Beck Sinclair, Jessie MacQueen, Courtney Phillips Land Fragmentation Beck Sinclair, Jessie MacQueen, Courtney Phillips

Background "Habitat reduced from its original extent to a series of smaller patches or fragments" (Glennon and Kretser, 2005) Can occur via geological processes or human practices Land fragmentation = habitat fragmentation Highgate Gorge

Edge Effects Differences in the environmental and biotic conditions between edge and interior habitats

Major Human Causes Development Roads Agriculture Timber Harvest Developments being named after the habitat that they destroy... Roads are as frequent as streams in the US ecosystems Burlington Free Press: Beaver Patrol

Purpose Statement To determine the risk of land fragmentation within the watersheds of the Lake Champlain Basin. LCB broken into three regions (NY, VT, and Quebec). Each region has different laws regulating land fragmentation and development.

Effects Filter Source Effect Importance Agriculture 1 2 Dams 0.5 Fisheries Forested Areas Industrial Marinas Roads Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants

Sources with Known Effect Agriculture Roads Urban Industrial Lorax - industry of "thneed" production gave the Swomee Swans sore throats, reduced the Bar-ba-Loots food source View from top of Mt. Philo McNeil Generating Plant

Sources with Unsure Effect Waste Water Treatment Plants Dams

Sources with No Effect Marinas Fisheries

Impacts Filter Habitat Impact Importance Agriculture 1 Developed Area Forest 2 Herbaceous Lake Champlain < 6ft Lake Champlain > 6ft Other Lakes/Ponds Rivers/Streams Wetlands

Impacted Habitats Wetlands Forest Agriculture Herbaceous Agriculture as an impacted habitat is due to pollination effects

Unsure Impacted Habitats Other lakes/ponds Rivers/Streams Developed Area Ask ENSC 202 Class Developed area positively impacted. More is formed.

Non-impacted Habitats Lake Champlain <6ft Lake Champlain >6ft Water sources are not effected by LAND fragmentation. This was assessed by another group Uncertainty? Should aquatic habitats be included Champ is not affected by land fragmentation because we did not look at aquatic habitat fragmentation.

Future Recommendations Focus on aquatic habitats Economic values effecting importance filter Break up developed/urban source into more specific categories Research zoning laws – is protection enough?

Acknowledgments Bill Gill - Bailey-Howe Map Room Dan Levy Brian Voigt - Gund Institute Pamela Johnson & Pooja Kanwar  Breck Bowden & ENSC 202 Class