User:Ckok04/New sandbox

Effect on animal behaviours
Although the way habitat fragmentation affects the genetics and extinction rates of species has been heavily studied, fragmentation has also been shown to affect species' behaviours and cultures as well. This is important because social interactions have the ability to determine and have an effect on a species' fitness and survival. Habitat fragmentation alters the resources available and the structure of habitats, as a result alters the behaviours of species and the dynamics between differing species. Behaviours affected can be within a species such as reproduction, mating, foraging, species dispersal, communication and movement patterns or can be behaviours between species such as predator prey relationships.

Predation Behaviours
Habitat fragmentation due to anthropogenic activities has been shown to greatly affect the predator-prey dynamics of many species by altering the amount of species and the members of those species. This affects the natural predator-prey relationships between animals in a given community and forces them to alter their behaviours and interactions, therefore resetting the so called "behavioral space race". The way in which fragmentation changes and re-shapes these interactions can occur in many different forms. Most prey species have patches of land that are refuge from their predators, allowing them the safety to reproduce and raise their young. Human introduced structures such as roads and pipelines alter these areas by facilitating predator activity in these refuges, increasing predator-prey overlap. The opposite could also occur in the favour of prey, increasing prey refuge and subsequently decreasing predation rates. Fragmentation may also increase predator abundance or predator efficiency and therefore increase predation rates in this manner. Several other factors can also increase or decrease the extent to which the shifting predator-prey dynamics affect certain species, including how diverse a predators diet is and how flexible habitat requirements are for predators and prey. Depending on which species are affected and these other factors, fragmentation and its resulting effects on predator-prey dynamics may contribute to a species extinction. In response to these new environmental pressures, new adaptive behaviours may be developed. Prey species may adapt to increased risk of predation with strategies such as altering mating tactics or changing behaviours and activities related to food and foraging.

Boreal Woodland Caribous
In the boreal woodland caribous of British Columbia the effects of fragmentation are clearly demonstrated. The species refuge area is peatland bog which has been interrupted by linear features such as roads and pipelines. These features have allowed their natural predators, the wolf and the black bear to more efficiently travel over landscapes and between patches of land .Since their predators can more easily access the caribous' refuge, the females of the species attempt to avoid the area, affecting their reproductive behaviours and offspring produced.

Communication Behaviours
Fragmentation affecting the communication behaviours of birds has been well studied in Dupont's Lark. The Larks primarily reside in regions of Spain and are a small passerine bird which use songs as a means of cultural transmission between members of the species. The Larks have two distinct vocalizations, the song and the territorial call. The territorial call is used by males to defend and signal territory from other male Larks and is shared between neighbouring territories when males respond to a rivals song. Occasionally it is used as a threat signal to signify an impending attack on territory. A large song repertoire can enhance a males ability to survive and reproduce as he has a greater ability to defend his territory from other males, and a larger number of males in the species means a larger variety of songs being transmitted. Fragmentation of the Dupont's Lark territory from agriculture, forestry and urbanization appears to have a large effect on their communication structures. Males only perceive territories of a certain distance to be rivals and so isolation of territory from others due to fragmentation leads to a decrease in territorial calls as the males no longer have any reason to use it or have any songs to match.

Review
Hi, these are my suggestions:

Effect on animal behaviours

In your first sentence, take out “in which” to make it less verbose, and there should be an apostrophe after the second “species”, i.e. “species’”, as it is the behaviour and culture of that species. The third sentences’ comma is an asyndeton and can be replaced with an “and”, and the existing “and” with a semicolon, if you wish. The first and in the final sentence is not needed and should be replaced with a comma. A possible configuration: “Behaviours affected can be within a species such as reproduction, mating, foraging, species dispersal, communication, and movement patterns, or can be behaviours between species such as predator prey relationships”.

Predation behaviours

In the second sentence could use putting a comma and “therefore” before “resetting the so called “behavioural space race””. Maybe give an example of how human introduced structures facilitate predator activity in areas of refuge for prey. The eighth sentence should have a comma between “certain species” and “including”. An addition of a comma between “new environmental pressures” and “new adaptive behaviours” is also needed.

Boreal Woodland Caribous

A few words in the final sentence can be omitted and changed around: “Since their predators can more easily access the caribous’ refuge, the females of the species attempt to avoid the area, affecting their reproductive behaviours and offspring produced”. This paragraph also does not have any references, so adding one or two would help – the number of references everywhere else is great.

Communication Behaviours

The words “the species” in the first sentence can be removed for preciseness. An apostrophe is not needed in the second sentence. For simplification, replace the word “utilize” with “use”. When talking about the Lark’s songs, “their” is not needed as it is implied. The sixth sentence could use a comma after “he has a greater ability to defend his territory from other males”. Instead of “by means such as”, the word “from” can be used. “And therefore” in the last sentence can be replaced with “so”. Also, territorial calls do decrease because of fragmentation, but, aside from not calling, is there a consequence associated with this?

Finally, instead of putting the bolded words 'bold text' next to the subtopics, they can be labeled as sub-headings. Choco Xiu (talk) 23:56, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

Review from Merielfitzgerald
Hello, overall this article is looking good and is going to greatly contribute to the page. You have incorporate what looks to be reliable references and the writing maintains a neutral tone which is important. Below I will make a few friendly suggestions by section to help continue improving your article.

Effect on behaviour- Work on more concise sentence structure, and in the second sentance expand on how the social interactions impact fitness and survival. Good job on the general overview of behaviours with the citation

Predation Behaviour- Explain the "behaviour space race" who coined the term, or define it a bit more clearly. Expand on how the change in behaviour can lead to extinction, maybe with a citation to current literature.

Boreal Woodland Caribou- Reference where this information is coming from. This paragraph reads well, and perhaps consider boreal caribou in Eastern North America or in Eurasia to show fragmentation is a global issue.

Communication Behaviour- Very well cited paragraph. Sentence structure/order could be shifted to make the information flow easier. It might also be helpful here to include some related wiki articles.

It may also be beneficial to change the formatting for the final product as well add into the "see also" section, certainly surrounding the communication portion. Keep up the great work!

ReferencesBold text