species diversity and is affected by changes such as habitat fragmentation and ecological succession.
Step-by-step explanation:
Habitat heterogeneity refers to the variety of habitats within a given area and includes the diversity of ecological niches, physical features, and species present within those habitats. It is the structural complexity of habitats that supports varied and numerous species by providing a mosaic of resources and conditions. High habitat heterogeneity usually correlates with greater species diversity, as observed in the species-area relationship, where increasing the area surveyed typically leads to encountering a greater number of species due to the inclusion of more varied microhabitats and niches. The processes such as habitat fragmentation and broad-scale vegetation changes can significantly alter habitat heterogeneity, often with negative implications for biodiversity. As landscapes are modified by human activities or natural events, the resulting changes in heterogeneity affect not only current species composition but also determine the future ecological trajectory through processes like ecological succession.