FRAGMENTED BIODIVERSITY: FERNS AND LYCOPHYTES FROM FOREST FRAGMENTS IN JUIZ DE FORA, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

ABSTRACTThe Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened formations in the world. In this context, the urbanization process stands out as one of the major factors causing environmental degradation, mainly due to the loss of native vegetation and habitat destruction. In order to fill this gap, we carried out the inventory of ferns and lycophytes in the forest remnants of the municipality of Juiz de Fora. We analyzed more than 1,353 samplings recorded throughout approximately 150 years, as result we recorded a total of 174 species distributed in 73 genera and 26 families. The most representative families were Pteridaceae with 32 species, followed by Polypodiaceae with 26 and Thelypteridaceae with 20. In addition, we present the historical data on the sampling of ferns and lycophytes, as well as the history of the fragmentation process of the Atlantic Forest remnants in the municipality. Juiz de Fora becomes an interesting model for broader floristic studies, generating subsequent subsidies for conservation actions and preservation of the natural patrimony.

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The context of the size and distance of Atlantic Forest fragments in a small city in Southern Brazil

Acta Scientiarum Biological Sciences ◽

10.4025/actascibiolsci.v41i1.46936 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. e46936

Author(s):

Matheus Bueno Patrício ◽

José Hilário Delconte Ferreira ◽

Edivando Vitor do Couto

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Nearest Neighbor ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Area Ratio ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Small City ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

Significant Area ◽

The Mean

The Atlantic Forest is highly anthropized, this reduce the areas of native vegetation and impacts the biodiversity of the biome. The objective of this study is to analyze forest remnants with native vegetation characteristics using a free GIS. This analysis takes place using landscape metrics and was based on the supervised vectorization of land use in the municipality of California, PR. The area of the vectored polygons was obtained and a classified, and then the calculation was made with the nearest neighbor index, mean distance observed, Patton diversity index and the perimeter/area ratio of forest fragments. The results show that most of the fragments have an area smaller than 1 ha, the fragments with more significant area (<50 ha) represent more than 16% of the native vegetation area. The small fragments are important to maintain the connectivity, since the withdrawal of these increases the mean distance observed and nearest neighbor index. Most of the fragments are elongated and amorphous in accordance with the perimeter/area ratio and the Patton diversity index respectively, this may demonstrate the fragments may be subject to edge effects. Even with these characteristics, these fragments may be part of what is planned in public policy for preservation in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Paraná. Therefore, even small fragments with little core area are important for maintaining biodiversity, especially in a highly anthropogenic landscape

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The erosion of biodiversity and biomass in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-20217-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Renato A. F. de Lima ◽

Alexandre A. Oliveira ◽

Gregory R. Pitta ◽

André L. de Gasper ◽

Alexander C. Vibrans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Forest Biomass ◽

Biodiversity Hotspot ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Biodiversity ◽

Conservation Units ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Tropical Biodiversity ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

Change Mitigation

AbstractTropical forests are being deforested worldwide, and the remaining fragments are suffering from biomass and biodiversity erosion. Quantifying this erosion is challenging because ground data on tropical biodiversity and biomass are often sparse. Here, we use an unprecedented dataset of 1819 field surveys covering the entire Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. We show that 83−85% of the surveys presented losses in forest biomass and tree species richness, functional traits, and conservation value. On average, forest fragments have 25−32% less biomass, 23−31% fewer species, and 33, 36, and 42% fewer individuals of late-successional, large-seeded, and endemic species, respectively. Biodiversity and biomass erosion are lower inside strictly protected conservation units, particularly in large ones. We estimate that biomass erosion across the Atlantic Forest remnants is equivalent to the loss of 55−70 thousand km2 of forests or US$2.3−2.6 billion in carbon credits. These figures have direct implications on mechanisms of climate change mitigation.

