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Auliz-Ortiz DM, Benítez-Malvido J, Arroyo-Rodríguez V, Dirzo R, Pérez-Farrera MÁ, Luna-Reyes R, Mendoza E, Álvarez-Añorve MY, Álvarez-Sánchez J, Arias-Ataide DM, Ávila-Cabadilla LD, Botello F, Braasch M, Casas A, Campos-Villanueva DÁ, Cedeño-Vázquez JR, Chávez-Tovar JC, Coates R, Dechnik-Vázquez Y, del Coro Arizmendi M, Dias PA, Dorado O, Enríquez P, Escalona-Segura G, Farías-González V, Favila ME, García A, García-Morales LJ, Gavito-Pérez F, Gómez-Domínguez H, González-García F, González-Zamora A, Cuevas-Guzmán R, Haro-Belchez E, Hernández-Huerta AH, Hernández-Ordoñez O, Horváth A, Ibarra-Manríquez G, Lavín-Murcio PA, Lira-Saade R, López-Díaz K, MacSwiney G. MC, Mandujano S, Martínez-Camilo R, Martínez-Ávalos JG, Martínez-Meléndez N, Monroy-Ojeda A, Mora F, Mora-Olivo A, Muench C, Peña-Mondragón JL, Percino-Daniel R, Ramírez-Marcial N, Reyna-Hurtado R, Rodríguez-Ruíz ER, Sánchez-Cordero V, Suazo-Ortuño I, Terán-Juárez SA, Valdivieso-Pérez IA, Valencia V, Valenzuela-Galván D, Vargas-Contreras JA, Vázquez-Pérez JR, Vega-Rivera JH, Venegas-Barrera CS, Martínez-Ramos M. Underlying and proximate drivers of biodiversity changes in Mesoamerican biosphere reserves. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2305944121. [PMID: 38252845 PMCID: PMC10861858 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305944121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Protected areas are of paramount relevance to conserving wildlife and ecosystem contributions to people. Yet, their conservation success is increasingly threatened by human activities including habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and species overexploitation. Thus, understanding the underlying and proximate drivers of anthropogenic threats is urgently needed to improve protected areas' effectiveness, especially in the biodiversity-rich tropics. We addressed this issue by analyzing expert-provided data on long-term biodiversity change (last three decades) over 14 biosphere reserves from the Mesoamerican Biodiversity Hotspot. Using multivariate analyses and structural equation modeling, we tested the influence of major socioeconomic drivers (demographic, economic, and political factors), spatial indicators of human activities (agriculture expansion and road extension), and forest landscape modifications (forest loss and isolation) as drivers of biodiversity change. We uncovered a significant proliferation of disturbance-tolerant guilds and the loss or decline of disturbance-sensitive guilds within reserves causing a "winner and loser" species replacement over time. Guild change was directly related to forest spatial changes promoted by the expansion of agriculture and roads within reserves. High human population density and low nonfarming occupation were identified as the main underlying drivers of biodiversity change. Our findings suggest that to mitigate anthropogenic threats to biodiversity within biosphere reserves, fostering human population well-being via sustainable, nonfarming livelihood opportunities around reserves is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Martín Auliz-Ortiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
| | - Julieta Benítez-Malvido
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
| | - Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mérida97357, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA9430
- Department of Earth Systems Science, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA9430
| | - Miguel Ángel Pérez-Farrera
- Herbario Eizi Matuda, Laboratorio de Ecología, Evolutiva, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez29039, Mexico
| | - Roberto Luna-Reyes
- Dirección de Áreas Naturales y Vida Silvestre, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente e Historia Natural, Tuxtla Gutiérrez29000, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Mendoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia58337, Mexico
| | | | - Javier Álvarez-Sánchez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México04510, Mexico
| | - Dulce María Arias-Ataide
- Centro de Investigación y Educación Ambiental Sierra de Huautla, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca62914, Mexico
| | - Luis Daniel Ávila-Cabadilla
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mérida97357, Mexico
| | - Francisco Botello
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México04510, Mexico
| | - Marco Braasch
- Faktorgruen, Landschaftsarchitekten bdla Beratende Ingenieure, Abteilung Landschaftsplanung, Rottweil, Baden-Württemberg78628, Germany
| | - Alejandro Casas
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
| | - Delfino Álvaro Campos-Villanueva
- Estación de Biología Tropical Los Tuxtlas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz95701, Mexico
| | - José Rogelio Cedeño-Vázquez
- Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Chetumal77014, Mexico
| | - José Cuauhtémoc Chávez-Tovar
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma, Lerma, Estado de México52006, Mexico
| | - Rosamond Coates
- Estación de Biología Tropical Los Tuxtlas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz95701, Mexico
| | - Yanus Dechnik-Vázquez
- Pre-Planning Center of the Gulf, Federal Electricity Comission, Boca del Río, Veracruz94295, Mexico
| | - María del Coro Arizmendi
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalneplantla54090, Mexico
| | - Pedro Américo Dias
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz91190, Mexico
| | - Oscar Dorado
- Centro de Investigación y Educación Ambiental Sierra de Huautla, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca62914, Mexico
| | - Paula Enríquez
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas29290, Mexico
| | - Griselda Escalona-Segura
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Campeche, Campeche24500, Mexico
| | - Verónica Farías-González
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalneplantla54090, Mexico
| | - Mario E. Favila
- Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz91070, Mexico
| | - Andrés García
- Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, San Patricio48980, Mexico
| | - Leccinum Jesús García-Morales
- Departamento de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas87010, Mexico
| | - Fernando Gavito-Pérez
- Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra de Manantlán, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Autlán de Navarro48903, Mexico
| | - Héctor Gómez-Domínguez
- Herbario Eizi Matuda, Laboratorio de Ecología, Evolutiva, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez29039, Mexico
| | - Fernando González-García
- Red Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz91073, Mexico
| | - Arturo González-Zamora
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz911901, Mexico
| | - Ramón Cuevas-Guzmán
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro Universitario de la Costa Sur, Universidad de Guadalajara, Autlán de Navarro48900, Mexico
| | | | | | - Omar Hernández-Ordoñez
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México04510, Mexico
| | - Anna Horváth
- Quirón, Centro de Intervenciones Asistidas con Equinos y Formación para el Bienestar y Sustentabilidad, Asociación Civil, Comitán de Domínguez30039, Mexico
| | - Guillermo Ibarra-Manríquez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
| | - Pablo Antonio Lavín-Murcio
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua32315, Mexico
| | - Rafael Lira-Saade
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalneplantla54090, Mexico
| | - Karime López-Díaz
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Cognitivas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca62209, Mexico
| | | | - Salvador Mandujano
- Red Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz91073, Mexico
| | - Rubén Martínez-Camilo
- Unidad Villa Corzo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Villa de Corzo30520, Mexico
| | | | - Nayely Martínez-Meléndez
- Orquidario y Jardín Botánico "Comitán", Secretaría de Medio Ambiente e Historia Natural, Comitán de Domínguez30106, Mexico
| | | | - Francisco Mora
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
| | - Arturo Mora-Olivo
- Instituto de Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas87019, Mexico
| | - Carlos Muench
- Coordinación Universitaria para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México04510, Mexico
| | - Juan L. Peña-Mondragón
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencia y Tecnología -Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
| | - Ruth Percino-Daniel
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México04510, Mexico
| | - Neptalí Ramírez-Marcial
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas29290, Mexico
| | - Rafael Reyna-Hurtado
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Campeche, Campeche24500, Mexico
| | - Erick Rubén Rodríguez-Ruíz
- Comisión de Parques y Biodiversidad de Tamaulipas, Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas87083, Mexico
| | - Víctor Sánchez-Cordero
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México04510, Mexico
| | - Ireri Suazo-Ortuño
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia58337, Mexico
| | - Sergio Alejandro Terán-Juárez
- División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Campus Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas87010, Mexico
| | - Ingrid Abril Valdivieso-Pérez
- División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Tecnológico de Conkal, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Conkal97345, Mexico
| | - Vivian Valencia
- Department of Environment, Agriculture and Geography, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QCJ1M 1Z7, Canada
| | - David Valenzuela-Galván
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca62209, Mexico
| | | | - José Raúl Vázquez-Pérez
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas29290, Mexico
| | - Jorge Humberto Vega-Rivera
- Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, San Patricio48980, Mexico
| | - Crystian Sadiel Venegas-Barrera
- Departamento de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas87010, Mexico
| | - Miguel Martínez-Ramos
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia58190, Mexico
