What is a significant impact of urban development on ecosystems?

Urban development significantly impacts ecosystems primarily through habitat loss and fragmentation. As cities expand, natural landscapes such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands are often cleared to make way for roads, buildings, and other infrastructure. This process directly reduces the total area of habitats available for wildlife, which can lead to a decline in species populations and, in some cases, local extinctions.

Furthermore, when habitats are fragmented, the remaining pieces are often isolated from each other, making it difficult for species to move between different areas. This isolation can hinder gene flow, making populations more vulnerable to disease, inbreeding, and environmental changes. Fragmentation can also disrupt the ecological processes that maintain ecosystem health and function, such as nutrient cycling and predator-prey interactions.

In contrast, urban development typically does not increase biodiversity or enhance species interactions; rather, it often has the opposite effect. While some urban areas can support certain adaptable species, the overall trend shows a decrease in biodiversity. Additionally, ecological stability is usually compromised in urbanized areas due to the disruption of natural processes and increased human activity, further illustrating the detrimental effects of urban development on ecosystems.