Which of the following best describes "habitat fragmentation"?

Habitat fragmentation refers to the process where large and continuous habitats are divided into smaller, isolated patches due to various factors such as human activities, land development, or environmental changes. This division impacts wildlife significantly, as animals may find it difficult to navigate between these isolated patches, leading to reduced genetic diversity, challenges in finding mates, and limited access to resources such as food and shelter. Additionally, fragmented habitats can hinder migration, dispersal, and access to breeding grounds, ultimately affecting population viability and ecosystem stability.

The other options describe different ecological phenomena. The merging of wildlife habitats would suggest an increase in habitat connectivity rather than fragmentation. Restoration of natural habitats relates to efforts to rehabilitate and enhance degraded ecosystems, while degradation of soil quality points to environmental health issues that might arise in habitats, but none of these capture the essence of the divide and isolation characteristic of habitat fragmentation.