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Geary WL, Tulloch AIT, Ritchie EG, Doherty TS, Nimmo DG, Maxwell MA, Wayne AF. Identifying historical and future global change drivers that place species recovery at risk. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2953-2967. [PMID: 36864646 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem management in the face of global change requires understanding how co-occurring threats affect species and communities. Such an understanding allows for effective management strategies to be identified and implemented. An important component of this is differentiating between factors that are within (e.g. invasive predators) or outside (e.g. drought, large wildfires) of a local manager's control. In the global biodiversity hotspot of south-western Australia, small- and medium-sized mammal species are severely affected by anthropogenic threats and environmental disturbances, including invasive predators, fire, and declining rainfall. However, the relative importance of different drivers has not been quantified. We used data from a long-term monitoring program to fit Bayesian state-space models that estimated spatial and temporal changes in the relative abundance of four threatened mammal species: the woylie (Bettongia penicillata), chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), koomal (Trichosurus vulpecula) and quenda (Isoodon fusciventor). We then use Bayesian structural equation modelling to identify the direct and indirect drivers of population changes, and scenario analysis to forecast population responses to future environmental change. We found that habitat loss or conversion and reduced primary productivity (caused by rainfall declines) had greater effects on species' spatial and temporal population change than the range of fire and invasive predator (the red fox Vulpes vulpes) management actions observed in the study area. Scenario analysis revealed that a greater extent of severe fire and further rainfall declines predicted under climate change, operating in concert are likely to further reduce the abundance of these species, but may be mitigated partially by invasive predator control. Considering both historical and future drivers of population change is necessary to identify the factors that risk species recovery. Given that both anthropogenic pressures and environmental disturbances can undermine conservation efforts, managers must consider how the relative benefit of conservation actions will be shaped by ongoing global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- William L Geary
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (Burwood Campus), Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Biodiversity Division, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ayesha I T Tulloch
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Euan G Ritchie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences (Burwood Campus), Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tim S Doherty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dale G Nimmo
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Albury, Australia
| | - Marika A Maxwell
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia
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3
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Santos ASD, Sansevero JBB, Conde MMS, Portela RDCQ. Monkey overabundance indirectly affects community seed rain via a disruptive interaction with a keystone palm species. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2023.103895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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Merz L. Virtual special issue:
Social‐ecological
systems research in tropical ecosystems. Biotropica 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
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Sun Z, Sonsuthi A, Jucker T, Ali A, Cao M, Liu F, Cao G, Hu T, Ma Q, Guo Q, Lin L. Top Canopy Height and Stem Size Variation Enhance Aboveground Biomass across Spatial Scales in Seasonal Tropical Forests. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1343. [PMID: 36987031 PMCID: PMC10051130 DOI: 10.3390/plants12061343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Tropical forests are biologically diverse and structurally complex ecosystems that can store a large quantity of carbon and support a great variety of plant and animal species. However, tropical forest structure can vary dramatically within seemingly homogeneous landscapes due to subtle changes in topography, soil fertility, species composition and past disturbances. Although numerous studies have reported the effects of field-based stand structure attributes on aboveground biomass (AGB) in tropical forests, the relative effects and contributions of UAV LiDAR-based canopy structure and ground-based stand structural attributes in shaping AGB remain unclear. Here, we hypothesize that mean top-of-canopy height (TCH) enhances AGB directly and indirectly via species richness and horizontal stand structural attributes, but these positive relationships are stronger at a larger spatial scale. We used a combined approach of field inventory and LiDAR-based remote sensing to explore how stand structural attributes (stem abundance, size variation and TCH) and tree species richness affect AGB along an elevational gradient in tropical forests at two spatial scales, i.e., 20 m × 20 m (small scale), and 50 m × 50 m (large scale) in southwest China. Specifically, we used structural equation models to test the proposed hypothesis. We found that TCH, stem size variation and abundance were strongly positively associated with AGB at both spatial scales, in addition to which increasing TCH led to greater AGB indirectly through increased stem size variation. Species richness had negative to negligible influences on AGB, but species richness increased with increasing stem abundance at both spatial scales. Our results suggest that light capture and use, modulated by stand structure, are key to promoting high AGB stocks in tropical forests. Thus, we argue that both horizontal and vertical stand structures are important for shaping AGB, but the relative contributions vary across spatial scales in tropical forests. Importantly, our results highlight the importance of including vertical forest stand attributes for predicting AGB and carbon sequestration that underpins human wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Arunkamon Sonsuthi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tommaso Jucker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1QU, UK
| | - Arshad Ali
- Forest Ecology Research Group, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Min Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Guanghong Cao
- Administration Bureau of Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve, Jinghong 666100, China
| | - Tianyu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Qin Ma
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Qinghua Guo
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Luxiang Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
- Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
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Butterworth NJ, Wallman JF, Johnston NP, Dawson BM, Sharp-Heward J, McGaughran A. The blowfly Chrysomya latifrons inhabits fragmented rainforests, but shows no population structure. Oecologia 2023; 201:703-719. [PMID: 36773072 PMCID: PMC10038970 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05333-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and deforestation are causing rainforests to become increasingly fragmented, placing them at heightened risk of biodiversity loss. Invertebrates constitute the greatest proportion of this biodiversity, yet we lack basic knowledge of their population structure and ecology. There is a compelling need to develop our understanding of the population dynamics of a wide range of rainforest invertebrates so that we can begin to understand how rainforest fragments are connected, and how they will cope with future habitat fragmentation and climate change. Blowflies are an ideal candidate for such research because they are widespread, abundant, and can be easily collected within rainforests. We genotyped 188 blowflies (Chrysomya latifrons) from 15 isolated rainforests and found high levels of gene flow, a lack of genetic structure between rainforests, and low genetic diversity - suggesting the presence of a single large genetically depauperate population. This highlights that: (1) the blowfly Ch. latifrons inhabits a ~ 1000 km stretch of Australian rainforests, where it plays an important role as a nutrient recycler; (2) strongly dispersing flies can migrate between and connect isolated rainforests, likely carrying pollen, parasites, phoronts, and pathogens along with them; and (3) widely dispersing and abundant insects can nevertheless be genetically depauperate. There is an urgent need to better understand the relationships between habitat fragmentation, genetic diversity, and adaptive potential-especially for poorly dispersing rainforest-restricted insects, as many of these may be particularly fragmented and at highest risk of local extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J Butterworth
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - James F Wallman
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Nikolas P Johnston
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Blake M Dawson
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Joshua Sharp-Heward
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Angela McGaughran
- Te Aka Mātuatua - School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
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Pires MM, Galetti M. Beyond the “empty forest”: The defaunation syndromes of Neotropical forests in the Anthropocene. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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Nevo O, Cazetta E, Classen A, Kuppler J. Editorial: Anthropogenic stressors and animal–plant interactions: Implications for pollination and seed dispersal. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1048331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Dantas A, Dantas TAV, Ribeiro‐Neto JD. Pioneer palm tree as an ecosystem engineer: Effects on ant community structure. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Dantas
