Site and species contribution to β-diversity in terrestrial mammal communities: evidence from multiple Neotropical forest sites

ABSTRACTA total of 52,467 wind-dispersed seeds from 14 tree and 32 liana species fell into 1720 seed traps in 43 paired light-gap and adjacent forest sites on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Summed at the community level, many more wind-dispersed seeds were collected from light-gaps (61%) than from forest sites (39%). They accumulated from March through May, 1984 to a density of 328 m-2 in gaps and 207 m-2 in forest sites. In contrast, only 33% of the total of 2782 non-wind-dispersed seeds were collected in gaps. Due to the extreme heterogeneity of the seed rain, these differences between gap and forest sites were not statistically significant at the community-level. Gap sites received more wind-dispersed seeds than adjacent forest sites in only 20 of 43 locations and in 13 of 20 species, especially those with individuals of high fecundity near gap sites. Of the estimated 105 million wind-dispersed seeds contributing to the seed rain of the 50 ha study plot, only 4.1% were dispersed to the rare gap sites that enhance the establishment and growth of seedlings for many of these species.

Download Full-text

Expected impacts of climate change on tree ferns distribution and diversity patterns in subtropical Atlantic Forest

10.1101/2020.01.16.909614 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

André Luís de Gasper ◽

Guilherme Salgado Grittz ◽

Carlos Henrique Russi ◽

Carlos Eduardo Schwartz ◽

Arthur Vinicius Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Distribution Area ◽

Study Region ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Tree Ferns ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Climatic Scenarios

ABSTRACTTree ferns are common elements in the Atlantic Forest domain, sometimes reaching more than half of total dominance at forest sites. Just as most groups, climate change might impact the distribution and diversity of tree ferns. To investigate the extent of these impacts in the subtropical Atlantic Rainforest, we measured the changes in species distribution, α- and β-diversity between current climate and future climatic scenarios for 2050. Most tree ferns species tend to lose their distribution area. Hence, species richness tends to decrease in the future, especially in the Rainforest sites. In general, β-diversity tend to not change on the regional scale, but some sites can change its relative singularity in composition. Our results show that climate change can impact distribution and α-diversity of tree ferns, but with no trend to cause homogenization in the tree ferns of the study area. Protected Areas (PAs) in our study region manage to withhold more α-diversity than areas without PAs — the same applies to β-diversity. Our study offers a new light into the effects of climate change in tree ferns by integrating the evaluation of its impacts on distribution, α- and β-diversity in all study areas and inside PAs.

Download Full-text

Variation in potential for isoprene emissions among Neotropical forest sites

Global Change Biology ◽

10.1111/j.1529-8817.2003.00760.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 630-650 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

Peter Harley ◽

Pérola Vasconcellos ◽

Lee Vierling ◽

Carlos Cleomir de S. Pinheiro ◽

James Greenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neotropical Forest ◽

Forest Sites

Download Full-text

Random versus Game Trail-Based Camera Trap Placement Strategy for Monitoring Terrestrial Mammal Communities

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0126373 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. e0126373 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Jeremy J. Cusack ◽

Amy J. Dickman ◽

J. Marcus Rowcliffe ◽

Chris Carbone ◽

David W. Macdonald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Camera Trap ◽

Terrestrial Mammal ◽

Mammal Communities ◽

Trap Placement

Download Full-text

Sympatry and habitat associations of sigmodontine rodents in a neotropical forest-savanna interface

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2019-0036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 84 (3) ◽

pp. 227-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert D. Owen ◽

Jeremy V. Camp ◽

Richard Sage ◽

Laura Rodríguez ◽

Vicente J. Martínez Bruyn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Behavioral Response ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

South American ◽

Western Margin ◽

Neotropical Forest ◽

Small Mammal Communities ◽

Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ◽

Mammal Communities

AbstractSmall mammal communities in the Neotropics are composed largely of sigmodontine rodents. However, many questions regarding these communities remain unanswered, especially those pertaining to fine-scale sympatry and habitat selection. To address this, we examined sigmodontine community structure and vegetation in the western margin of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and the southwestern-most extent of the Cerrado (CE) (an extensive South American savanna ecoregion) of Paraguay. Vegetation classifications were derived from satellite imagery combined with maps based on extensive ground-based surveys. The three most abundant species (Akodon montensis, Hylaeamys megacephalus, and Oligoryzomys nigripes) were found most often in microsympatry with conspecifics, and were negatively associated with other species. Akodon montensis was associated with high forest (HF), and H. megacephalus with bamboo understory (BU), whereas O. nigripes did not exhibit a habitat preference. The first two species’ distributions within the landscape were found to be driven primarily by habitat selection, and O. nigripes by a behavioral response (avoidance) to the presence of the other two species. Moreover, habitat influences whether or not a particular species associates with, or avoids, conspecifics or other species.

