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1
Tundisi, JG, and T. Matsumura-Tundisi. "Biodiversity in the neotropics: ecological, economic and social values." Brazilian Journal of Biology 68, no. 4 suppl (November 2008): 913–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842008000500002.
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Biodiversity in the neotropical region is of enormous importance, specially related to the future exploitation of this natural resource for food production, medical applications and restoration ecology and technology. Knowledge of this biodiversity and its conservation represents an important step from the scientific and applied point of view. Neotropical biodiversity is endangered by human interventions. Loss of this large genetic and phenotypic base will affect the functioning of freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Neotropical forests and floodplains, great internal deltas of rivers are active centers of evolution. Loss of neotropical biodiversity will represent the loss of processes, economic values and ecosystem services.
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Poorter, Lourens, Masha T. van der Sande, Eric J. M. M. Arets, Nataly Ascarrunz, Brian J. Enquist, Bryan Finegan, Juan Carlos Licona, et al. "Biodiversity and climate determine the functioning of Neotropical forests." Global Ecology and Biogeography 26, no. 12 (November 16, 2017): 1423–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12668.
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Poorter, Lourens, Masha T. van der Sande, Eric J. M. M. Arets, Nataly Ascarrunz, Brian Enquist, Bryan Finegan, Juan Carlos Licona, et al. "Biodiversity and climate determine the functioning of Neotropical forests." Global Ecology and Biogeography 27, no. 3 (February 14, 2018): 389–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12721.
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Cañadas, Alvaro Gustavo, Diana Rade, Joffre Andrade Candell, José Ciro Hernández-Díaz, Carlos Molina Hidrovo, Marcos Zambrano, and Christian Wehenkel. "Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador." Revista de Biología Tropical 66, no. 1 (December 13, 2017): 149. http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v66i1.27612.
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In many parts of the world, forestry objectives are now shifting from focusing on maximum production to a wider perspective that includes biodiversity preservation and ecosystem functioning. To achieve these targets, managers are increasingly designing cutting regimes that imitate natural disturbances, with the aim of generating a more naturally structured forest. In many old-growth forests, tree fall gaps caused by tree death constitute the dominant type of disturbance. The application of gap dynamics theory appears to be a promising option for tropical forest management and conservation. In the present study of a tree species-rich and old-growth Ecuadorian Neotropical forest, we assessed the spatial distribution of gaps and gap size in relation to: i) tree number at the gap edge, ii) number of tree species at the gap edge, iii) number of tree species per stem at the gap edge, iv) species similarity, v) species evenness at the gap edge, vi) size differentiation at the gap edge, vii) gap isolation and viii) species mingling at the gap edge. Understanding natural gap processes in these forests is crucial for establishing new forestry practices in these forests to mimic natural processes of disturbance. Our results demonstrated that the spatial distribution of gaps was random. Various gap attributes were strongly associated with gap size. The number of tree species per stem at the gap edge was negatively correlated to the gap size. Gap sizes up to 50 m2 were mostly sufficient to generate tree species-rich forest stands. Assuming that our results were representative for an old-growth neotropical rainforest in Ecuador, our study remarks the following management recommendations: 1) Rainforests have a very complex spatial and diversity structure and logging activities should preferably be omitted because of adverse effects. 2) If logging is inevitable, this should mimic a random choice of trees and tree species, to prevent special selection of tree dimension and species; and a random distribution of trees to be logged, to produce gaps smaller than 50 m2 and never larger than 400 m2. Additionally, we suggest cutting not more than 5 % of the tree biomass per 10-20 years period, to preclude stronger alterations of ecosystem processes, and the reduction of existing dead wood from the ecosystem.
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Mendes, Mayara Ferreira, Monica Laner Blauth, Luana Amaral Dos Santos, Vera Lúcia da Silva Valente Gaiesky, and Marco Silva Gottschalk. "Temporal edge effects structure the assemblages of Drosophilidae (Diptera) in a Restinga forest fragment in Southern Brazil." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 16, no. 2 (May 12, 2021): 299–315. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.16.e61481.
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Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation directly affects ecological processes, leading to negative biodiversity impacts for insects and other biota. Increased edge effects are one consequence of fragmentation, and may alter the composition or abundance of species in the remaining habitat fragments. Understanding the ways in which edge effects impact upon the biota is essential for conservation decision-making in fragmented landscapes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the seasonal patterns of abundance, richness, and composition of Drosophilidae in a Restinga forest fragment in the extreme south of Brazil, as a function of the distance from the edge to the interior of the fragment. The data were analyzed using SIMPER analyses, which showed that the edge and the forest interior were most dissimilar during winter, followed by spring, autumn and summer. An NMDS and the SIMPER analyses showed that the lower dissimilarity between the edge and interior in spring, autumn and summer, compared to winter, is driven by immigration of individuals from outside of the forest fragment. Furthermore, some species were asymmetrically distributed in the fragment, with some species restricted to the edge of the fragment and others to the interior. This information aids in the understanding of the functioning and dynamics of fragmentation, which is fundamental for the maintenance and integrity of environments and their fauna.
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Cajaiba, Reinaldo Lucas, Eduardo Périco, Wully Barreto Silva, Edilson Caron, Bruna Caroline Buss, Marina Dalzochio, and Mário Santos. "Are primary forests irreplaceable for sustaining Neotropical landscapes' biodiversity and functioning? Contributions for restoration using ecological indicators." Land Degradation & Development 31, no. 4 (December 2019): 508–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3467.
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Aerts, Raf, and Olivier Honnay. "Forest restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning." BMC Ecology 11, no. 1 (2011): 29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6785-11-29.
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Rozendaal, Danaë M. A., Frans Bongers, T. Mitchell Aide, Esteban Alvarez-Dávila, Nataly Ascarrunz, Patricia Balvanera, Justin M. Becknell, et al. "Biodiversity recovery of Neotropical secondary forests." Science Advances 5, no. 3 (March 2019): eaau3114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aau3114.
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Old-growth tropical forests harbor an immense diversity of tree species but are rapidly being cleared, while secondary forests that regrow on abandoned agricultural lands increase in extent. We assess how tree species richness and composition recover during secondary succession across gradients in environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbance in an unprecedented multisite analysis for the Neotropics. Secondary forests recover remarkably fast in species richness but slowly in species composition. Secondary forests take a median time of five decades to recover the species richness of old-growth forest (80% recovery after 20 years) based on rarefaction analysis. Full recovery of species composition takes centuries (only 34% recovery after 20 years). A dual strategy that maintains both old-growth forests and species-rich secondary forests is therefore crucial for biodiversity conservation in human-modified tropical landscapes.
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Esteves, FA, A. Caliman, JM Santangelo, RD Guariento, VF Farjalla, and RL Bozelli. "Neotropical coastal lagoons: an appraisal of their biodiversity, functioning, threats and conservation management." Brazilian Journal of Biology 68, no. 4 suppl (November 2008): 967–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842008000500006.
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Neotropical coastal lagoons (NCL) are human-dominated ecosystems. Their distribution along densely populated coastal areas of developing countries makes these systems among the most threatened in the world. Here, we summarize some aspects of the causes and consequences of NCL biodiversity, their functioning, their importance to the surrounding populations, their fragility, and their responses to local and global anthropogenic impacts and the challenges that Neotropical countries face in conserving these systems. Although still scarce and geographically concentrated, a growing body of studies has shown that NCLs are physiographically diversified systems, which harbor a considerable and particular proportion of the Neotropical inland aquatic biodiversity. Despite the fact that coastal lagoons are ecotones that are intricately connected to surrounding environments, they develop mechanisms for structural and functional regulation, which confer to these systems higher productivity and carrying capacities than surrounding ecosystems. Such traits attract residential developments and subsidize local traditional populations with important economic and aesthetic ecosystem revenues such as fisheries and scenic beauty. However, the disorganized human occupation around NCLs are causing profound impacts such as eutrophication, salinization, exotic species introduction, as well as other effects, which are ultimately imposing major habitat degradations and biodiversity extirpations in NCLs. We argue that interdisciplinary conservation strategies, which integrate scientific expertise, government officials, private companies and the general public, are the most likely to overcome the geographic and economic obstacles to NCL conservation.