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biodiversidade, Centro de Ciências Agrárias Universidade Federal da Paraíba Areia, Paraíba Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia, Centro de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Natal, RN Brazil
| | - Thais A. Vitoriano Dantas
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biodiversidade, Centro de Ciências Agrárias Universidade Federal da Paraíba Areia, Paraíba Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia, Centro de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Natal, RN Brazil
| | - José Domingos Ribeiro‐Neto
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biodiversidade, Centro de Ciências Agrárias Universidade Federal da Paraíba Areia, Paraíba Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Fitotecnia e Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Ciências Agrarias Universidade Federal da Paraíba Areia, Paraíba Brazil
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Benítez-Malvido J, Álvarez-Añorve MY, Ávila-Cabadilla LD, González-Di Pierro AM, Zermeño-Hernández I, Méndez-Toribio M, González-Rodríguez A, Lombera R. Phylogenetic and functional structure of tree communities at different life stages in tropical rain forest fragments. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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11
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Human Activity Intensity and Its Spatial-Temporal Evolution in China’s Border Areas. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11071089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring human activities in border areas is challenging due to the complex geographical environment and diverse people. China has the longest terrestrial boundary and the highest number of neighboring countries in the world. In this study, a human activity intensity index (HAI) was proposed based on land cover, population density, and satellite-based nighttime light for a long-term macroscopic study. The HAI was calculated at 1 km resolution within the 50 km buffer zone of China’s land boundary on each side in 1992, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Results show that human activity is low in about 90% of the study area. Overall, the HAI on the Chinese side is higher than that on the neighboring side, and the intensity of land use on the Chinese side has increased significantly from 1992 to 2020. Among China’s neighbors, India has the highest HAI with the fastest growth. With the changes in the HAI between China and its neighboring countries, four regional evolution patterns are found in the study area: Sino-Russian HAI decline; Sino-Kazakhstan HAI unilateral growth; Indian HAI continuous growth; China and Indochina HAI synchronized growth. Hotspot analysis reveals three spatial evolution patterns, which are unilateral expansion, bilateral expansion, and cross-border fusion. Both the “border effect” and “agglomeration effect” exist in border areas. The HAI changes in border areas not only impact the eco-environment but also affect geopolitics and geoeconomics. The HAI can be used as an instrument for decision-making and cooperation between China and neighboring countries in such areas as ecological protection, border security, and border trade.
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12
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Pinanga palms revisited 20 years on: what can changes in Pinanga species populations tell us about rainforest understory palm persistence? JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467422000256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Borneo is the centre of diversity of the palm genus Pinanga. At least 13 understory species have been recorded in the Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei, but little is known of their persistence. Changes in populations of Pinanga understory palms may be indicative of more widespread changes due to climate change, such as changes in rainfall, which may be important for the palm diversity in the protected area. However, we know little about the population dynamics of these palms, how persistent their populations are or if they behave similarly over long time frames. In 1998, populations of five co-occurring species of Pinanga at several locations in the Ulu Temburong National Park were documented. This project aimed to undertake a comprehensive resurvey of the original five Pinanga palm species populations in order to assess if they showed similar population changes across sites and species after two decades. Overall, most species maintained their population size in the surveyed region but not consistently among sites, and one species significantly declined in abundance. There was considerable variation in population growth rate (R) within and among species and sites that was significantly correlated with density and the percentage of multi-stemmed plants. There was evidence of pulsed recruitment in some species and or sites rather than steady or exponential patterns of population growth.
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13
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Li X, Hu W, Bleisch WV, Li Q, Wang H, Lu W, Sun J, Zhang F, Ti B, Jiang X. Functional diversity loss and change in nocturnal behavior of mammals under anthropogenic disturbance. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13839. [PMID: 34533235 PMCID: PMC9299805 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the Anthropocene, understanding the impacts of anthropogenic influence on biodiversity and behavior of vulnerable wildlife communities is increasingly relevant to effective conservation. However, comparative studies aimed at disentangling the concurrent effect of different types of human disturbance on multifaceted biodiversity and on activity patterns of mammals are surprisingly rare. We applied a multiregion community model to separately estimate the effects of cumulative human modification (e.g., settlement, agriculture, and transportation) and human presence (aggregated presence of dogs, people, and livestock) on species richness and functional composition of medium- and large-bodied mammals based on camera trap data collected across 45 subtropical montane forests. We divided the detected mammal species into three trophic guilds-carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores-and assessed the nocturnal shifts of each guild in response to anthropogenic activities. Overall, species richness tended to increase (β coefficient = 0.954) as human modification increased but richness decreased as human presence increased (β = -1.054). Human modification was associated with significantly lower functional diversity (mean nearest taxon distance [MNTD], β = -0.134; standardized effect sizes of MNTD, β = -0.397), community average body mass (β = -0.240), and proportion of carnivores (β = -0.580). Human presence was associated with a strongly reduced proportion of herbivores (β = -0.522), whereas proportion of omnivores significantly increased as human presence (β = 0.378) and habitat modification (β = 0.419) increased. In terms of activity patterns, omnivores (β = 12.103) and carnivores (β = 9.368) became more nocturnal in response to human modification. Our results suggest that human modification and human presence have differing effects on mammals and demonstrate that anthropogenic disturbances can lead to drastic loss of functional diversity and result in a shift to nocturnal behavior of mammals. Conservation planning should consider concurrent effects of different types of human disturbance on species richness, functional diversity, and behavior of wildlife communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Wenqiang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | | | - Quan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Hongjiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Wen Lu
- Nuozhadu Provincial Nature Reserve Administrative BureauPu'erChina
| | - Jun Sun
- Gongshan Administrative Sub‐Bureau of Gaoligongshan National Nature ReserveNujiangChina
| | - Fuyou Zhang
- Baoshan Administrative Bureau of Gaoligongshan National Nature ReserveBaoshanChina
| | - Bu Ti
- Deqin Administrative Sub‐Bureau of Baimaxueshan National Nature ReserveDiqingChina
| | - Xuelong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
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Genes L, Losapio G, Donatti CI, Guimarães PR, Dirzo R. Frugivore Population Biomass, but Not Density, Affect Seed Dispersal Interactions in a Hyper-Diverse Frugivory Network. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.794723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutualistic interactions are regulated by plant and animal traits, including animal body size and population density. In seed dispersal networks, frugivore body size determines the interaction outcome, and species population density determines interaction probability through encounter rates. To date, most studies examining the relative role of body size and population density in seed dispersal networks have examined animal guilds encompassing a narrow range of body sizes (e.g., birds only). Given non-random, body-size dependent defaunation, understanding the relative role of these traits is important to predict and, ideally, mitigate the effects of defaunation. We analyzed a hyper-diverse seed dispersal network composed of birds and mammals that cover a wide range of body sizes and population densities in the Brazilian Pantanal. Animal density per se did not significantly explain interaction patterns. Instead, population biomass, which represents the combination of body size and population density, was the most important predictor for most interaction network metrics. Population biomass was strongly correlated with body size, but not with density. Thus, larger frugivore species dispersed more plant species and were involved in more unique pairwise interactions than smaller species. Moreover, species with larger population biomass had the strongest influence (i.e., as indicated by measures of centrality) on other species in the network and were more generalist, interacting with a broader set of species, compared to species with lower population biomass. We posit that the increased abundance of small-sized frugivores resulting from the pervasive defaunation of large vertebrates would not compensate for the loss-of-function of the latter and the inherent disruption of seed dispersal networks.
