habitat islands

Habitat islands are isolated patches of natural environment surrounded by different, often less hospitable areas, like a forest surrounded by farmland or a pond in an urban park. These "islands" create separate communities where plants and animals can live and evolve independently. Because of their isolation, species may differ from nearby areas, and unique ecosystems can develop. Habitat islands help scientists understand how species adapt to different environments and how isolation affects biodiversity, similar to how real islands influence the species that inhabit them.