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Leite, Yuri L. R., Leonora P. Costa, Ana Carolina Loss, Rita G. Rocha, Henrique Batalha-Filho, Alex C. Bastos, Valéria S. Quaresma, et al. "Neotropical forest expansion during the last glacial period challenges refuge hypothesis." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113, no. 4 (January 11, 2016): 1008–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1513062113.
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The forest refuge hypothesis (FRH) has long been a paradigm for explaining the extreme biological diversity of tropical forests. According to this hypothesis, forest retraction and fragmentation during glacial periods would have promoted reproductive isolation and consequently speciation in forest patches (ecological refuges) surrounded by open habitats. The recent use of paleoclimatic models of species and habitat distributions revitalized the FRH, not by considering refuges as the main drivers of allopatric speciation, but instead by suggesting that high contemporary diversity is associated with historically stable forest areas. However, the role of the emerged continental shelf on the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot of eastern South America during glacial periods has been ignored in the literature. Here, we combined results of species distribution models with coalescent simulations based on DNA sequences to explore the congruence between scenarios of forest dynamics through time and the genetic structure of mammal species cooccurring in the central region of the Atlantic Forest. Contrary to the FRH predictions, we found more fragmentation of suitable habitats during the last interglacial (LIG) and the present than in the last glacial maximum (LGM), probably due to topography. We also detected expansion of suitable climatic conditions onto the emerged continental shelf during the LGM, which would have allowed forests and forest-adapted species to expand. The interplay of sea level and land distribution must have been crucial in the biogeographic history of the Atlantic Forest, and forest refuges played only a minor role, if any, in this biodiversity hotspot during glacial periods.
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Morris, Rebecca J. "Anthropogenic impacts on tropical forest biodiversity: a network structure and ecosystem functioning perspective." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 365, no. 1558 (November 27, 2010): 3709–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0273.
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Huge areas of diverse tropical forest are lost or degraded every year with dramatic consequences for biodiversity. Deforestation and fragmentation, over-exploitation, invasive species and climate change are the main drivers of tropical forest biodiversity loss. Most studies investigating these threats have focused on changes in species richness or species diversity. However, if we are to understand the absolute and long-term effects of anthropogenic impacts on tropical forests, we should also consider the interactions between species, how those species are organized in networks, and the function that those species perform. I discuss our current knowledge of network structure and ecosystem functioning, highlighting empirical examples of their response to anthropogenic impacts. I consider the future prospects for tropical forest biodiversity, focusing on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in secondary forest. Finally, I propose directions for future research to help us better understand the effects of anthropogenic impacts on tropical forest biodiversity.
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Santos, Maria, Mathias Disney, and Jérôme Chave. "Detecting Human Presence and Influence on Neotropical Forests with Remote Sensing." Remote Sensing 10, no. 10 (October 5, 2018): 1593. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/rs10101593.
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The Amazon, and Neotropical forests, are one of the most important global biomes because of their extent and unique biodiversity, as well as their importance to global climate and as a habitat and resource for humans. Unravelling the influence of human presence on these forests is fundamental to our understanding of the biodiversity, ecosystem function, and service-providing potential. Human presence in these tropical rainforests dates back 13,000 years, and the impacts of this presence are hotly debated. Some authors suggest persistent effects of pre-Columbian plant domestication on current Amazonian forest composition. Other authors suggest that post-Columbian influence on forest composition is orders of magnitude higher than that of pre-Columbian times. Evidence from remote sensing has become increasingly useful as a way to help settle these debates. Here we review past, current, and future uses of remote sensing technology to detect human infrastructure in the Amazon and other Neotropical forests over the several historical periods of human presence, from archaeological to post-modern societies. We define human presence in terms of activities that left behind a footprint, such as settlements, earth-mounds, roads, use of timber and fuelwood, agriculture, soil, etc. Lastly, we discuss opportunities and challenges for the use of remote sensing to provide data and information necessary to expand our understanding of the history of human occupation in the Neotropical forests, and how this human occupation might affect biodiversity. There have been many recent applications of remote sensing to the detection of Pre-Columbian human infrastructure, from visual inspection of aerial photographs over deforested sites to uses of LiDAR on airborne and UAV platforms to detect infrastructure and smaller settlements under the canopy. Similar efforts are yet to be conducted for the Post-Columbian period, especially during the colonization and imperialism periods. Finally, our knowledge of human impacts in the modern era (20th and 21st centuries) is not-surprisingly more extensive. Remote sensing is still under-used and extremely useful for this type of application, and new missions might provide solutions that were unavailable before. Yet systematic ground surveys are irreplaceable, and detection accuracies of human presence from the combination of remote sensing and ground surveys need to be improved. It is vital therefore to understand how Neotropical forest biodiversity has developed in the presence of people in the past, the implications of this for predicting future directions of change in the Amazon and elsewhere.
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Pérez-Espona, Sílvia. "Eciton Army Ants—Umbrella Species for Conservation in Neotropical Forests." Diversity 13, no. 3 (March 22, 2021): 136. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13030136.
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Identification of priority areas for conservation is crucial for the maintenance and protection of biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests where biodiversity continues to be lost at alarming rates. Surveys and research on umbrella species can provide efficient and effective approaches to identify potential areas for conservation at small geographical scales. Army ants of the genus Eciton are keystone species in neotropical forests due to their major role as top predators and due to the numerous vertebrate- and invertebrate associated species that depend upon their colonies for survival. These associates range from the iconic army ant-following birds to a wide range of arthropod groups, some of which have evolved intricate morphological, behavioural and/or chemical strategies to conceal their presence and integrate into the colony life. Furthermore, Eciton colonies require large forested areas that support a diverse leaf litter prey community and several field-based and genetic studies have demonstrated the negative consequences of forest fragmentation for the long-term maintenance of these colonies. Therefore, Eciton species will not only act as umbrella for their associates but also for many other species in neotropical forests, in particular for those that require a large extent of forest. This review summarises past and recent accounts of the main taxonomic groups found associated with Eciton colonies, as well research assessing the impact of forest fragmentation on this army ant, to encourage the adoption of Eciton army ants as umbrella species for the identification of priority areas for conservation and assessments of the effect of disturbance in neotropical forests.
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Lock, Marcelle, Iris van Duren, Andrew K. Skidmore, and Neil Saintilan. "Harmonizing Forest Conservation Policies with Essential Biodiversity Variables Incorporating Remote Sensing and Environmental DNA Technologies." Forests 13, no. 3 (March 11, 2022): 445. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f13030445.
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It remains difficult to compare the state of conservation of forests of different nations. Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) are a set of variables designed as a framework for harmonizing biodiversity monitoring. Methods to monitor forest biodiversity are traditional monitoring (according to conservation policy requirements), remote sensing, environmental DNA, and the information products that are derived from them (RS/eDNA biodiversity products). However, it is not clear to what extent indicators from conservation policies align with EBVs and RS/eDNA biodiversity products. This research evaluated current gaps in harmonization between EBVs, RS/eDNA biodiversity products and forest conservation indicators. We compared two sets of biodiversity variables: (1) forest conservation indicators and (2) RS/eDNA biodiversity products, within the context of the Essential Biodiversity Variables framework. Indicators derived from policy documents can mostly be categorized within the EBV ‘ecosystem vertical profile’, while ‘ecosystem function’ remains underrepresented. RS/eDNA biodiversity products, however, can provide information about ‘ecosystem function’. Integrating RS/eDNA biodiversity products that monitor ecosystem functioning into monitoring programs will lead to a more comprehensive and balanced reporting on forest biodiversity. In addition, using the same variables and similar RS/eDNA products for forest biodiversity and conservation policies is a requirement for harmonization and international policy reporting.