Download Full-text

Artisanal mining impacts small mammals while chainsaw milling is a more sustainable practice in Ghana

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-020-02089-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Adjei Lawer ◽

Anne-Christine Mupepele ◽

Alexandra-Maria Klein

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Small Mammals ◽

Small Mammal ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Ecological Impacts ◽

Artisanal Mining ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Undisturbed Forest ◽

Small Mammal Communities ◽

Mammal Communities

AbstractLogging and mining are widespread in most West African countries and considering their socio-economic importance, little is known about their ecological impacts. In this study, we investigated the effects of chainsaw milling (logging) and artisanal mining on terrestrial small mammal communities in a tropical forest in Ghana. For this, we compared abundance, diversity measures and community composition of small mammals active at the forest floor in logged, mined and undisturbed forest sites. We found that abundance was higher in logged and undisturbed forest sites than in mined sites. Small mammal species richness, Shannon diversity and Pielou’s evenness did not differ significantly among the three forest disturbance categories. Community composition of small mammals varied between mined and undisturbed sites as well as between mined and logged sites, suggesting differential species responses to altered environments. This may be due to the presence of pits in mined forest sites, hence a reduction in exploitable ground habitat structures for shelter, nesting or food. Overall, our results suggest that artisanal mining has strong impacts on community composition of forest floor small mammals in tropical forests while the effect of logging by chainsaw milling activities is minimal, especially when practiced at low intensity. This effect was moderated by elevation and distance to streams that equally shaped small mammal communities. More research on the effects of specific forms of logging and mining activities on small mammals are urgently needed to better protect species in forests impacted by logging and mining.

Download Full-text

An assessment of the terrestrial mammal communities in forests of Central Panama, using camera-trap surveys

Journal for Nature Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.jnc.2015.04.003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 28-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Ninon F.V. Meyer ◽

Helen J. Esser ◽

Ricardo Moreno ◽

Frank van Langevelde ◽

Yorick Liefting ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Camera Trap ◽

Terrestrial Mammal ◽

Mammal Communities ◽

Central Panama

Download Full-text

Wealth and urbanization shape medium and large terrestrial mammal communities

Global Change Biology ◽

10.1111/gcb.15800 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Seth B. Magle ◽

Mason Fidino ◽

Heather A. Sander ◽

Adam T. Rohnke ◽

Kelli L. Larson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Terrestrial Mammal ◽

Mammal Communities

Download Full-text

Mammal assemblage structure in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s026646740400207x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 133-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 90

Author(s):

Torbjørn Haugaasen ◽

Carlos A. Peres

Keyword(s):

Floristic Diversity ◽

Terra Firme ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Composition And Structure ◽

Faunal Communities ◽

Taxonomic Groups ◽

Density And Biomass ◽

Várzea Forests ◽

Community Dissimilarity ◽

Mammal Communities

Few studies have contrasted faunal communities between flooded and unflooded tropical forests, and such attempts have largely been restricted to a few taxonomic groups. We present the first comparison of the composition and structure of an entire assemblage of mid-sized to large-bodied mammals in adjacent unflooded (terra firme) and flooded (várzea) forests of central-western Amazonia. We extend this comparison to 13 other terra firme and várzea forest sites in order to examine the fundamental dichotomy between mammal communities in these Amazonian environments. We found a consistently impoverished fauna in várzea environments both in terms of primates and other non-volant mammals, although primate density and biomass was substantially higher in várzea than in terra firme. The average Bray–Curtis mammal community dissimilarity between terra firme and várzea forests was 74%, whereas mean dissimilarity within várzea and terra firme samples was 40% and 39%, respectively. The results seem to be largely a function of high habitat heterogeneity and floristic diversity in terra firme and the physical connectivity and proximity of várzeas to adjacent terra firme forests. We suggest that inundated forests should be set aside as a crucial complement to Amazonian reserves dominated by terra firme forests in future biodiversity conservation planning.

Download Full-text

Diversity of small mammals synusias of the open forest sites of the Beskydy and Jeseníky Mts.

Beskydy ◽

10.11118/beskyd201205020121 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 121-134

Author(s):

L. Čepelka ◽

J. Suchomel ◽

L. Purchart ◽

M. Heroldová

Keyword(s):

Small Mammal ◽

Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽

Rodent Species ◽

Microtus Agrestis ◽

Microtus Arvalis ◽

Open Forest ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Small Mammal Communities ◽

Mammal Communities ◽

Muscardinus Avellanarius

Small mammal communities were studies in tree plantations in 2007-2011. The monitoring was conducted at 18 plots in the Jeseníky Mts. and 18 plots in the Beskydy Mts. using snap traps placed in lines. A total of 588 individuals of 10 species were captured in the Jeseníky Mts. and 577 individuals of 13 species in the Beskydy Mts. The Beskydy lot encompassed 5 insectivorous species and 8 rodent species, 4 of them eudominant (Apodemus flavicollis, D=43.33 %; Clethrionomys glareolus, D=21.49 %; Microtus agrestis, D=18.54 %; and Sorex araneus, D=10.05 %), one subdominant (Apodemus sylvaticus, D=2.77 %), two recedent (Microtus arvalis, D=1.39 %; Muscardinus avellanarius, D=1.04 %) and six sub-recedent (Microtus subterraneus and Sorex minutus: D=0.35 % and Apodemus agrarius, Neomys anomalus, Sorex alpinus and Talpa europea: D=0.17 %). The occurrence of 3 insectivorous species and 7 rodent species was confirmed in the Jeseníky Mts. Four species were eudominant (A. flavicollis, D=30.1 %; Clethrionomys glareolus, D=27.04 %; Microtus agrestis, D=24.49 %; and S. araneus, D=12.59 %), one species subdominant (Microtus arvalis; D=3.57 %), five species sub-recedent (A. sylvaticus, D=0.68 %; Crocidura suaveolens and Microtus subterraneus: D=0.34 %, Muscardinus avellanarius and S. minutus: D=0.17 %). According to the employed indexes, the total biodiversity was slightly higher in the Jeseníky Mts. (H=1.53; d=0.76; E=0.66) than in the Beskydy Mts. (H=1.52; d=0.72; E=0.59). The structure of the small mammal communities was strongly affected by the herb layer composition.

Download Full-text