Question

edge habitat is the area near the edge of a forest, and it often contains few species. interior habitat is the area in the middle of a forest, and it often contains the most species. a city plans to build a new road through a forest to redirect local traffic away from busy city highways. the city presents two plans to the community.
road building plans
plan 1
plan 2
key
■ trees
road building plans
plan
description
cost
1
build a road through the forest, dividing it into two equal parts on both sides
lower cost because the road is shorter
2
build a road circling halfway around the forest near the edge of the forest
higher cost because the road is longer
drag each statement into the correct box to best evaluate the plans.
road plan evaluation
plan 1
plan 2
leads to the least amount of habitat fragmentation
leads to the least amount of damage to trees in the forest
leads to the least amount of biodiversity loss
leads to the least amount of money spent

Explanation:

• Plan 1:
• Builds a road through the forest, dividing it. This would create more edge habitat (where there are fewer species) and fragment the interior habitat (where more species are). So it would lead to more habitat fragmentation, more damage to trees (as it cuts through the forest), more biodiversity loss (due to loss of interior habitat). But it has a lower cost as the road is shorter.
• For "leads to the least amount of money spent": Since Plan 1 has a shorter road and thus lower cost, this statement goes to Plan 1.
• Plan 2:
• Builds a road near the edge. Edge habitat already has fewer species. By building near the edge (not through the middle), it preserves more of the interior habitat (with more species). So it leads to less habitat fragmentation (as it doesn't divide the forest into two equal - parts), less damage to trees (as it's near the edge, not cutting through the dense tree area in the middle), less biodiversity loss (because interior habitat is preserved better). But it has a higher cost.
• For "leads to the least amount of habitat fragmentation", "leads to the least amount of damage to trees in the forest", "leads to the least amount of biodiversity loss": Since Plan 2 is near the edge and doesn't divide the forest like Plan 1, these statements go to Plan 2.

Answer:

• Plan 1: leads to the least amount of money spent
• Plan 2: leads to the least amount of habitat fragmentation, leads to the least amount of damage to trees in the forest, leads to the least amount of biodiversity loss