Fragmentation of natural habitats by urban development at Sochi

Abstract

ABSTRACT The fragmentation of natural habitats in Krasnodar Krai is analysed by reconstructing the spatial pattern of habitat quality. Habitat fragmentation effects were explored at the fragment level, with 260 fragments as units of study and a computed habitat degradation degree index computed using ArcGIS software and variance analysis. There is a direct connection between the level of habitat degradation and fragment size, so a habitat fragment of more than 50 ha suffered a low level of habitat degradation but those of less than 1.5 ha exhibited severe degradation.