Ongoing accumulation of plant diversity through habitat connectivity in an 18-year experiment ($) (Science)

During the course of time, we have realized the importance of biodiversity for the maintenance of the ecosystem. However, the world has already been fragmented in small parts which resulted in a huge loss of habitat and threatening to biodiversity. Habitat connectivity, which means the degree to which separated patches of habitat are connected, is considered to be one of the most important factors in maintaining diversity. A recent publication by Damschen et. al., has tested long term effects of habitat connectivity on plant colonization and extinction dynamics for almost over two decades in a habitat fragmentation experiment. They created connected and non-connected habitat fragments and censused the occupancy of all plant species assembled after the restoration of fragments over the years. They observed the habitat connectivity increased the species colonization by 5% and reduced the extinction rate by 2%. By using corridors to connect the fragmented habitats they have shown the drastic and long term effect on maintaining diversity and ecological conservation. (Summary by Mugdha Sabale) Science: 10.1126/science.aax8992