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15
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Li C, Lou H, Yang S, Li X, Zhang J, Pan Z, Zhang Y, Yi Y, Gong J. Effect of human disturbances and hydrologic elements on the distribution of plant diversity within the Shamu watershed, Mt. Yuntai Nature Reserve, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 311:114833. [PMID: 35287080 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper explores how human disturbance and hydrologic elements affect the spatial distribution pattern of plant diversity in the watershed, taking Shamu watershed in the World Natural Heritage Site as a case study. Spatial analysis of multisource remote sensing and plant diversity plots data were conducted using linear mixed effects models and structural equation models. Results revealed that the distribution of plant diversity in the watershed is mainly affected by human disturbance. However, under similar human disturbance levels, hydrologic elements also affect the plant diversity within the watershed. The topographic undulation and surface runoff significantly promote plant diversity, while the river network density, the watershed shape factor, the river longitudinal gradient do not. The influence of topographic undulation is more obvious than that of runoff on plant diversity, but the effect of topographic undulation and runoff on plant diversity is getting weaker from upstream to downstream within the watershed. In addition, the impact of hydrologic elements on plant diversity is mainly regulated by environmental factors Pre and Tem. The findings clarify how human disturbance and hydrologic elements affect plant diversity distribution within the watershed, optimizing the conservation theory of plant diversity resources and scientifically guiding the region's sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaojun Li
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Hezhen Lou
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Shengtian Yang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China.
| | - Xi Li
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zihao Pan
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yujia Zhang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yin Yi
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Jiyi Gong
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern China, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
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16
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Large tree mortality leads to major aboveground biomass decline in a tropical forest reserve. Oecologia 2021; 197:795-806. [PMID: 34613464 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05048-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Humans are transforming the ecology of the Earth through rapid changes in land use and climate. These changes can affect tropical forest structure, dynamics and diversity. While numerous studies have focused on diversity metrics, other aspects of forest function, such as long-term biomass dynamics, are often less considered. We evaluated plant community structure change (i.e., abundance, diversity, composition, and aboveground biomass) in a 2.25 ha forest dynamics plot located within a ~ 365 ha reserve in southern Costa Rica. We censused, mapped and identified to species all plants ≥ 5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) in three surveys spanning 2010-2020. While there were no changes in late-successional species diversity, there were marked changes in overall species composition and biomass. Abundance of large (≥ 40 cm DBH) old-growth dense-wooded trees (e.g., Lauraceae, Rosaceae) decreased dramatically (27%), leading to major biomass decline over time, possibly driven by recent and recurrent drought events. Gaps created by large trees were colonized by early-successional species, but these recruits did not make up for the biomass lost. Finally, stem abundance increased by 20%, driven by increasing dominance of Hampea appendiculata. While results suggest this reserve may effectively conserve overall plant diversity, this may mask other key shifts such as large aboveground biomass loss. If this pattern is pervasive across tropical forest reserves, it could hamper efforts to preserve forest structure and ecosystem services (e.g., carbon storage). Monitoring programs could better assess carbon trends in reserves over time simply by tracking large tree dynamics.
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Abstract
Recent human activity has profoundly transformed Earth biomes on a scale and at rates that are unprecedented. Given the central role of symbioses in ecosystem processes, functions, and services throughout the Earth biosphere, the impacts of human-driven change on symbioses are critical to understand. Symbioses are not merely collections of organisms, but co-evolved partners that arise from the synergistic combination and action of different genetic programs. They function with varying degrees of permanence and selection as emergent units with substantial potential for combinatorial and evolutionary innovation in both structure and function. Following an articulation of operational definitions of symbiosis and related concepts and characteristics of the Anthropocene, we outline a basic typology of anthropogenic change (AC) and a conceptual framework for how AC might mechanistically impact symbioses with select case examples to highlight our perspective. We discuss surprising connections between symbiosis and the Anthropocene, suggesting ways in which new symbioses could arise due to AC, how symbioses could be agents of ecosystem change, and how symbioses, broadly defined, of humans and “farmed” organisms may have launched the Anthropocene. We conclude with reflections on the robustness of symbioses to AC and our perspective on the importance of symbioses as ecosystem keystones and the need to tackle anthropogenic challenges as wise and humble stewards embedded within the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik F Y Hom
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677 USA
| | - Alexandra S Penn
- Department of Sociology and Centre for Evaluation of Complexity Across the Nexus, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH UK
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18
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Landscape barriers to pollen and seed flow in the dioecious tropical tree Astronium fraxinifolium in Brazilian savannah. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255275. [PMID: 34339479 PMCID: PMC8336915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene flow studies provide information on gene exchange between populations, which
is essential for developing genetic conservation strategies. Such analyses
enable a better understanding of the life history and seed and pollen dispersal
mechanisms of plant species. In this study, we investigate pollen and seed flow
in a regenerant population of the pioneer species Astronium
fraxinifolium in an area degraded during the construction of a
hydroelectric dam. We mapped, sampled, sexed, and genotyped 386 individuals in
the regenerant population (RP), as well as 128 adult trees located along two
highways adjacent to the degraded area; one in Mato Grosso do Sul State (MS) and
other in São Paulo State (SP). Parentage analyses was carried out for 370
individuals of the RP population, using as putative parents 348 individuals from
RP and all 128 individuals sampled in MS and SP. Based on parentage analysis and
eight microsatellite loci, our analyses revealed that for individuals of the RP
with an identified father (pollen donor), 1.1% of the pollen was dispersed up to
532 m, while for those with an identified mother (seed donor), 0.5% of seeds
were dispersed up to 4,782 m. However, a large proportion of pollen (76.5%) and
seeds (57%) immigrated from trees outside the sampled populations. Pollen and
seeds were dispersed through a pattern of isolation by distance. Genetic
diversity was significantly similar between adults of both highway populations
and individuals from RP, with significant levels of inbreeding detected only in
RP. Our results demonstrate that the nearest trees contributed pollen and seeds
for the recovery of the degraded area, indicating reproductive spatial isolation
among the sampled populations due to the damming of the river. Such results help
to understand the process of regeneration for A.
fraxinifolium in regenerant populations to inform
strategies for conservation and environmental recovery with this species.