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Brockerhoff, Eckehard G., Luc Barbaro, Bastien Castagneyrol, David I. Forrester, Barry Gardiner, José Ramón González-Olabarria, Phil O’B Lyver, et al. "Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services." Biodiversity and Conservation 26, no. 13 (November 4, 2017): 3005–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1453-2.
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Staddon, W. J., L. C. Duchesne, and J. T. Trevors. "Conservation of forest soil microbial diversity: the impact of fire and research needs." Environmental Reviews 4, no. 4 (April 1, 1996): 267–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/a96-014.
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While increasing attention has been given to issues surrounding biodiversity in recent years, little is known about the diversity of forest soil microorganisms. This is a serious gap in knowledge given the significant roles played by microorganisms in ecosystem functioning. This paper addresses issues surrounding conservation of microbial diversity in forest soils with an emphasis on the impact of fire. Recently developed techniques such as phospholipid fatty acid profiling, DNA reassociation, and carbon substrate utilization will also be reviewed for their applicability to biodiversity research. Future research needs are also discussed.Key words: biodiversity, conservation, forest soils, fire, microbial diversity.
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Calle-Rendón, Bayron R., Renato R. Hilário, and José Julio de Toledo. "Effect of Site Attributes and Matrix Composition on Neotropical Primate Species Richness and Functional Traits: A Comparison Among Regions." Diversity 11, no. 5 (May 25, 2019): 83. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d11050083.
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Fragmentation threatens biodiversity and forest-dwelling animals can be especially vulnerable. Neotropical primates inhabit forests and play ecological roles in maintaining forest biodiversity. Currently, many primate communities are restricted to forest fragments. We (1) evaluated the influence of environmental, matrix, and site attributes on species richness and functional traits of primates in the Neotropics; and (2) evaluated the effect of the sub-region on the relationships between primates and environmental, matrix, and site attributes. We conducted literature searches to find published data on primate communities in forest fragments throughout the Neotropics. Each fragment was assigned to 1 of 11 sub-regions: Mesoamerica, Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena, Caribbean, Orinoco, Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Chaco, Andes, Caatinga, and Pampa. Based on actual and expected species occurrences, we calculated the proportion of primate species retained in the fragments, the mass retained, and dietary items retained considering reproductive and vegetative plant parts and prey. We used linear mixed models to correlate primate variables with environmental, matrix, and site attributes. Fragment area was more important for primate retention than environmental, matrix, and site attributes, with primate retention being higher in larger fragments. Fragment size was positively correlated with all primate variables, except for retention of prey consumption, whose retention decreased as water bodies and density of buildings in the matrix increased. Fragments within protected areas retained larger species than unprotected fragments. The proportion of extant mass retained and vegetative plant parts in the diet were highest in Mesoamerica and lowest in the Atlantic Forest. Conservation planning of Neotropical primates should consider both the differences among sub-regions, forest restoration to increase fragment size, and the creation of new protected areas, even in fragmented landscapes.
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Hannibal, Wellington, Polla Renon, Valquiria Vilalba Figueiredo, Roniel Freitas Oliveira, Antonio Eduardo Moreno, and Romari Alejandra Martinez. "Trends and biases in scientific literature about marmosets, genus Callithrix (Primates, Callitrichidae): biodiversity and conservation perspectives." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 14, no. 4 (December 18, 2019): 529–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e49077.
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Marmosets of the genus Callithrix are small-bodied platyrrhines, endemic to Brazil. In the last 30 years, there has been a constant interest in studying their biology, ecology and conservation. In this study, we compiled a systematic review to evaluate the trends and advances of marmoset research, from biodiversity and conservation perspectives. We searched for articles published in peer-reviewed journals within the main academic search engines, using the keywords “marmoset” OR “sagui” OR “Callithrix”. We found 68 published articles with a focus on biodiversity and conservation. The number of articles has increased over the years, most of them consisting of research from the Atlantic Forest biome. Callithrix penicillata (26 articles) and C. jacchus (21) were the most studied species. The number of studies was associated with the species’ geographical distribution. From a conservation perspective, the most threatened species showed the narrowest geographical distribution, a lower number of studies and, on average, a smaller protected area size. We concluded that trends and biases in biodiversity and conservation scientific literature of Callithrix are directly and indirectly associated with its geographical distribution. Species with wide geographical distribution are more studied, better known and protected. We highlight that the major effort of studies must be towards marmoset populations from the transition region of the Atlantic Forest-Cerrado and Caatinga biomes, and on threatened species within narrow geographical ranges.
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Ferreira, Giovanne A., Eduardo Nakano-Oliveira, Artur Andriolo, and Gelson Genaro. "Spatial overlap between domestic cats and wild felines in an insular Atlantic Forest remnant." Animal Biology 69, no. 2 (2019): 157–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15707563-17000110.
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Abstract Anthropogenic changes are a major threat to biodiversity. One of these possible changes that affect biodiversity is the introduction of domestic species in the environment, which might represent a threat to wild species. The domestic cat, in particular, has biological and behavioral characteristics that allow a great adaptability to natural areas, thus representing a potential risk to the native species, mainly to the other members of the Felidae family. In this study, the spatial overlap between four species of Neotropical wildcats and domestic cats living in an Atlantic Forest Protected Area in one of the most important forest remnants of this ecosystem was verified. The results indicate the need to adopt mitigation measures against the potential risks of this interaction with the goal of preserving the native species.
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Hector, Andy, Christopher Philipson, Philippe Saner, Juliette Chamagne, Dzaeman Dzulkifli, Michael O'Brien, Jake L. Snaddon, et al. "The Sabah Biodiversity Experiment: a long-term test of the role of tree diversity in restoring tropical forest structure and functioning." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 366, no. 1582 (November 27, 2011): 3303–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.0094.
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Relatively, little is known about the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in forests, especially in the tropics. We describe the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment: a large-scale, long-term field study on the island of Borneo. The project aims at understanding the relationship between tree species diversity and the functioning of lowland dipterocarp rainforest during restoration following selective logging. The experiment is planned to run for several decades (from seed to adult tree), so here we focus on introducing the project and its experimental design and on assessing initial conditions and the potential for restoration of the structure and functioning of the study system, the Malua Forest Reserve. We estimate residual impacts 22 years after selective logging by comparison with an appropriate neighbouring area of primary forest in Danum Valley of similar conditions. There was no difference in the alpha or beta species diversity of transect plots in the two forest types, probably owing to the selective nature of the logging and potential effects of competitive release. However, despite equal total stem density, forest structure differed as expected with a deficit of large trees and a surfeit of saplings in selectively logged areas. These impacts on structure have the potential to influence ecosystem functioning. In particular, above-ground biomass and carbon pools in selectively logged areas were only 60 per cent of those in the primary forest even after 22 years of recovery. Our results establish the initial conditions for the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment and confirm the potential to accelerate restoration by using enrichment planting of dipterocarps to overcome recruitment limitation. What role dipterocarp diversity plays in restoration only will become clear with long-term results.
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Geraskina, A. P., D. N. Tebenkova, D. V. Ershov, E. V. Ruchinskaya, N. V. Sibirtseva, and N. V. Lukina. "WILDFIRES AS A FACTOR OF THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONS OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS." FOREST SCIENCE ISSUES 4, no. 2 (August 23, 2021): 1–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.31509/2658-607x-202142-11.
