Habitat Fragmentation Index Calculator
Quantify habitat fragmentation by comparing total habitat area to the number of separate patches and average patch size.
km²
km²
Mean Patch Size
50.0 km²
Largest Patch Index40.0 %
Patch Density2.00 patches per 100 km²
Mean Patch Size vs Total Habitat Area
Measuring Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation divides continuous ecosystems into smaller, isolated patches, reducing biodiversity and wildlife movement.
Key Metrics
Mean Patch Size = Total Habitat Area / Number of Patches
Largest Patch Index (LPI) = Largest Patch / Total Area x 100%
A high LPI indicates one dominant patch with good core habitat. Low mean patch size and high patch count indicate severe fragmentation. Species requiring large home ranges are most vulnerable to fragmentation.
Example Calculation
1,000 km² of forest split into 20 patches, with the largest being 400 km².
- 01Mean patch size = 1,000 / 20 = 50 km²
- 02Largest Patch Index = 400 / 1,000 x 100 = 40%
- 03Patch density = 20 / 1,000 x 100 = 2.0 patches per 100 km²