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19
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Noriega‐Piña K, Piñero D, Valverde T, Martínez‐Ramos M. Competitive effects of a dominant palm on sapling performance in a Neotropical rainforest. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Noriega‐Piña
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Morelia Michoacán México
| | - Daniel Piñero
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - Teresa Valverde
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad Universitaria Ciudad de México México
| | - Miguel Martínez‐Ramos
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Morelia Michoacán México
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20
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Zhang X, Yue Y, Tong X, Wang K, Qi X, Deng C, Brandt M. Eco-engineering controls vegetation trends in southwest China karst. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:145160. [PMID: 33736419 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The karst area in Yunnan-Guangxi-Guizhou region in southwest China is known for widespread rocky desertification but several studies report a greening trend since the year 2000. While the start of the greening trend seems to match with the implementation of ecological conservation projects, no statistical evidence on a relationship between vegetation greening and eco-engineering exists. Moreover, dominant factors influencing the spatial patterns of vegetation trends have rarely been investigated. Here we use six comprehensive factors representing the natural conditions and human activities of the study area, and several statistical models consistently show that eco-engineering explains large parts of the positive vegetation trends in the karst areas, while negative vegetation trends in non-karst areas of Yunnan were related with a decrease in rainfall. We further show that the interaction of eco-engineering with other factors leads to a heterogeneous pattern of different vegetation trends. Knowing and understanding these patterns is crucial when planning ecological restoration, especially in diverse landscapes like China karst and the methods can be reused in other restoration areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Eco-systems, Huanjiang 547100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuemin Yue
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Eco-systems, Huanjiang 547100, China
| | - Xiaowei Tong
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark
| | - Kelin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Eco-systems, Huanjiang 547100, China.
| | - Xiangkun Qi
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Eco-systems, Huanjiang 547100, China
| | - Chuxiong Deng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Martin Brandt
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark
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21
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Factors influencing seed predation in rainforest tree communities of subtropical Australia: Fragmentation, seed size and shifts in vertebrate assemblages. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2020.103674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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22
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Net primary production increases in the Yangtze River Basin within the latest two decades. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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23
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César RG, Moreno VDS, Coletta GD, Schweizer D, Chazdon RL, Barlow J, Ferraz SFB, Crouzeilles R, Brancalion PHS. It is not just about time: Agricultural practices and surrounding forest cover affect secondary forest recovery in agricultural landscapes. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo G. César
- Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Piracicaba Brazil
| | - Vanessa de S. Moreno
- Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Piracicaba Brazil
| | - Gabriel D. Coletta
- Plant Biology Graduate Program, Biology Institute University of Campinas Campinas Brazil
| | - Daniella Schweizer
- Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Piracicaba Brazil
| | - Robin L. Chazdon
- Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Piracicaba Brazil
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
| | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University Lancaster UK
| | - Silvio F. B. Ferraz
- Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Piracicaba Brazil
| | - Renato Crouzeilles
- International Institute for Sustainability Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- International Institute for Sustainability Australia Canberra ACT Australia
- Mestrado Profissional em Ciências do Meio Ambiente Universidade Veiga de Almeida Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Pedro H. S. Brancalion
- Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Piracicaba Brazil
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Araújo GJ, Stork‐Tonon D, Izzo TJ. Temporal stability of cavity‐nesting bee and wasp communities in different types of reforestation in southeastern Amazonia. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo J. Araújo
- Departamento de Ecologia e Botânica, Laboratório de Ecologia de Comunidades Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Av. Fernando Corrêa Cuiabá Mato Grosso 78060‐900 Brazil
| | - Danielle Stork‐Tonon
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ambiente e Sistemas de Produção Agrícola Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso Tangará da Serra 78300‐000 Brazil
| | - Thiago J. Izzo
- Departamento de Ecologia e Botânica, Laboratório de Ecologia de Comunidades Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Av. Fernando Corrêa Cuiabá Mato Grosso 78060‐900 Brazil
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The palmSyagrus coronataproliferates and structures vascular epiphyte assemblages in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467420000073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe proliferation of disturbance-adapted species in human-modified landscapes may change the structure of plant communities, but the response of biodiversity to human disturbances remains poorly understood. We examine the proliferation of the palm,Syagrus coronata, in disturbed forest stands and its impacts on the structure of vascular epiphyte assemblages in a human-modified landscape of Brazilian Caatinga dry forest. First, we comparedS. coronatadensity between old-growth and regenerating forest stands. We then surveyed vascular epiphytes on 680 phorophytes (S. coronataand non-palm/control species) across five habitat types with different disturbance levels. There was an eight-fold increase inS. coronatadensity in regenerating areas compared with in old-growth forest.Syagrus coronotasupported richer epiphyte assemblages at local (i.e. per palm) and landscape (i.e. pooling all palms) scale than control phorophytes, supporting more than 11 times the number of species of control phorophytes at both scales. Epiphyte assemblages were more abundant, species-rich and dominated by abiotically dispersed species in forest sites with intermediate disturbance levels (regenerating forest stands). More than simply operating as an exclusive phorophyte for more than 90% of the epiphyte species we recorded here,S. coronatafavours epiphyte persistence and structures their assemblages across human-modified landscapes of the Caatinga forest.
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Saragusty J, Ajmone-Marsan P, Sampino S, Modlinski JA. Reproductive biotechnology and critically endangered species: Merging in vitro gametogenesis with inner cell mass transfer. Theriogenology 2020; 155:176-184. [PMID: 32702562 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
A fifth of mammalian species face the risk of extinction. A variety of stresses, and lack of sufficient resources and political endorsement, mean thousands of further extinctions in the coming years. Once a species has declined to a mere few individuals, in situ efforts seem insufficient to prevent its extinction. Here we propose a roadmap to overcome some of the current roadblocks and facilitate rejuvenation of such critically endangered species. We suggest combining two advanced assisted reproductive technologies to accomplish this task. The first is the generation of gametes from induced pluripotent stem cells, already demonstrated in mice. The second is to 'trick' the immunological system of abundant species' surrogate mothers into believing it carries conceptus of its own species. This can be achieved by transferring the inner cell mass (ICM) of the endangered species into a trophoblastic vesicle derived from the foster mother's species. Such synthesis of reproductive biotechnologies, in association with in situ habitat conservation and societal changes, holds the potential to restore diversity and accelerate the production of animals in the most endangered species on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Saragusty
- Laboratory of Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
| | - Paolo Ajmone-Marsan
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition - DIANA, Nutrigenomics and Proteomics Research Center - PRONUTRIGEN, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Silvestre Sampino
- Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland
| | - Jacek A Modlinski
- Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland
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Li C, Zhao X, Li D, Garber PA, Xiang Z, Li M, Pan H. Impact of cost distance and habitat fragmentation on the daily path length of Rhinopithecus bieti. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9165. [PMID: 32509457 PMCID: PMC7245332 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An understanding of primate movement patterns in response to natural and anthropogenically induced changes in habitat heterogeneity, food availability, and plant species distribution is essential for developing effective management and conservation programs. Therefore, from July 2013 to June 2014, we examined the effects of landscape configuration on the ranging behavior (daily path length, DPL) of the Endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) in the Baimaxueshan National Nature Reserve (27°34′N, 99°17′E) in Gehuaqing, China. Given the extreme difficulties in following the study group across high altitude mountainous terrain across an elevation of 2,500–4,000 m, we were only able to collect DPL using 3-4 GPS points per day on 21 individual days. We found that R. bieti traveled the shortest DPL in winter (1,141.31 m), followed by spring (2,034.06 m) and autumn (2,131.19 m). The cost distance, a statistical tool designed to estimate the difficulty of a species moving across its distributional range, was lowest in autumn (205.47), followed by spring (225.93) and winter (432.59) (one-way ANOVA: F = 3.852, P = 0.026, df = 2). The habitat fragmentation index (HFI), which measures the density of forest patches, indicated areas visited in the winter were more fragmented (HFI = 2.16) compared to spring (HFI = 1.83) or autumn (HFI = 1.3). Although our results should be considered preliminary, they suggest that both the availability of suitable travel routes and habitat fragmentation, driven by high-intensity human disturbance, constrain the movement of R. bieti. We found that undisturbed areas of the bands’ range contained a high density of lichens, which represent a nutritious and abundant and year-round food source for Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys. In order to protect this Endangered species, we recommend that researchers construct detailed maps of landscape heterogeneity, particularly habitat connectivity, forest fragmentation, and seasonal variation in the location of major food patches in order to better understand and mitigate the effects of seasonal habitat change on patterns of R. bieti habitat utilization and population viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China