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Due to ever-increasing anthropogenic impact and global climate change, wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense all over the world. The wildfire factor is turning into an acute problem for forested countries that requires prompt solutions as the areas of forest ecosystems are reducing catastrophically, which results in an irreparable loss of biodiversity that provides all ecosystem functions and forest services. Many biologists consider wildfires a factor destructive to biota that results in permanent loss of some species and groups of living organisms; even if it is possible for them to recover after a wildfire, they may need a lot of time to do so. However, some studies argue that not only do wildfires reduce the biodiversity in forest ecosystems, but they also increase it, thus contributing to species conservation and sustainable functioning of forests. This article is aimed at analyzing the works that study how wildfires impact the main components, biodiversity, and functions of forest ecosystems. The authors answer the question why wildfires, while being an obvious destruction factor, are sometimes considered a factor for increase in biodiversity. The “positive” influence wildfires have on biodiversity can mostly be reduced to mosaic patterns, that is, forest canopy gaps that occur after a wildfire. However, reference analysis shows that the persistent opinion found in a number of works that a certain frequency of wildfires is necessary to maintain forest communities may be associated with ignored or misunderstood importance of biotic factors in the functioning of forests. In contemporary forest ecosystems, populations of key large mammal species disappeared or are greatly reduced; therefore, there are no microsites they usually form, including large forest canopy leaps (gaps, glades) that provide both opportunities for photophilous flora and pollinating insects to develop and generally sufficient conditions for multi-aged polydominant forest ecosystems with high biodiversity. In the forestry practice, measures are known to maintain mosaics. They include special types of felling, supporting populations of key animal species, etc., and are both significantly less catastrophic in comparison with the wildfire factor and substantiated biologically. The authors provide recommendations for the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem functions in contemporary forests.
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Gatti, Felipe Donateli, and Marco Antonio Alves Carneiro. "Estimation of the species richness of hyperdiverse beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in an area of Atlantic Forest, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 14, no. 4 (December 13, 2019): 489–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e49026.
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Species are elementary units in community ecology studies. However, sample limitations obstruct the elaboration of accurate faunistic inventories, especially in biodiversity hotspots, such as tropical forests. In this way, the objective of this research was to describe the richness, using different non-parametric estimators of richness, in the family Cerambycidade, a group of hyperdiverse insects in the Atlantic Forest. Five hundred and eighty-one specimens belonging to 145 species and 3 subfamilies were collected. Among the species sampled, 46.2% were considered singletons, 13.8% doubletons, 48.95% unicates, 15.15% duplicates and 90.3% ecologically rare. The species accumulation curves did not stabilize, which was already expected considering that more species and individuals were sampled in the last months of collection. The estimated richness presented values much higher than the observed richness. This was a reflect of the high proportion of ecologically rare species present in the sample. This work showed that faunistic inventories of hyperdiverse groups, with only one year of collection and a single sampling methodology may underestimate the species richness of a region. Thus, larger time series associated with different collection methods are essential for a more accurate survey of biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest.
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Geraskina, A. P., D. N. Tebenkova, D. V. Ershov, E. V. Ruchinskaya, N. V. Sibirtseva, and N. V. Lukina. "WILDFIRES AS A FACTOR OF LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY AND FOREST ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS." Forest Science Issues 5, no. 1 (March 29, 2022): 1–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.31509/2658-607x-202251-97.
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Due to the ever-increasing anthropogenic impact and global climate change, wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense all over the world. The wildfire factor is turning into an acute problem for forested countries that requires prompt solutions as the areas of forest ecosystems are reducing catastrophically, which results in an irreparable loss of biodiversity that provides all ecosystem functions and services. Many biologists consider wildfires a factor destructive to biota that results in permanent loss of some species and groups of living organisms; even if it is possible for them to recover after a wildfire, they may need a lot of time to do so. However, some studies argue that wildfires do not reduce the biodiversity in forest ecosystems, but even increase it, thus contributing to species conservation and sustainable functioning of forests. This article is aimed at analyzing the studies of how wildfires impact the main components, biodiversity, and functions of forest ecosystems. The authors answer the question of why wildfires while being a destructive factor, are sometimes considered a factor increasing biodiversity. The “positive” influence wildfires have on biodiversity mostly comes down to the formation of mosaic patterns, that is, forest canopy gaps that occur after a wildfire. However, analysis of references shows that the established opinion found in a number of studies that a certain frequency of wildfires is necessary to maintain forest communities may be associated with ignoring or misunderstanding the importance of biotic factors in the functioning of forests. In modern forest ecosystems, populations of keystone large mammal species have disappeared or greatly declined; therefore, there are no microsites they usually form, including large forest canopy gaps (glades) that provide opportunities for photophilous flora and pollinating insects to develop and generally maintain adequate conditions for multi-aged polydominant forest ecosystems with high biodiversity. In the forestry practice, there are measures to maintain mosaics. They include special types of felling, supporting populations of keystone animal species, etc., and are both significantly less catastrophic in comparison with the wildfire factor and substantiated biologically. The authors provide recommendations for the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem functions in modern forests.
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Pedraza, Rosa-Amelia, Guadalupe Williams-Linera, and Teresa Nicolás-Silva. "Vegetation structure and biodiversity recovery in 19-year-old active restoration plantations in a Neotropical cloud forest." Forest Systems 30, no. 1 (March 12, 2021): 3004. http://dx.doi.org/10.5424/fs/2021301-17131.
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Aim of the study: To evaluate how middle-aged active restoration plantations of native tree species contribute to the recovery of the tropical cloud forest in terms of vegetation structure, tree richness, species composition, and to shade-tolerance and seed dispersal mode functional groups.Area of the study: We studied two 19-year-old active restoration sites and their reference mature forests in the tropical montane cloud forest belt, Veracruz, Mexico.Materials and methods: The basal area, density and height as well as the tree species composition and number of species and individuals classified by shade tolerance (pioneer and non-pioneer trees), and seed dispersal mode (anemochorous, barochorous-synzoochorous and endozoochorous) were compared between active restoration plantations and reference forests.Main results: Planted trees and the woody vegetation growing under them represented a high proportion of reference forests’ basal area. Tree richness and Shannon’s equitability index were similar in both reference forests and one active restoration plantation and slightly different in the other. Tree species composition differed among sites; however, each 19-year-old plantation already had several non-pioneer species and a similar species proportion of the seed dispersal syndromes present in their reference forests.Research highlights: Active restoration accelerated the recovery of cloud forest in degraded pasture and bracken fern lands. Planted trees promoted the rapid development of vegetation structure and natural tree regeneration. Although species composition is still different, these middle-aged restoration plantations already have forest species and a proportion of functional groups of species similar to those of their own reference montane cloud forests.Keywords: active restoration; forest recovery; passive restoration; seed dispersal mode; succession; tree species; tropical montane cloud forest.
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Rybar, Jergus, and Michal Bosela. "Trade-offs or complementarity between biomass production and biodiversity in European forests: a review." Central European Forestry Journal 69, no. 4 (October 1, 2023): 201–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/forj-2023-0019.
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Abstract Forestry faces the challenge of balancing the increasing demand for timber, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity protection. Biodiversity plays a crucial role in the stability and adaptability of forest ecosystems, enabling them to withstand disturbances and recover from them. Preserving biodiversity is essential for long-term survival and well-being. Enhancing biodiversity in managed forests is important because they occupy a significant area of forests in Europe. Understanding the relationships between forest production and biodiversity from various perspectives is crucial for developing effective multi-taxa management concepts. Biodiversity loss due to management practices can result in habitat destruction, fragmentation, and species displacement. Biodiversity enhances ecosystem services linked to biomass production, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. This study reviews the relationships between biodiversity and production in Europen forests, emphasising the impacts of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning and production, as well as the effects of production indicators on biodiversity. The effects of biodiversity on productivity are often studied in the same population, most often in the tree layer. However, a lack of knowledge on how biomass production affects the diversity of other ecosystem components limits our understanding of the multifacet relationships. Forest management significantly impacts biodiversity and production, and different management systems have varying effects on forest ecosystems. Diverse ecosystems exhibit niche complementarity, resulting in increased biomass production. Sustainable practices, including land-use planning, habitat protection, agroforestry, and non-invasive species use, can mitigate the adverse effects of biomass production on biodiversity.
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Moraes-Barros, N., CY Miyaki, and JS Morgante. "Identifying management units in non-endangered species: the example of the sloth Bradypus variegatus Schinz, 1825." Brazilian Journal of Biology 67, no. 4 suppl (December 2007): 829–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842007000500005.