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Notes on some Glass Frogs (Anura: Centrolenidae) from Western Ecuador: Taxonomy, natural history and conservation status, with the description of a new species

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2159 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Diego F Cisneros-Heredia ◽

Roy W. McDiarmid

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Natural History ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Undescribed Species ◽

Science Center ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

History Of

Ecuador has the biggest number of amphibian species per unit of area in the world (425 species in 283,560 km2). In the last decade, conservative estimates indicate that at least 26 species of Ecuadorian amphibians have declined or gone extinct. The reasons for this crisis are not clear but have been related to habitat destruction, climate change, and/or diseases, such as chytridiomycosis. The Río Palenque Science Center (RPSC) was among the last remnants of tropical rainforest in the western lowlands of Ecuador. Twenty years ago, investigations done by R. McDiarmid, Ken Miyata and others lead to the discovery of an amazing herpetofauna, including several undescribed species. However, the expansion of the agricultural frontier and transformation of the forest remnants into oil palm and banana plantations destroyed this site. Among the species identified from RPSC were five species of glass frogs (family Centrolenidae): Centrolene prosoblepon, Cochranella spinosa, Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni, Hyalinobatrachium sp. (cf. valerioi), and an undescribed species of the genus Centrolene. This research analyzed the morphological characters and natural history of the five glass frogs of RPSC in order to describe the new species of Centrolene from RPSC, which seems to be critically endangered, if not extinct. The new species is characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) distinctive coloration in life with dark flecks and yellow dorsolateral stripes on a green dorsum; 2) parietal peritoneum white, covering about ½ of the venter, pericardium white, liver and stomach without guanophores, large intestine with guanophores; 3) presence of exposed prepollical spines; 4) humeral spines in males; 5) unique glandular nuptial pad between fingers I and II; and 5) reddish iris.

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Occurrence and conservation of the Vulnerable titi monkey Callicebus melanochir in fragmented landscapes of the Atlantic Forest hotspot

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605319001522 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Rodrigo Costa-Araújo ◽

André Luis Regolin ◽

Felipe Martello ◽

João Pedro Souza-Alves ◽

Tomas Hrbek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forest ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Landscape Connectivity ◽

Vegetation Indices ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Patch Quality ◽

Patch Area ◽

Fragmented Landscapes ◽

Titi Monkey ◽

Conservation Actions

Abstract Tropical forest hotspots have a high diversity of species but have lost > 70% of their original vegetation cover and are characterized by a multitude of small and isolated fragments. Paradoxically, conservation actions in these areas are still mainly focused on protection of large tracts of forests, a strategy now infeasible because of the small area of forest remnants. Here we use the Vulnerable black-handed titi monkey Callicebus melanochir as a model to study the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation on arboreal mammals and to provide insights for science-driven conservation in fragmented landscapes in tropical forest hotspots. We surveyed 38 Atlantic Forest fragments in Bahia State, Brazil and assessed the effects of patch area, quality and visibility, and landscape connectivity on the occurrence of our model species. Patch area was the single best model explaining species occurrence. Nonetheless, patch quality and visibility, and landscape connectivity, positively affect occurrence. In addition to patch area, patch quality, patch visibility and landscape connectivity are useful for predicting the occurrence of arboreal mammals in the fragments of tropical forest hotspots. We encourage the assessment of habitat quality (based on remotely sensed vegetation indices) and habitat visibility (based on digital elevation models) to improve discoverability of arboreal mammal populations and selection of fragments for conservation purposes across fragmented landscapes of tropical forest hotspots. Large remnants of tropical forest hotspots are scarce and therefore we require baseline data to support conservation actions and management in small forest fragments.

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Frugivorous bat (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) community structure and trophic relations in Atlantic Forest fragments

Acta Scientiarum Biological Sciences ◽

10.4025/actascibiolsci.v43i1.52030 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. e52030

Author(s):

Camila de Lima Faustino ◽

Rosa Maria Dias ◽

Silvia Regina Ferreira ◽

Henrique Ortêncio Filho

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Foraging Strategy ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Trophic Relations ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