| | - Xumao Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China.,Institute of Innovation Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dayong Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation [Ministry of Education] China West Normal University, Nanchong, China
| | - Paul Alan Garber
- Department of Anthropology and Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IIIinois, USA
| | - Zuofu Xiang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Ming Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Huijuan Pan
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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Carreira DC, Brodie JF, Mendes CP, Ferraz KMPMB, Galetti M. A question of size and fear: competition and predation risk perception among frugivores and predators. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Mammalian spatial and temporal activity patterns can vary depending on foraging behavior or the perception of predation or competition risk among species. These behaviors may in turn be altered by human influences such as defaunation. Herein, we evaluate whether frugivores avoid areas with high visitation rates by potential predators or competitors, and whether this avoidance changes in areas with different degrees of defaunation. We installed 189 cameras under fruit trees in six areas of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil, that differ in the abundance of top predators and large frugivores. Small predators and small frugivores were more frequent at night while large frugivores were more frequent during the day, but small frugivores visited and spent less time at fruiting trees on brighter nights, unlike large predators and large frugivores. Small frugivores also were less frequent in areas with high visitation by large frugivores and more frequent in highly defaunated areas. Our results suggest that the dynamics among mammalian functional groups varied according to diel patterns, potential competitors, and defaunation. We highlight the importance of understanding how species interactions are changing in areas exposed to strong human impacts to mitigate the indirect effects of defaunation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane Cristina Carreira
- Programa Interunidades de Pós Graduação em Ecologia Aplicada, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” - Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Fundação Hermínio Ometto - Uniararas, Araras, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jedediah F Brodie
- Division of Biological Sciences and Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Calebe P Mendes
- Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katia Maria P M B Ferraz
- Departamento de Ciências Florestais, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mauro Galetti
- Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Shapcott A, James H, Simmons L, Shimizu Y, Gardiner L, Rabehevitra D, Letsara R, Cable S, Dransfield J, Baker WJ, Rakotoarinivo M. Population modelling and genetics of a critically endangered Madagascan palm Tahina spectabilis. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:3120-3137. [PMID: 32211182 PMCID: PMC7083664 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Madagascar is home to 208 indigenous palm species, almost all of them endemic and >80% of which are endangered. We undertook complete population census and sampling for genetic analysis of a relatively recently discovered giant fan palm, the Critically Endangered Tahina spectablis in 2008 and 2016. Our 2016 study included newly discovered populations and added to our genetic study. We incorporated these new populations into species distribution niche model (SDM) and projected these onto maps of the region. We developed population matrix models based on observed demographic data to model population change and predict the species vulnerability to extinction by undertaking population viability analysis (PVA). We investigated the potential conservation value of reintroduced planted populations within the species potential suitable habitat. We found that the population studied in 2008 had grown in size due to seedling regeneration but had declined in the number of reproductively mature plants, and we were able to estimate that the species reproduces and dies after approximately 70 years. Our models suggest that if the habitat where it resides continues to be protected the species is unlikely to go extinct due to inherent population decline and that it will likely experience significant population growth after approximately 80 years due to the reproductive and life cycle attributes of the species. The newly discovered populations contain more genetic diversity than the first discovered southern population which is genetically depauperate. The species appears to demonstrate a pattern of dispersal leading to isolated founder plants which may eventually lead to population development depending on local establishment opportunities. The conservation efforts currently put in place including the reintroduction of plants within the species potential suitable habitat if maintained are thought likely to enable the species to sustain itself but it remains vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Shapcott
- Genecology Research Centre School of Science and Engineering University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore Qld Australia
| | - Heather James
- Genecology Research Centre School of Science and Engineering University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore Qld Australia
| | - Laura Simmons
- Genecology Research Centre School of Science and Engineering University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore Qld Australia
| | - Yoko Shimizu
- Genecology Research Centre School of Science and Engineering University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore Qld Australia
| | - Lauren Gardiner
- Cambridge University Herbarium Department of Plant Sciences University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | | | - Rokiman Letsara
- Parc Botanique et Zoologique deTsimbazaza Antananarivo Madagascar
| | | | | | | | - Mijoro Rakotoarinivo
- Département de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales Faculté des Sciences Université d'Antananarivo Antananarivo Madagascar
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Banitz T, Chatzinotas A, Worrich A. Prospects for Integrating Disturbances, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Using Microbial Systems. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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31
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Effect of Urbanization on Vegetation in Riparian Area: Plant Communities in Artificial and Semi-Natural Habitats. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su12010204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Riparian areas are local hot spots of biodiversity that are vulnerable and easily degraded. Comparing plant communities in habitats with different degrees of urbanization may provide valuable information for the management and restoration of these vulnerable habitats. In this study, we explored the impact of urbanization on vegetation communities between artificial and semi-natural habitats within two rivers with different levels of development. We compared species richness, types of vegetation, and composition patterns of the plants in our study. In artificial habitats, the sites with relatively high levels of urbanization had the highest species richness, while in semi-natural habitats, the highest species richness was recorded in the less urbanized sites. Furthermore, every component of urbanization that contributed to the variation of species richness was examined in the current study. In artificial habitats, the proportion of impervious surface was the strongest predictor of the variation in species richness and was associated with the richness of alien, native, and riparian species. In semi-natural habitats, most of the richness of alien and native species were associated with the distance to the city center, and the number of riparian and ruderal species was significantly related to the proportion of impervious surface. Moreover, we found that a high level of urbanization was always associated with a large abundance of alien and ruderal species in both artificial and in semi-natural habitats. We recommend the methods of pair comparison of multiple rivers to analyze the impact of urbanization on plant species in riparian areas and have suggested various management actions for maintaining biodiversity and sustainability in riparian ecosystems.
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Edwards DP, Socolar JB, Mills SC, Burivalova Z, Koh LP, Wilcove DS. Conservation of Tropical Forests in the Anthropocene. Curr Biol 2019; 29:R1008-R1020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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33
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Multiple stressors interact primarily through antagonism to drive changes in the coral microbiome. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6834. [PMID: 31048787 PMCID: PMC6497639 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43274-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbations in natural systems generally are the combination of multiple interactions among individual stressors. However, methods to interpret the effects of interacting stressors remain challenging and are biased to identifying synergies which are prioritized in conservation. Therefore we conducted a multiple stressor experiment (no stress, single, double, triple) on the coral Pocillopora meandrina to evaluate how its microbiome changes compositionally with increasing levels of perturbation. We found that effects of nutrient enrichment, simulated predation, and increased temperature are antagonistic, rather than synergistic or additive, for a variety of microbial community diversity measures. Importantly, high temperature and scarring alone had the greatest effect on changing microbial community composition and diversity. Using differential abundance analysis, we found that the main effects of stressors increased the abundance of opportunistic taxa, and two-way interactions among stressors acted antagonistically on this increase, while three-way interactions acted synergistically. These data suggest that: (1) multiple statistical analyses should be conducted for a complete assessment of microbial community dynamics, (2) for some statistical metrics multiple stressors do not necessarily increase the disruption of microbiomes over single stressors in this coral species, and (3) the observed stressor-induced community dysbiosis is characterized by a proliferation of opportunists rather than a depletion of a proposed coral symbiont of the genus Endozoicomonas.