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In this study we propose the analysis of genetic diversity of the common three-toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus, in an attempt to understand population structure, identify divergent intraspecific units, and contribute to the knowledge of biodiversity in the neotropical forests. We analyzed a 387 bp segment of the mitochondrial DNA control region in 28 individuals distributed in different localities of both Atlantic and Amazon forests. Our results demonstrated that the genetic diversity of B. variegatus is distributed in six management units, MUs. The observed MUs encompass six phylogenetic lineages and represent respectively north and south regions of Atlantic forest, three regions within the Amazon forest, and a transition region between these two biomes. Considering the fact that these MUs are concordant with phylogroups and endemism areas already described for other vertebrate species, we can say that the study of B. variegatus, a widely distributed and not endangered species, can help to identify areas for conservation biology purposes in neotropical rain forests.
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Tuck, Sean L., Michael J. O'Brien, Christopher D. Philipson, Philippe Saner, Matteo Tanadini, Dzaeman Dzulkifli, H. Charles J. Godfray, et al. "The value of biodiversity for the functioning of tropical forests: insurance effects during the first decade of the Sabah biodiversity experiment." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283, no. 1844 (December 14, 2016): 20161451. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.1451.
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One of the main environmental threats in the tropics is selective logging, which has degraded large areas of forest. In southeast Asia, enrichment planting with seedlings of the dominant group of dipterocarp tree species aims to accelerate restoration of forest structure and functioning. The role of tree diversity in forest restoration is still unclear, but the ‘insurance hypothesis’ predicts that in temporally and spatially varying environments planting mixtures may stabilize functioning owing to differences in species traits and ecologies. To test for potential insurance effects, we analyse the patterns of seedling mortality and growth in monoculture and mixture plots over the first decade of the Sabah biodiversity experiment. Our results reveal the species differences required for potential insurance effects including a trade-off in which species with denser wood have lower growth rates but higher survival. This trade-off was consistent over time during the first decade, but growth and mortality varied spatially across our 500 ha experiment with species responding to changing conditions in different ways. Overall, average survival rates were extreme in monocultures than mixtures consistent with a potential insurance effect in which monocultures of poorly surviving species risk recruitment failure, whereas monocultures of species with high survival have rates of self-thinning that are potentially wasteful when seedling stocks are limited. Longer-term monitoring as species interactions strengthen will be needed to more comprehensively test to what degree mixtures of species spread risk and use limited seedling stocks more efficiently to increase diversity and restore ecosystem structure and functioning.
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Grattarola, Florencia, and Lucía Rodríguez-Tricot. "Mammals of Paso Centurión, an area with relicts of Atlantic Forest in Uruguay." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 15, no. 3 (July 24, 2020): 267–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.15.e53062.
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Paso Centurión is one of the most diverse areas of Uruguay. It is legally protected at local and national level, however, there are different interests competing for its land use and management. With the aim to document the biodiversity of the area together with the local people, the NGO JULANA has been conducting a participatory monitoring process with camera traps since 2013. Here, we present a list of 23 medium and large-size mammal species documented in the area and a standardised dataset of occurrence records. Top observations include the last Chrysocyon brachyurus seen in Uruguay, the first record of Herpailurus yagouaroundi in the country and the second report of Leopardus munoai in the area. We also highlight the frequent observation of numerous rare species such as Tamandua tetradactyla, Leopardus wiedii, Cabassous tatouay, Coendou spinosus and Cuniculus paca. Although the cameras were located within only a few metres of the houses of the local people, some of the rarest and most elusive species in the country were reported. This suggests a possible coexistence between people – their socio-economic practices – and nature in the area. Our work underlines the importance of the recent inclusion of Paso Centurión and Sierra de Ríos to the National System of Protected Areas under the proposed category of ‘Protected Landscape’. Collectively, in a context of global change and lack of biodiversity data on species distribution, we emphasise the value of these records for the knowledge of mammals in Uruguay and the need to extend and continue monitoring this area.
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Asner, G. P., R. E. Martin, D. E. Knapp, R. Tupayachi, C. B. Anderson, F. Sinca, N. R. Vaughn, and W. Llactayo. "Airborne laser-guided imaging spectroscopy to map forest trait diversity and guide conservation." Science 355, no. 6323 (January 26, 2017): 385–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaj1987.
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Functional biogeography may bridge a gap between field-based biodiversity information and satellite-based Earth system studies, thereby supporting conservation plans to protect more species and their contributions to ecosystem functioning. We used airborne laser-guided imaging spectroscopy with environmental modeling to derive large-scale, multivariate forest canopy functional trait maps of the Peruvian Andes-to-Amazon biodiversity hotspot. Seven mapped canopy traits revealed functional variation in a geospatial pattern explained by geology, topography, hydrology, and climate. Clustering of canopy traits yielded a map of forest beta functional diversity for land-use analysis. Up to 53% of each mapped, functionally distinct forest presents an opportunity for new conservation action. Mapping functional diversity advances our understanding of the biosphere to conserve more biodiversity in the face of land use and climate change.
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Lukina, N. V., A. P. Geraskina, A. V. Gornov, N. E. Shevchenko, A. V. Kuprin, T. I. Chernov, S. I. Chumachenko, et al. "Biodiversity and climate regulating functions of forests: current issues and prospects for research." FOREST SCIENCE ISSUES 4, no. 4 (December 30, 2020): 1–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.31509/2658-607x-2020-3-4-1-90.
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The problem of assessing the impact of biodiversity on the climate-regulating functions of forests has fundamental character and great importance for sustainable forest management in the context of global climate change. On the one hand, climate changes affect biodiversity, on the other hand, it is biodiversity, as a provider of all ecosystem functions, underlies the mechanisms of adaptation to these changes. This paper aims to discuss scientific questions about the links between biodiversity and climate-regulating functions of forests, and to outline the prospects for these studies. It is shown that studies of the influence of plant and animal species – ecosystem engineers on forest ecosystem’s functioning, including climate-regulating processes and functions, are quite numerous. However, studies of the combined effects of the diversity of biota belonging to different trophic levels and groups on climate-regulating functions of forests of different types/different stages of succession are not carried out. In such studies, it is important to take into account both taxonomic, including genetic, and functional biodiversity as well as structural diversity of forests. Various concepts of forest management taking into account the conservation and restoration of biodiversity are considered. An important aspect of this problem is the assessment and prediction of relationships (synergy or trade-offs) between climate-regulating and other ecosystem functions of forests with different levels of biodiversity functioning in natural conditions and under the combined impact of natural and anthropogenic factors, including climate change, fires, and forestry regimes. It is shown that a promising approach to assessing and predicting the dynamics of relationships between different ecosystem functions of forests is the integration of mathematical models.
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Ćosović, Marija, Miguel Bugalho, Dominik Thom, and José Borges. "Stand Structural Characteristics Are the Most Practical Biodiversity Indicators for Forest Management Planning in Europe." Forests 11, no. 3 (March 19, 2020): 343. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f11030343.
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Including biodiversity assessments in forest management planning is becoming increasingly important due to the importance of biodiversity for forest ecosystem resilience provision and sustainable functioning. Here we investigated the potential to include biodiversity indicators into forest management planning in Europe. In particular, we aimed to (i) identify biodiversity indicators and data collection methods for biodiversity assessments at the stand and landscape levels, and (ii) evaluate the practicality of those indicators for forest management planning. We performed a literature review in which we screened 188 research studies published between 1990 and 2020. We selected 94 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and examined in more detail. We considered three aspects of biodiversity: structure, composition, and function, and four forest management categories: unmanaged, managed, plantation, and silvopastoral. We used three criteria to evaluate the practicality of forest biodiversity indicators: cost-effectiveness, ease of application, and time-effectiveness. We identified differences in the practicality of biodiversity indicators for their incorporation into management plans. Stand-level indicators are more practical than landscape-level indicators. Moreover, structural biodiversity indicators (e.g., large trees, canopy openness, and old forest stands) are more useful in management plans than compositional indicators, as these are easily observable by non-professionals and can be obtained by forest inventories. Compositional indicators such are vascular plants, fungi, bryophyte, lichens, and invertebrate species are hard to identify by non-professionals and thus are impractical. Functional indicators (e.g., nutrient cycling) are not sufficiently addressed in the literature. Using recently updated existing databases (e.g., national forest inventories and bird atlases) is very time and cost-efficient. Remote sensing and other technology (e.g., smartphone applications) are promising for efficient data collection in the future. However, more research is needed to make these tools more accurate and applicable to a variety of ecological conditions and scales. Until then, forest stand structural variables derived from inventories can help improve management plans to prepare European forests towards an uncertain future.
