'Habitat destruction' is a process of
land use change in which one
habitat-type is removed and replaced with another habitat-type. In the process of land-use change,
plants and
animals which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing
biodiversity.
Urban Sprawl is one cause of habitat destruction. Other important causes of habitat destruction include
mining,
trawling, and
agriculture. Habitat destruction is currently ranked as the most important cause of species extinction worldwide.
This term, or the terms "'loss of habitat'" and "'habitat reduction'", can also be used in a wider sense including loss of habitat due to other factors, such as
noise pollution.
See also
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Deforestation
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Habitat fragmentation
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Human culture