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Trevor Caughlin T, Peña‐Domene M, Martínez‐Garza C. Demographic costs and benefits of natural regeneration during tropical forest restoration. Ecol Lett 2018; 22:34-44. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Trevor Caughlin
- Department of Biological Sciences and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Boise State University Boise ID USA
| | - Marinés Peña‐Domene
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - Cristina Martínez‐Garza
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
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Hernández-Ruedas MA, Arroyo-Rodríguez V, Morante-Filho JC, Meave JA, Martínez-Ramos M. Fragmentation and matrix contrast favor understory plants through negative cascading effects on a strong competitor palm. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:1546-1553. [PMID: 29727519 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the patterns and processes driving biodiversity maintenance in fragmented tropical forests is urgently needed for conservation planning, especially in species-rich forest reserves. Of particular concern are the effects that habitat modifications at the landscape scale may have on forest regeneration and ecosystem functioning: a topic that has received limited attention. Here, we assessed the effects of landscape structure (i.e., forest cover, open area matrices, forest fragmentation, and mean inter-patch isolation distance) on understory plant assemblages in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Previous studies suggest that the demographic burst of the strong competitor palm Astrocaryum mexicanum in the core area of this reserve limits plant recruitment and imperils biodiversity conservation within this protected area. Yet, the local and landscape predictors of this palm, and its impact on tree recruitment at a regional scale are unknown. Thus, we used structural equation modeling to assess the direct and cascading effects of landscape structure on stem and species density in the understory of 20 forest sites distributed across this biodiversity hotspot. Indirect paths included the effect of landscape structure on tree basal area (a proxy of local disturbance), and the effects of these variables on A. mexicanum. Density of A. mexicanum mainly increased with decreasing both fragmentation and open areas in the matrix (matrix contrast, hereafter), and such an increase in palm density negatively affected stem and species density in the understory. The negative direct effect of matrix contrast on stem density was overridden by the indirect positive effects (i.e., through negative cascading effects on A. mexicanum), resulting in a weak effect of matrix contrast on stem density. These findings suggest that dispersal limitation and negative edge effects in more fragmented landscapes dominated by open areas prevent the proliferation of this palm species, enhancing the diversity and abundance of understory trees. This "positive" news adds to an increasing line of evidence suggesting that fragmentation may have some positive effects on biodiversity, in this case by preventing the proliferation of species that can jeopardize biodiversity conservation within tropical reserves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A Hernández-Ruedas
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de La Huerta, Morelia, 58190, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de La Huerta, Morelia, 58190, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - José Carlos Morante-Filho
- Applied Conservation Ecology Lab, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, km 16, Salobrinho, Ilhéus, 45662-000, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Jorge A Meave
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Circuito Exterior S/N, Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - Miguel Martínez-Ramos
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de La Huerta, Morelia, 58190, Michoacán, Mexico
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36
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Gray REJ, Ewers RM, Boyle MJW, Chung AYC, Gill RJ. Effect of tropical forest disturbance on the competitive interactions within a diverse ant community. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5131. [PMID: 29572517 PMCID: PMC5865194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23272-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how anthropogenic disturbance influences patterns of community composition and the reinforcing interactive processes that structure communities is important to mitigate threats to biodiversity. Competition is considered a primary reinforcing process, yet little is known concerning disturbance effects on competitive interaction networks. We examined how differences in ant community composition between undisturbed and disturbed Bornean rainforest, is potentially reflected by changes in competitive interactions over a food resource. Comparing 10 primary forest sites to 10 in selectively-logged forest, we found higher genus richness and diversity in the primary forest, with 18.5% and 13.0% of genera endemic to primary and logged respectively. From 180 hours of filming bait cards, we assessed ant-ant interactions, finding that despite considered aggression over food sources, the majority of ant interactions were neutral. Proportion of competitive interactions at bait cards did not differ between forest type, however, the rate and per capita number of competitive interactions was significantly lower in logged forest. Furthermore, the majority of genera showed large changes in aggression-score with often inverse relationships to their occupancy rank. This provides evidence of a shuffled competitive network, and these unexpected changes in aggressive relationships could be considered a type of competitive network re-wiring after disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross E J Gray
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK.
| | - Robert M Ewers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Michael J W Boyle
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Arthur Y C Chung
- Forest Research Centre, Forestry Department, P.O. Box 1407, 90715, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Richard J Gill
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
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A two-step dilution tris-egg yolk extender containing Equex STM significantly improves sperm cryopreservation in the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Cryobiology 2018; 80:18-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2017.12.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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38
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Mejía-Madrid HH. Soil nematode abundance and diversity from four vegetation types in Central Mexico. NEMATOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/15685411-00003119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Soil nematode abundance and MOTU diversity were estimated from a geographically broad area of Mexico that included four out of seven recognised vegetation types. Vegetation types were assessed for abundance and diversity of nematode communities and inferred ecological relationships between them. Soils were sampled from tropical rainforest, tropical dry deciduous forest, temperate coniferous forest and xerophytic shrub during 2013, 2014 and 2015. Fourteen sampling sites withca10-20 samples per site from 11 localities spread across Central Mexico were assessed. Altitudes sampled ranged from 113 m a.s.l. (tropical coastal plain) to 2400 m a.s.l. (Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt). Samples were drawn from conserved and cultivated plots from each sampling site covering an area of ⩾100 m2. A total of 13 263 individuals from 25 identified families of nematodes were collected. Family abundance and complementarity indices between sites revealed to some extent the affinities between vegetation types. Nevertheless, statistical analyses revealed no differences between nematode family abundances between sites, only between families across all sites. Molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTU) methods were employed as a framework to assess biodiversity. From these, 77 high-quality sequences for taxonomic barcoding were recovered and later identified with morphological traits. Only six sequences matched at a 98-99% level with those reported in GenBank. Sequences amounted to a total of 41 MOTU, where 100% of the MOTU from both conserved and disturbed tropical rainforest, tropical dry deciduous forest and xerophytic shrub exhibited a ⩾3% cut-off genetic identity, whilst temperate coniferous forest and disturbed temperate coniferous forest showed 73% and 70% respectively. In addition, 12.2% MOTU were shared among localities and 87.8% exhibited an apparently locality-limited distribution. The potential for a considerable diversity of nematodes, as revealed from a small sample of MOTU diversity, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo H. Mejía-Madrid
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Sistemática de Microartrópodos, Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM, México D.F.C.P. 04510, Mexico
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List R, Rodríguez P, Pelz-Serrano K, Benítez-Malvido J, Lobato JM. La conservación en México: exploración de logros, retos y perspectivas desde la ecología terrestre. REV MEX BIODIVERS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmb.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Spatially destabilising effect of woody plant diversity on forest productivity in a subtropical mountain forest. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9551. [PMID: 28842647 PMCID: PMC5573360 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09922-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We used geographically weighted regression to investigate the relationship between biodiversity and the spatial stability of forest productivity (SSFP) in a subtropical mountain forest. We examined the effect of elevation on this relationship and on its spatial non-stationarity. We found that higher woody plant diversity reduced SSPF. Higher woody plant diversity strengthened the asynchrony of species responses to spatial heterogeneity of forest habitats, which contributed to SSFP, but reduced two factors that enhanced SSFP: species dominance and the spatial stability of the dominant species. The percentage of variation in SSFP explained by diversity measures was highest for the Shannon-Wiener index, lowest for functional dispersion, and intermediate for species richness. The correlations of woody plant diversity with SSFP became stronger with elevation and varied among plots, indicating that the spatial non-stationarity existed in the biodiversity-SSFP relationship. These correlations became weaker in most cases after controlling for elevation. Our results suggest that in the subtropical mountain forest higher woody plant diversity has a spatially destabilising effect on forest productivity, particularly at higher elevations.