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Prates, Ivan, Alexander T. Xue, Jason L. Brown, Diego F. Alvarado-Serrano, Miguel T. Rodrigues, Michael J. Hickerson, and Ana C. Carnaval. "Inferring responses to climate dynamics from historical demography in neotropical forest lizards." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113, no. 29 (July 18, 2016): 7978–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1601063113.
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We apply a comparative framework to test for concerted demographic changes in response to climate shifts in the neotropical lowland forests, learning from the past to inform projections of the future. Using reduced genomic (SNP) data from three lizard species codistributed in Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest (Anolis punctatus, Anolis ortonii, and Polychrus marmoratus), we first reconstruct former population history and test for assemblage-level responses to cycles of moisture transport recently implicated in changes of forest distribution during the Late Quaternary. We find support for population shifts within the time frame of inferred precipitation fluctuations (the last 250,000 y) but detect idiosyncratic responses across species and uniformity of within-species responses across forest regions. These results are incongruent with expectations of concerted population expansion in response to increased rainfall and fail to detect out-of-phase demographic syndromes (expansions vs. contractions) across forest regions. Using reduced genomic data to infer species-specific demographical parameters, we then model the plausible spatial distribution of genetic diversity in the Atlantic Forest into future climates (2080) under a medium carbon emission trajectory. The models forecast very distinct trajectories for the lizard species, reflecting unique estimated population densities and dispersal abilities. Ecological and demographic constraints seemingly lead to distinct and asynchronous responses to climatic regimes in the tropics, even among similarly distributed taxa. Incorporating such constraints is key to improve modeling of the distribution of biodiversity in the past and future.
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Phillips, Oliver L., Simon L. Lewis, Timothy R. Baker, Kuo-Jung Chao, and Niro Higuchi. "The changing Amazon forest." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 363, no. 1498 (February 11, 2008): 1819–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.0033.
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Long-term monitoring of distributed, multiple plots is the key to quantify macroecological patterns and changes. Here we examine the evidence for concerted changes in the structure, dynamics and composition of old-growth Amazonian forests in the late twentieth century. In the 1980s and 1990s, mature forests gained biomass and underwent accelerated growth and dynamics, all consistent with a widespread, long-acting stimulation of growth. Because growth on average exceeded mortality, intact Amazonian forests have been a carbon sink. In the late twentieth century, biomass of trees of more than 10 cm diameter increased by 0.62±0.23 t C ha −1 yr −1 averaged across the basin. This implies a carbon sink in Neotropical old-growth forest of at least 0.49±0.18 Pg C yr −1 . If other biomass and necromass components are also increased proportionally, then the old-growth forest sink here has been 0.79±0.29 Pg C yr −1 , even before allowing for any gains in soil carbon stocks. This is approximately equal to the carbon emissions to the atmosphere by Amazon deforestation. There is also evidence for recent changes in Amazon biodiversity. In the future, the growth response of remaining old-growth mature Amazon forests will saturate, and these ecosystems may switch from sink to source driven by higher respiration (temperature), higher mortality (as outputs equilibrate to the growth inputs and periodic drought) or compositional change (disturbances). Any switch from carbon sink to source would have profound implications for global climate, biodiversity and human welfare, while the documented acceleration of tree growth and mortality may already be affecting the interactions among millions of species.
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Levey, Dallas R., Alejandro Estrada, Paula L. Enríquez, and Adolfo G. Navarro-Sigüenza. "The Importance of Forest-Nonforest Transition Zones for Avian Conservation in a Vegetation Disturbance Gradient in the Northern Neotropics." Tropical Conservation Science 14 (January 2021): 194008292110080. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/19400829211008087.
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Tropical landscape connectivity and matrix quality near large stands of primary forest are important factors that dictate biodiversity trends in communities. Suitable matrix management surrounding primary forest may help conserve biodiversity, but areas with poor matrix management need attention to determine their long-term viability to support native levels of biodiversity. We examined variations in species and functional diversity and community composition using point-count surveys placed in preserved (PRES), transition (TRA), and disturbed (DIS) areas according to percent land cover of forest and cattle pasture along a human disturbance gradient in the northern Neotropics during an 8 month period from 2019–2020. We expected the gradient of human disturbance to drive species diversity loss of forest specialists from PRES to DIS, resulting in changes to functional diversity and community composition. We detected 228 species overall, with 163 in PRES (40 unique species), 159 in TRA (9 unique species), and 152 in DIS (20 unique species). TRA supported an avian community with shared aspects of PRES and DIS, leading to the highest functional, Shannon (85.8 estimated species), and Simpson (57.9 estimated species) diversity. Higher diversity of open-area specialists in TRA and DIS has led to shifts in functional traits and different species and functional community compositions relative to PRES. Land management in Neotropical human-modified landscapes must focus on increasing habitat quality in remnant forest fragments in the vicinity of large stands of primary forest to prevent species and ecosystem service loss from preserved areas and the distancing of local community compositions.
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Pereira, Emily dos Santos, Amanda Soares Miranda, Ana Paula Albano Araújo, and Vinícius Albano Araújo. "Influence of abiotic factors in a population of Parides ascanius (Papilionidae, Lepidoptera) in an urban restinga fragment." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 15, no. 3 (September 2, 2020): 367–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.15.e55719.
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Fragmentation and loss of natural habitats has reduced biodiversity in neotropical ecosystems. The restinga, a phytophysiognomy of the Atlantic Forest, has lost much of its original coverage and remains largely threatened by urbanisation. Restingas are considered hotspots of biodiversity and are listed as priority areas for conservation due to their great presence of endemic species, such as the endangered butterfly Parides ascanius Cramer, 1775. In this work, we analyse the influence of abiotic factors (temperature and humidity) on the abundance of P. ascanius in an urban restinga fragment of Iriry’s Environmental Protection Area (Iriry APA), located in the municipality of Rio das Ostras in Rio de Janeiro. For that, the mark-recapture technique was used. Sampling was carried out from October 2017 to May 2018, between 7:00 am and 11:00 am. Seventy-two individuals of P. ascanius were collected and showed higher proportions of males over females and greater abundance of individuals in the month of October. On average, the number of individuals was significantly higher with the increase in air temperature and lower with the increase in air humidity. The abundance of P. ascanius at the restinga of Iriry APA varied monthly and temporally throughout the day, influenced by temperature and air humidity. The results provide information that can support management plans for conservation of this threatened species, as well as for urban areas of the Atlantic Forest.
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Montagnini, Florencia, Bryan Finegan, Diego Delgado, Beatriz Eibl, Lilian Szczipanski, and Nelson Zamora. "Can Timber Production Be Compatible with Conservation of Forest Biodiversity?–Two Case Studies of Plant Biodiversity in Managed Neotropical Forests." Journal of Sustainable Forestry 12, no. 1-2 (January 2001): 37–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/j091v12n01_03.
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Sigrist, Mário Sérgio, and Claudio José Barros de Carvalho. "Detection of areas of endemism on two spatial scales using Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE): the Neotropical region and the Atlantic Forest." Biota Neotropica 8, no. 4 (December 2008): 33–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1676-06032008000400002.
