When a large, contiguous forest is broken up into smaller, isolated patches due to human activities, the populations of certain species decline drastically. According to ecological principles, which of the following groups of animals is most adversely affected by this habitat fragmentation?

Step-by-step solution

According to NCERT, habitat fragmentation is a major cause of biodiversity loss. When large habitats are broken up into small fragments due to various human activities, mammals and birds requiring large territories and certain animals with migratory habits are badly affected, leading to population declines. Species with small territories or those that thrive in edge habitats are generally less affected or may even increase in number. Highly specialized non-migratory organisms might be affected by habitat loss, but