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Assessment of Land Use-Cover Changes and Successional Stages of Vegetation in the Natural Protected Area Altas Cumbres, Northeastern Mexico, Using Landsat Satellite Imagery. REMOTE SENSING 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/rs9070712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E6089-E6096. [PMID: 28696295 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1704949114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 700] [Impact Index Per Article: 100.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The population extinction pulse we describe here shows, from a quantitative viewpoint, that Earth's sixth mass extinction is more severe than perceived when looking exclusively at species extinctions. Therefore, humanity needs to address anthropogenic population extirpation and decimation immediately. That conclusion is based on analyses of the numbers and degrees of range contraction (indicative of population shrinkage and/or population extinctions according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature) using a sample of 27,600 vertebrate species, and on a more detailed analysis documenting the population extinctions between 1900 and 2015 in 177 mammal species. We find that the rate of population loss in terrestrial vertebrates is extremely high-even in "species of low concern." In our sample, comprising nearly half of known vertebrate species, 32% (8,851/27,600) are decreasing; that is, they have decreased in population size and range. In the 177 mammals for which we have detailed data, all have lost 30% or more of their geographic ranges and more than 40% of the species have experienced severe population declines (>80% range shrinkage). Our data indicate that beyond global species extinctions Earth is experiencing a huge episode of population declines and extirpations, which will have negative cascading consequences on ecosystem functioning and services vital to sustaining civilization. We describe this as a "biological annihilation" to highlight the current magnitude of Earth's ongoing sixth major extinction event.
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Franco-Navarro F, Godinez-Vidal D. Soil nematodes associated with different land uses in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz, Mexico. REV MEX BIODIVERS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmb.2017.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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44
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Suárez-Montes P, Chávez-Pesqueira M, Núñez-Farfán J. Life history and past demography maintain genetic structure, outcrossing rate, contemporary pollen gene flow of an understory herb in a highly fragmented rainforest. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2764. [PMID: 28028460 PMCID: PMC5183091 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Theory predicts that habitat fragmentation, by reducing population size and increasing isolation among remnant populations, can alter their genetic diversity and structure. A cascade of effects is expected: genetic drift and inbreeding after a population bottleneck, changes in biotic interactions that may affect, as in the case of plants, pollen dynamics, mating system, reproductive success. The detection of the effects of contemporary habitat fragmentation on the genetic structure of populations are conditioned by the magnitude of change, given the few number of generations since the onset of fragmentation, especially for long-lived organisms. However, the present-day genetic structure of populations may bear the signature of past demography events. Here, we examine the effects of rainforest fragmentation on the genetic diversity, population structure, mating system (outcrossing rate), indirect gene flow and contemporary pollen dynamics in the understory herb Aphelandra aurantiaca. Also, we assessed its present-day genetic structure under different past demographic scenarios. METHODS Twelve populations of A. aurantiaca were sampled in large (4), medium (3), and small (5) forest fragments in the lowland tropical rainforest at Los Tuxtlas region. Variation at 11 microsatellite loci was assessed in 28-30 reproductive plants per population. In two medium- and two large-size fragments we estimated the density of reproductive plants, and the mating system by analyzing the progeny of different mother plants per population. RESULTS Despite prevailing habitat fragmentation, populations of A. aurantiaca possess high genetic variation (He = 0.61), weak genetic structure (Rst = 0.037), and slight inbreeding in small fragments. Effective population sizes (Ne ) were large, but slightly lower in small fragments. Migrants derive mostly from large and medium size fragments. Gene dispersal is highly restricted but long distance gene dispersal events were detected. Aphelandra aurantiaca shows a mixed mating system (tm = 0.81) and the outcrossing rate have not been affected by habitat fragmentation. A strong pollen pool structure was detected due to few effective pollen donors (Nep ) and low distance pollen movement, pointing that most plants received pollen from close neighbors. Past demographic fluctuations may have affected the present population genetic structure as Bayesian coalescent analysis revealed the signature of past population expansion, possibly during warmer conditions after the last glacial maximum. DISCUSSION Habitat fragmentation has not increased genetic differentiation or reduced genetic diversity of A. aurantiaca despite dozens of generations since the onset of fragmentation in the region of Los Tuxtlas. Instead, past population expansion is compatible with the lack of observed genetic structure. The predicted negative effects of rainforest fragmentation on genetic diversity and population structure of A. aurantiaca seem to have been buffered owing to its large effective populations and long-distance dispersal events. In particular, its mixed-mating system, mostly of outcrossing, suggests high efficiency of pollinators promoting connectivity and reducing inbreeding. However, some results point that the effects of fragmentation are underway, as two small fragments showed higher membership probabilities to their population of origin, suggesting genetic isolation. Our findings underscore the importance of fragment size to maintain genetic connectivity across the landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Suárez-Montes
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Evolution, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Mariana Chávez-Pesqueira
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Evolution, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Núñez-Farfán
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Evolution, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
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Chazdon RL, Uriarte M. Natural regeneration in the context of large‐scale forest and landscape restoration in the tropics. Biotropica 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin L. Chazdon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043 Storrs CT, 06268‐3043 USA
- International Institute for Sustainability Estrada Dona Castorina 124 Horto Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Columbia University 1113 Schermerhorn Ext. 1200 Amsterdam Ave.New York NY 10027 USA
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Chazdon RL, Guariguata MR. Natural regeneration as a tool for large‐scale forest restoration in the tropics: prospects and challenges. Biotropica 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin L. Chazdon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043, 06269‐3043 Storrs CT USA
- International Institute for Sustainability Estrada Dona Castorina 124 Horto, 22460‐320 Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Manuel R. Guariguata
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Av. La Molina 1895 La Molina Lima Perú
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Martínez-Ramos M, Ortiz-Rodríguez IA, Piñero D, Dirzo R, Sarukhán J. Response: Commentary: Anthropogenic disturbances jeopardize biodiversity conservation within tropical rainforest reserves. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Nopper J, Lauströer B, Rödel MO, Ganzhorn JU. A structurally enriched agricultural landscape maintains high reptile diversity in sub-arid south-western Madagascar. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Nopper
- Zoological Institute, Animal Ecology & Conservation; Biocenter Grindel; Universität Hamburg; Hamburg Germany
| | - Balten Lauströer
- Zoological Institute, Animal Ecology & Conservation; Biocenter Grindel; Universität Hamburg; Hamburg Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde; Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science; Berlin Germany
| | - Jörg U. Ganzhorn
- Zoological Institute, Animal Ecology & Conservation; Biocenter Grindel; Universität Hamburg; Hamburg Germany
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Arroyo-Rodríguez V, Melo FPL. Commentary: Anthropogenic disturbances jeopardize biodiversity conservation within tropical rainforest reserves. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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