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An important biological challenge today is the conservation of biodiversity. Biogeography, the study of the distribution patterns of organisms, is an important tool for this challenge. Endemism, the co-occurrence of several species unique to the same area, has important implications for the preservation of biodiversity, since many areas of endemism are also areas with large human impact. More rigorously defined, areas of endemism are historical units of distributional congruence of monophyletic taxa. These areas often assumed to be due to nonrandom historical events that favored conditions associated with high rates of speciation. Thus, understanding endemism and the delimitation of endemic areas has important implications for conservation. Today, most studies delimit areas of endemism by superimposing maps of distribution for various species. This approach suffers from arbitrary delimitations, however, when a great distributional data is used. In this paper we used the method of Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) based on georeferenced quadrats in order to delimit areas of endemism. This modality of the method is important due to its testable nature and can also be used to infer area relationships. We applied the method to raw distributional data from 19 unrelated taxa to delimit general patterns of endemism in the Neotropical Region and in the Atlantic forest domain using different grid scales. Neotropical areas found are comprised over the Panama region, northern Andean region and the Atlantic forest. Atlantic forest showed a major division into two distinct components (northern x southern). Endemic areas delimited using smaller scale grids on the Atlantic forest should be considered for conservation priorities once they showed endemism at regional and local scales. The results were also compared to other studies using different taxa and methods. Finally, some considerations on the analysis scale and future perspectives of the method are presented.
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Oliveira-Neto, NE, DR Nascimento, and FA Carvalho. "Biodiversity inventory of trees in a neotropical secondary forest after abandonment of shaded coffee plantation." iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 10, no. 1 (February 28, 2017): 303–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.3832/ifor1901-009.
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Roussel, Jean‐Marc, Raphael Covain, Regis Vigouroux, Luc Allard, Anne Treguier, Yvan Papa, and Pierre‐Yves Le Bail. "Fish communities critically depend on forest subsidies in small neotropical streams with high biodiversity value." Biotropica 53, no. 4 (April 22, 2021): 1096–108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/btp.12949.
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Durães, Renata, Luis Carrasco, Thomas B. Smith, and Jordan Karubian. "Effects of forest disturbance and habitat loss on avian communities in a Neotropical biodiversity hotspot." Biological Conservation 166 (October 2013): 203–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2013.07.007.
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Xu, Wei, Ping Zhou, Miguel Ángel González-Rodríguez, Zhaowei Tan, Zehua Li, and Ping Yan. "Changes in Relationship between Forest Biomass Productivity and Biodiversity of Different Type Subtropical Forests in Southern China." Forests 15, no. 3 (February 21, 2024): 410. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f15030410.
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Forest productivity is influenced by various factors, including biodiversity, environmental factors, functional traits, and forest types. However, the relative importance of these factors in determining the productivity of subtropical forests in southern China remains controversial. In this study, we analyzed a dataset of 24 forest plots from four subtropical forest types in the Nanling Mountains with the main goal of identifying and quantifying the relative contribution of the main driving factors of forest productivity in these forests. Generalized linear regression and structural equation modeling were used to examine the relationship between forest biomass productivity (aboveground, belowground and total), biodiversity (taxonomic diversity, phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity), and environmental variables (i.e., physiography and climate). The results indicated that both environmental factors and biodiversity played pivotal roles in explaining the biomass productivity of the Nanling subtropical forests. Environmental factors had the greatest influence on total productivity, while the impacts of different types of biodiversity on various productivity components (aboveground and belowground) varied notably. Taxonomic diversity showed the strongest positive effect on the aboveground and belowground biomass productivity. However, phylogenetic and functional diversity had negative effects on productivity. Furthermore, these relationships also exhibited variations when considering different altitude gradients, with low altitudes generally leading to negative biodiversity–productivity correlations. We contextualized our results regarding the three state-of-the-art theories about biodiversity–productivity relationships (selection probability, niche complementarity, and biomass ratio) and concluded that both selection probability and niche complementarity are the driving mechanisms of productivity in the subtropical forests of the Nanling Mountains. This study offers valuable insights into the functioning and biodiversity mechanisms of subtropical forest ecosystems in southern China.
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Kimaro, J., and L. Lulandala. "Human Influences on Tree Diversity and Composition of a Coastal Forest Ecosystem: The Case of Ngumburuni Forest Reserve, Rufiji, Tanzania." International Journal of Forestry Research 2013 (2013): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/305874.
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This paper reports on the findings of an ecological survey conducted in Ngumburuni Forest Reserve, a biodiversity rich forest reserve within the coastal forests of Tanzania. The main goal of this study was to determine the influence of uncontrolled anthropogenic activities on tree species diversity and composition within the forest ecosystem. It was revealed that economic activities including logging, charcoaling, and shifting cultivation were the most important disturbing activities affecting ecological functioning and biodiversity integrity of the forest. Further to this, we noted that the values of species diversity, composition, and regeneration potential within the undisturbed forest areas were significantly different from those in heavily disturbed areas. These observations confirm that the ongoing human activities have already caused size quality degradation of useful plants, enhanced species diversification impacts to the forest ecosystem, and possibly negatively affected the livelihoods of the adjacent local communities. Despite these disturbances, Ngumburuni forest reserve still holds important proportions of both endemic and threatened animal and plant species. The study suggests urgent implementation of several conservation measures in order to limit accessibility to the forest resources so as to safeguard the richness and abundance of useful biodiversity stocks in the reserve.
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Xu, Yuanjie, Yu Zhang, Wei Li, Weiyi Liu, Xu Gu, Zhenhua Guan, Jie Yang, and Zhiyun Lu. "Effects of tree functional diversity and environmental gradients on belowground biomass in a natural old-growth forest ecosystem." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 49, no. 12 (December 2019): 1623–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2019-0254.
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The positive effects of biodiversity on aboveground biomass in natural terrestrial ecosystems have been well documented, whereas the relationships between tree biodiversity and belowground biomass remain largely unexplored. Traditionally, two sets of hypotheses based on the functional trait approach, niche complementarity (NC) and mass ratio (MR), have been proposed to explain the positive effects of biodiversity. Whereas NC emphasizes that functional discrepancy enhances the collective functioning of a given ecosystem, MR states that ecosystem functioning is mainly regulated by the functional traits of dominant species. This study explored the relative importance of these two hypotheses and the effects of forest stand and environmental characteristics on belowground biomass in an old-growth broad-leaved evergreen forest. The mean coarse-root biomass, fine-root biomass, and fine-root necromass were 117.78 ± 54.000, 4.09 ± 0.85, and 0.60 ± 0.31 Mg·ha−1, respectively. We found positive effects of functional diversity on belowground biomass; however, the community-weighted mean trait values were more relevant, indicating that MR exhibited more explanatory power than NC. The combination of informative environmental factors explained 62.0%, 53.2%, and 37.8% of the variation of coarse-root biomass, fine-root biomass, and fine-root necromass, respectively. Our results suggest that the functional identity of dominant tree species exerts more influence than functional diversity on the belowground biomass in old-growth forest ecosystems and that forest stand characteristics and topographic and edaphic factors also play important roles in shaping belowground biomass patterns in old-growth forest ecosystems.
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Moulton, T. P., and S. A. P. Magalhães. "Responses of leaf processing to impacts in streams in Atlantic rain Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - a test of the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship?" Brazilian Journal of Biology 63, no. 1 (February 2003): 87–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842003000100012.
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The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning has been intensely debated and researched in recent times. It is generally agreed that there is redundancy of species in ecosystems such that loss of species does not necessarily result in change in the functioning of the ecosystem in which they occur. However the state of our knowledge does not allow prediction of sensitivity or specificity of this relationship for any particular ecosystem. A widely-held opinion is that ecosystem functioning is relatively stable to environmental impact, whereas biodiversity is more sensitive. We tested this in streams of the Atlantic forest using leaf decomposition as an aspect of ecosystem functioning and measuring the diversity of the associated fauna. In lightly impacted streams of the urban park Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca, RJ, leaf processing rate of a hard-leaf species, Myrcia rostrata (Myrtaceae) was more than 50% slower than in "intact" streams at the biological reserve of Ilha Grande, RJ. Taxon diversity of fauna of the leaves was not significantly lower in the impacted than the intact streams. We construe this as preliminary evidence contrary to the notion that ecosystem functioning is less sensitive than biodiversity to impacts in this system.