Food Overlap ◽

Artibeus Lituratus ◽

Bat Diversity

We evaluated the structure of a community of frugivorous bats using composition and abundance patterns, niche amplitude and food overlap of these animals in four Atlantic Forest fragments, each one exposed to different conservation realities. For twelve months, we captured six bat species and found the seeds of 13 species of pioneering plants in 158 fecal samples. The most abundant bat species were Artibeus planirostris (25.4%), Artibeus lituratus (24.1%) and Carollia perspicillata (23.9%). Only one fragment (Fazenda Unida), the most conserved area, exhibited a significantly different composition and abundance of species. We found low trophic niche amplitude values (<0.60), associated to high food overlaps. Our results suggest that bats can adjust their foraging strategy to deal with food availability variations. By favoring pioneering plant species, the fragmentation process noted of the studied areas creates an attractive environment for bats more tolerant to this type of disturbance. The sampled areas represent important secondary forest remnants in southern Brazil that require attention to avoid an even greater loss of bat diversity.

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The Glass Frogs (Centrolenidae) from the "Río Palenque" Science Center, western Ecuador, with the description of a new species

10.7287/peerj.preprints.2159v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Diego F Cisneros-Heredia ◽

Roy W. McDiarmid

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Tropical Rainforest ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Undescribed Species ◽

Science Center ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

History Of ◽

A New Species

Ecuador has the biggest number of amphibian species per unit of area in the world (425 species in 276,840 km2). In the last decade, conservative estimates indicate that at least 26 species of Ecuadorian amphibians have declined or gone extinct. The reasons for this crisis are not clear but have been related to habitat destruction, climate change, and/or fungal disease such as the chytridiomycosis. The Río Palenque Science Center (RPSC) was among the last remnants of tropical rainforest in the western lowlands of Ecuador. Twenty years ago, investigations done by R. McDiarmid and others lead to the discovery of an amazing herpetofauna, including several undescribed species. However, the expansion of the agricultural frontier and transformation of the forest remnants into oil palm and banana plantations destroyed this site. Among the species identified from RPSC were five species of glass frogs (Family Centrolenidae): Centrolene prosoblepon, Cochranella spinosai, Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni, Hyalinobatrachium valerioi, and an undescribed species of the genus Centrolene restricted to the RPSC. This research analyzed the morphological characters and natural history of the five glass frogs of RPSC in order to describe the new species of Centrolene from RPSC, which is critically endangered, if not extinct. The new species is characterized by combination of the following characters: 1) a distinctive coloration with yellow dorsolateral stripes; 2) the presence of an exposed prepollical spine; 3) a humeral spine in the males; and, 4) a unique nuptial pad between the fingers II and I.

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Araceae from Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.497.3.3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 497 (3) ◽

pp. 229-246

Author(s):

ELMAR J. HENTZ JÚNIOR ◽

JANAINE K. HAMMES ◽

MEL C. CAMELO ◽

MARCUS A.N. COELHO ◽

LÍVIA G. TEMPONI

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Field Trips ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

The Family ◽

Data Field ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

Floristic Studies ◽

First Time

In Brazil, the family Araceae has 47 genera, approximately 519 species, 276 of which are endemic, it is characterized by the presence of the spadix associated with a bract, the spathe, and its one of the families with the highest species richness for the Atlantic Forest. This survey aims to inventory the Araceae of the Serra do Brigadeiro State Park (PESB), providing identification keys, descriptions, photos, and illustrations of diagnostic characters of the species, contributing to the Araceae Flora for Minas Gerais. To collect data, field trips were carried out in November 2018, July 2019, and February 2020, and the collected materials were deposited in the UNOP and RB herbaria. A total of 13 species, belonging to three genera, were documented. The genus Anthurium was the most diverse with eight species, followed by Philodendron with four species and Asterostigma with only one species. Through this survey, two species of Anthurium were found (A. atrovinosum and A. brigadeiroense) and recently described. Also, A. comtum, A. gladiifolium, and P. edmundoi are new for this area, and A. fontellanum was collected for the first time since 2004, reinforcing the importance of floristic studies and the conservation of Atlantic Forest remnants, such as the PESB.

