Final answer:
Habitat fragments differ from their original habitats in the degree of subdivision, which leads to greater numbers of isolated fragments; the aggregation of habitats, which affects continuity; and the complexity of fragment shapes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Habitat fragments differ from the original habitat in several key ways. Firstly, there is the degree of subdivision, which refers to the number of fragments into which the original habitat is broken. This increased subdivision can lead to more fragmented landscapes and result in a loss of the species that once thrived in these areas.
Thirdly, the shape complexity of habitat fragments can change, which can influence the edge effects and consequently the habitat's microclimate and the species it supports.
Additional factors influencing the difference between habitat fragments and original habitats include the history of the landscape and the ongoing ecological processes.
Human activities tend to disproportionately affect certain areas of the landscape, such as flatter areas at lower elevations and more productive soils, leading to more significant loss and fragmentation in these areas. This can create a biased sample of the original biota that remains in the fragments.
This landscape change impacts biodiversity through the species-area relationship and affects the overall ecological function. As such, understanding and managing the complexities of fragmented landscapes is vital for conservation efforts.