<P> Forest fragmentation also includes less subtle forms of discontinuities such as utility right - of - ways (ROWs). Utility ROWs are of ecological interest because they have become pervasive in many forest communities, spanning areas as large as 5 million acres in the United States . Utility ROWs include electricity transmission ROWs, gas pipeline and telecommunication ROWs . Electricity transmission ROWs are created to prevent vegetation interference with transmission lines . Some studies have shown that electricity transmission ROWs harbor more plant species than adjoining forest areas, due to alterations in the microclimate in and around the corridor . Discontinuities in forest areas associated with utility right - of - ways can serve as biodiversity havens for native bees and grassland species, as the right - of - ways are preserved in an early successional stage . </P> <P> Forest fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity in forests, especially in the tropics . The problem of habitat destruction that caused the fragmentation in the first place is compounded by: </P> <Ul> <Li> the inability of individual forest fragments to support viable populations, especially of large vertebrates </Li> <Li> the local extinction of species that do not have at least one fragment capable of supporting a viable population </Li> <Li> edge effects that alter the conditions of the outer areas of the fragment, greatly reducing the amount of true forest interior habitat . </Li> </Ul> <Li> the inability of individual forest fragments to support viable populations, especially of large vertebrates </Li>

Which of the following types of species often benefit from habitat fragmentation