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Habitat fragmentation and primate conservation in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605300021128 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 192-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Stephen F. Ferrari ◽

Vânia H. Diego

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Howler Monkey ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Private Land ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Eastern Brazil ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

Privately Owned

Reduced to a tiny fraction of its original area, much of the Atlantic Forest habitat remaining in eastern Brazil is distributed in small, isolated patches on private land. The potential role of these fragments in the conservation of the region's primate fauna is poorly understood. As part of a study of buffy-headed marmosets Callithrix flavicepsin Minas Gerais, forest remnants were visited in order to evaluate this potential. Marmosets were observed in one-third of the sites and may exist in up to 60 per cent of forest patches in the region. A second threatened primate, the brown howler monkeyAlouatta fusca,may occur in one-quarter of the sites visited. The muriquiBrachyteles arachnoideswas not encountered. Overall, the survey suggests that, with appropriate management, privately owned forest fragments may play an increasingly important role in the conservation of the Atlantic Forest's fauna in this and other regions.

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Species richness and relative abundance of birds in natural and anthropogenic fragments of Brazilian Atlantic forest

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ◽

10.1590/s0001-37652004000200036 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 429-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Luiz dos Anjos

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Species Number ◽

Fragmented Landscape ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Forest Remnants

Bird communities were studied in two types of fragmented habitat of Atlantic forest in the State of Paraná, southern Brazil; one consisted of forest fragments that were created as a result of human activities (forest remnants), the other consisted of a set of naturally occurring forest fragments (forest patches). Using quantitative data obtained by the point counts method in 3 forest patches and 3 forest remnants during one year, species richness and relative abundance were compared in those habitats, considering species groups according to their general feeding habits. Insectivores, omnivores, and frugivores presented similar general tendencies in both habitats (decrease of species number with decreasing size and increasing isolation of forest fragment). However, these tendencies were different, when considering the relative abundance data: the trunk insectivores presented the highest value in the smallest patch while the lowest relative abundance was in the smallest remnant. In the naturally fragmented landscape, time permitted that the loss of some species of trunk insectivores be compensated for the increase in abundance of other species. In contrast, the remnants essentially represented newly formed islands that are not yet at equilibrium and where future species losses would make them similar to the patches.

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Conservation, Management, and Rehabilitation

The Ecology, Exploitation and Conservation of River Turtles ◽

10.1093/oso/9780195102291.003.0010 ◽

2004 ◽

Author(s):

Don Moll ◽

Edward O. Moll

Keyword(s):

Nineteenth Century ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Traditional Medicines ◽

Turtle Conservation ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

History Of ◽

Sea Turtle Conservation ◽

Almost All

It is interesting to note in Swettenham’s account that the Malays were already practicing conservation methods for the river terrapins in the nineteenth century. By protecting the beaches from poachers and leaving the third laying to hatch, they maintained moderate recruitment to offset the egg harvest. Similar conservation measures existed on the Amazon River in the nineteenth century to protect the heavily exploited giant South American river turtle, including the protection of females and leaving a third of the eggs laid on the beaches to hatch (Goeldi, 1906 in Parsons, 1962; see also a brief history of exploitation patterns of this species in chapter 5, this volume.). Unfortunately, conservation actions such as these have been the exception rather than the rule in human interactions with river turtles. As emphasized in earlier chapters, populations of most riverine turtle species have seriously declined from nineteenth century levels, but unlike the general declines reported for amphibians, most of the causes are obvious. The burgeoning commercial exploitation for food, traditional medicines, and pets, expanding populations of traditional and introduced predators, and extensive habitat destruction exemplified by such practices as sand mining, damming, channelizing, and pollution of flowing waterways have been key factors. We know far better how we reached this state of decline than how we can reverse the trend. Since the early beginnings of river turtle conservation chronicled by Swettenham and Goeldi, a variety of conservation techniques have been tried world-wide. As there are few proven methods, most actions have been based on what seemed logical or was simply cloned from the methods being used in sea turtle conservation programs. The latter may not have been the best approach for as Pritchard warned in a 1980 paper (Pritchard, 1980b) “sea turtle conservation remains without a theoretical framework, and almost all techniques that have been used remain unproven and riddled with paradox.” Conservation methodology is generally divisible into two divergent approaches, one emphasizing in-situ (on site) techniques and the other ex-situ (off site) techniques. The former aim at protecting animals and their habitat while minimizing intrusion into the life history of the target species.

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