Alocal government is planning to build new roads that will divide a forest into several fragments. the roads can follow several different designs, each of which will result in fragments of different sizes. which design will probably produce the most pronounced edge effects on the organisms living in the forest?
three rectangular fragments, each of which is 2 miles wide and 20 miles long
three rectangular fragments, each of which is 4 miles wide and 10 miles long
three rectangular fragments, each of which is 5 miles wide and 8 miles long
four rectangular fragments, each of which is 3 miles wide and 10 miles long
four rectangular fragments, each of which is 5 miles wide and 6 miles long

Design 1 - Three rectangular fragments, each of which is 2 miles wide and 20 miles long

Explanation:

Perimeter of rectangular = 2 (Length + Width)

P = 2 (L + W)

Design 1

P = 2 (20 + 2) = 44 miles

P = 44 miles

Three rectangular fragments = 3 * 44 = 132 miles

Design 2

P = 2 (10 + 4) = 28 miles

P = 28 miles

Three rectangular fragments = 3 * 28 = 84 miles

Design 3

P = 2 (8 + 5) = 26 miles

P = 26 miles

Three rectangular fragments = 3 * 26 = 78 miles

Design 4

P = 2 (10 + 3) = 26 miles

P = 26 miles

Four rectangular fragments = 4 * 26 = 104 miles

Design 5

P = 2 (6 + 5) = 22 miles

P = 22 miles

Four rectangular fragments = 4 * 22 = 88 miles

Edge effects is a term in ecology use to refer to changes in the community structures that occur at the boundary of two or more habitats & could lead to greater biodiversity

Based on this, the design that will probably produce the most pronounced edge effects on the organisms living in the forest is Design 1