Final answer:
The statement is false; habitat patch size and shape are determined by both animal activities and interactions of geology, topography, and climate. The species-area relationship shows more species in larger habitat fragments, and landscape fragmentation needs to be considered as a whole for conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, "The size and shape of habitat patches are determined more by the activities of animals than by the interaction of geology, topography, and climate", is false. The size and shape of habitat patches are influenced by a complex interplay of factors that include geology, topography, and climate, as well as the activities of animals.
Research has shown that species richness and the presence of species in habitat fragments are correlated with fragment size, indicating that larger fragments tend to support more species. This relationship, known as the species-area relationship, demonstrates that when habitats are fragmented into smaller pieces, species are lost due to the fragment's inability to support viable populations, reduced habitat diversity, and the random likelihood of smaller areas containing fewer species.
Therefore, while the activities of animals do have an impact on habitat patches, especially through their movements and the use of the landscape, it is the synergy between these biological processes and the physical factors like geology, topography, and climate that ultimately shapes habitat patches. Importantly, the nature of landscape fragmentation as a whole must be considered for effective conservation management, as it involves understanding both the patches and the entire landscape.