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Ilacqua, Roberto C., Antônio R. Medeiros-Sousa, Daniel G. Ramos, Marcos T. Obara, Walter Ceretti-Junior, Luis F. Mucci, Mauro T. Marrelli, and Gabriel Z. Laporta. "Reemergence of Yellow Fever in Brazil: The Role of Distinct Landscape Fragmentation Thresholds." Journal of Environmental and Public Health 2021 (July 23, 2021): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8230789.
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Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) reemergence in Brazil was followed by human suffering and the loss of biodiversity of neotropical simians on the Atlantic coast. The underlying mechanisms were investigated with special focus on distinct landscape fragmentation thresholds in the affected municipalities. An ecological study in epidemiology is employed to assess the statistical relationship between events of YFV and forest fragmentation in municipal landscapes. Negative binomial regression model showed that highly fragmented forest cover was associated with an 85% increase of events of YFV in humans and simians (RR = 1.85, CI 95% = 1.24–2.75, p = 0.003 ) adjusted by vaccine coverage, population size, and municipality area. Intermediate levels of forest cover combined with higher levels of forest edge densities contribute to the YFV dispersion and the exponential growth of YF cases. Strategies for forest conservation are necessary for the control and prevention of YF and other zoonotic diseases that can spillover from the fragmented forest remains to populated cities of the Brazilian Atlantic coast.
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Murienne, Jérôme, Ligia R. Benavides, Lorenzo Prendini, Gustavo Hormiga, and Gonzalo Giribet. "Forest refugia in Western and Central Africa as ‘museums’ of Mesozoic biodiversity." Biology Letters 9, no. 1 (February 23, 2013): 20120932. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2012.0932.
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The refugial speciation model, or ‘species pump’, is widely accepted in the context of tropical biogeography and has been advocated as an explanation for present species distributions in tropical Western and Central Africa. In order to test this hypothesis, a phylogeny of the cryptic arachnid order Ricinulei, based on four nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers, was inferred. This ancient clade of litter-dwelling arthropods, endemic to the primary forests of Western and Central Africa and the Neotropics, might provide insights into the mode and tempo of evolution in Africa. Twenty-six African ricinuleid specimens were sampled from eight countries spanning the distribution of Ricinulei on the continent, and analysed together with Neotropical samples plus other arachnid outgroups. The phylogenetic and molecular dating results suggest that Ricinulei diversified in association with the fragmentation of Gondwana. The early diversification of Ricinoides in Western and Central Africa around 88 (±33) Ma fits old palaeogeographical events better than recent climatic fluctuations. Unlike most recent molecular studies, these results agree with fossil evidence, suggesting that refugia may have acted as ‘museums’ conserving ancient diversity rather than as engines generating diversity during successive episodes of climatic fluctuation in Africa.
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Pereira, Olinto Liparini, Maria Catarina Megumi Kasuya, Arnaldo Chaer Borges, and Elza Fernandes de Araújo. "Morphological and molecular characterization of mycorrhizal fungi isolated from neotropical orchids in Brazil." Canadian Journal of Botany 83, no. 1 (January 1, 2005): 54–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b04-151.
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To initiate a conservation program of the Orchidaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest with the purpose of ex situ conservation or reintroduction in the State of Minas Gerais, seven mycorrhizal Rhizoctonia-like fungal strains were isolated from roots of seven neotropical orchid species from three different Atlantic rain forest fragments. Taxonomic studies revealed that the isolates belong to the genera Ceratorhiza and Epulorhiza. The Epulorhiza isolates were identified as Epulorhiza repens (N. Bernard) R.T. Moore and Epulorhiza epiphytica Pereira, Rollemberg et Kasuya. RAPD analysis indicated higher polymorphism between Epulorhiza epiphytica and Epulorhiza repens than found in the PCRRFLP analysis. RAPD and morphological analyses indicated a degree of relatedness among the Ceratorhiza isolates obtained from the roots of different Oncidium species. A combination of morphological and molecular characterizations permitted integration of fungal strain identification with genetic relatedness among the isolates, thus allowing some inferences to be made on specificity of these endosymbionts under field conditions.Key words: biodiversity, Ceratorhiza, Epulorhiza, orchid mycorrhiza, Rhizoctonia-like, symbiosis, specificity.
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Kormann, Urs, Christoph Scherber, Teja Tscharntke, Nadja Klein, Manuel Larbig, Jonathon J. Valente, Adam S. Hadley, and Matthew G. Betts. "Corridors restore animal-mediated pollination in fragmented tropical forest landscapes." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283, no. 1823 (January 27, 2016): 20152347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.2347.
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Tropical biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions have become heavily eroded through habitat loss. Animal-mediated pollination is required in more than 94% of higher tropical plant species and 75% of the world's leading food crops, but it remains unclear if corridors avert deforestation-driven pollination breakdown in fragmented tropical landscapes. Here, we used manipulative resource experiments and field observations to show that corridors functionally connect neotropical forest fragments for forest-associated hummingbirds and increase pollen transfer. Further, corridors boosted forest-associated pollinator availability in fragments by 14.3 times compared with unconnected equivalents, increasing overall pollination success . Plants in patches without corridors showed pollination rates equal to bagged control flowers, indicating pollination failure in isolated fragments. This indicates, for the first time, that corridors benefit tropical forest ecosystems beyond boosting local species richness, by functionally connecting mutualistic network partners. We conclude that small-scale adjustments to landscape configuration safeguard native pollinators and associated pollination services in tropical forest landscapes.
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Poorter, Lourens, Dylan Craven, Catarina C. Jakovac, Masha T. van der Sande, Lucy Amissah, Frans Bongers, Robin L. Chazdon, et al. "Multidimensional tropical forest recovery." Science 374, no. 6573 (December 10, 2021): 1370–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abh3629.
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Resilient secondary tropical forests? Although deforestation is rampant across the tropics, forest has a strong capacity to regrow on abandoned lands. These “secondary” forests may increasingly play important roles in biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and landscape restoration. Poorter et al . analyzed the patterns of recovery in forest attributes (related to soil, plant functioning, structure, and diversity) in 77 secondary forest sites in the Americas and West Africa. They found that different attributes recovered at different rates, with soil recovering in less than a decade and species diversity and biomass recovering in little more than a century. The authors discuss how these findings can be applied in efforts to promote forest restoration. —AMS
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Aninta, Sabhrina G., Ricardo Rocha, Adrià López-Baucells, and Christoph F. J. Meyer. "Erosion of phylogenetic diversity in Neotropical bat assemblages: findings from a whole-ecosystem fragmentation experiment." Biodiversity and Conservation 28, no. 14 (October 14, 2019): 4047–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01864-y.
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Abstract The traditional focus on taxonomic diversity metrics for investigating species responses to habitat loss and fragmentation has limited our understanding of how biodiversity is impacted by habitat modification. This is particularly true for taxonomic groups such as bats which exhibit species-specific responses. Here, we investigate phylogenetic alpha and beta diversity of Neotropical bat assemblages across two environmental gradients, one in habitat quality and one in habitat amount. We surveyed bats in 39 sites located across a whole-ecosystem fragmentation experiment in the Brazilian Amazon, representing a gradient of habitat quality (interior-edge-matrix, hereafter IEM) in both continuous forest and forest fragments of different sizes (1, 10, and 100 ha; forest size gradient). For each habitat category, we quantified alpha and beta phylogenetic diversity, then used linear mixed-effects models and cluster analysis to explore how forest area and IEM gradient affect phylogenetic diversity. We found that the secondary forest matrix harboured significantly lower total evolutionary history compared to the fragment interiors, especially the matrix near the 1 ha fragments, containing bat assemblages with more closely related species. Forest fragments ≥ 10 ha had levels of phylogenetic richness similar to continuous forest, suggesting that large fragments retain considerable levels of evolutionary history. The edge and matrix adjacent to large fragments tend to have closely related lineages nonetheless, suggesting phylogenetic homogenization in these IEM gradient categories. Thus, despite the high mobility of bats, fragmentation still induces considerable levels of erosion of phylogenetic diversity, suggesting that the full amount of evolutionary history might not be able to persist in present-day human-modified landscapes.