Question

Give several examples of ways habitat change can either harm species or aid them.

Short answer

Examples of how habitat change can harm species include deforestation, urbanization, and climate change. Ways it could aid species include plant succession, regrowth after a forest fire, and urbanization for certain adaptable species.

Step-by-step solution

Identify ways habitat changes can harm species

Let's first think about how habitat change can harm species. Some examples include: \n1. Deforestation: Removing forests can limit access to necessary resources for certain species, making survival difficult. \n2. Urbanization: The construction of cities and towns can destroy natural habitats, leading to the displacement of species. \n3. Climate change: Changes in climate can alter habitats making them unsuitable for certain species, leading to migration or extinction.

Identify ways habitat changes can aid species

Now let's consider how habitat change can aid species. Some examples include: \n1. Plant succession: As one plant species alters the soil and blocks the sunlight, different species might thrive. \n2. Regrowth after a forest fire: Some species require the high-nutrient soil that comes after a fire for their seeds to germinate, thus, a forest fire despite being destructive initially can aid these species. \n3. Urbanization: Certain species can adapt to urban environments, and could potentially see a population increase due to decreased predation or increased food availability.