Edge effects are predominantly harmful, despite the fact that most plants and animals are found on habitat edges.
It has been known for long that clearing a forest for human uses like construction or agriculture has disastrous environmental effects. The soil that was earlier bound to tree roots is blown away by the wind, and its fertility is steadily depleted by successive crop cycles. However, it can be observed that, when one emerges from within a forest, the climate changes drastically, from the cool, dark interior to the bright and warm barren exterior. Recent research has indicated that this change may be as harmful as the deforestation itself. But what effects does such a climatic transition have on the plants and animals found within the forest? This is described by a phenomenon called the 'edge effect'. How does the 'edge effect' affect biodiversity? Let's find out.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/understanding-the-edge-effect-with-examples.htmll