When land is transformed from one use to another, basic elements of the ecosystem upon which a species relies for shelter, food, and reproduction may be altered or may no longer be available. Some species are able to adapt more readily than others. For example, in areas of great biodiversity, species tend to be highly specialized in terms of the food they eat, where they live and reproduce, as well as the niche services they provide. When there is a loss of habitat, these species are at a greater risk of extinction than those which have larger habitat ranges.
