scholarly journals Life on the edge: behavioural and physiological responses of Verreaux's sifakas (<i>Propithecus verreauxi</i>) to forest edges

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Klara Dinter ◽  
Michael Heistermann ◽  
Peter M. Kappeler ◽  
Claudia Fichtel
Keyword(s):  
Edge Effects ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Activity Budgets ◽  
Propithecus Verreauxi ◽  
Edge Habitat ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Edge Site

Abstract. Forest edges change micro-environmental conditions, thereby affecting the ecology of many forest-dwelling species. Understanding such edge effects is particularly important for Malagasy primates because many of them live in highly fragmented forests today. The aim of our study was to assess the influence of forest edge effects on activity budgets, feeding ecology, and stress hormone output (measured as faecal glucocorticoid metabolite – fGCM – levels) in wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), a group living, arboreal lemur. We observed five habituated groups: three living in the forest interior and two at an established forest edge. There was no difference in average daily temperatures between edge and interior habitats; however, within the edge site, the average daily temperature incrementally increased over 450 m from the forest edge towards the interior forest of the edge habitat, and the population density was lower at the edge site. Activity budgets differed between groups living in the two microhabitats, with individuals living near the edge spending more time travelling and less time feeding. Groups living near the edge also tended to have smaller home ranges and core areas than groups in the forest interior. In addition, edge groups had elevated average fGCM concentrations, and birth rates were lower for females living in the edge habitat. Combined with lower levels of fruit consumption at the edge, these results suggest that nutritional stress might be a limiting factor for Verreaux's sifakas when living near a forest edge. Hence, Verreaux's sifakas appear to be sensitive to microhabitat characteristics linked to forest edges; a result with implications for the conservation of this critically endangered lemurid species.

Intraspecific and interspecific variation in use of forest-edge habitat by snakes

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 1440-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo L.F. Carfagno ◽  
Patrick J. Weatherhead
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Elaphe Obsoleta ◽  
Edge Habitat ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Underlying Causes

Variation in use of edge habitat among populations and species of snakes should reflect underlying causes (e.g., thermal ecology, prey availability) and consequences (e.g., predation on birds' nests) of habitat selection. We compared the habitat use of ratsnakes, Elaphe obsoleta (Say in James, 1823), in Illinois and Ontario and compared habitat use by ratsnakes and racers, Coluber constrictor (L., 1758), in Illinois. Ratsnakes in Illinois used upland forest more and forest edges less than ratsnakes in Ontario. Female ratsnakes in Illinois used edges less than males, regardless of their reproductive status. Relative to ratsnakes, racers preferred forest edges and avoided forest interior. Female racers used edges more than males, especially while gravid. These results, and most of the seasonal patterns in habitat use, were broadly consistent with variation expected from differences in thermoregulatory needs, although other factors potentially influencing habitat use cannot be ruled out. Although it has been proposed that some forest fragmentation is likely to be beneficial for ratsnakes in Canada, such fragmentation may be detrimental to ratsnakes in Illinois but beneficial to racers. Thus, relative to forest-interior species, edge-nesting birds should be more vulnerable to predation by ratsnakes in Ontario, and fragmentation should increase the vulnerability of forest birds to nest predation by racers.

scholarly journals Studies of Ant-Following Birds North of the Eastern Amazon

1972 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshika Oniki ◽  
Edwin O. Willis
Keyword(s):  
Forest Edge ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Army Ants ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Second Growth

Abstract Birds that prey on arthropods flushed by army ants north of the eastern Amazon were studied at Serra do Navio and Reserva Ducke (Brazil) and at Nappi Creek and Bartica (Guyana). Regular ant-followers are two medium-sized antbirds (Percnostola rufifrons and Gymnopithys rufigula) and two smaller ones (Pithys albifrons and Hylophylax poecilonota), plus five woodcreepers of differing sizes (from very large Hylexetastes perrotti through Dendrocolaptes picumnus, D. certhia, and Dendrocincla merula to medium-sized Dendrocincla fuliginosa). Four other regular ant-followers occur in the region but were not found at the study areas. Forty-five species of casual or nonprofessional ant-followers, including 16 antbirds, 5 woodcreepers, and 5 manakins, also were recorded. Percnostola rufifrons tends to be at the forest edge or in second growth. Pithys albifrons works around Gymnopithys rufigula, Hylophylax poecilonota peripheral to both, in the forest interior. The large Dendrocolaptes picumnus and medium-large Dendrocincla merula often capture prey near the ground, like antbirds. Unlike antbirds, which use vertical or horizontal slender perches, the woodcreepers use thick vertical perches. Dendrocolaptes certhia and Dendrocincla fuliginosa also tend to capture prey high over the ground-foraging antbirds. The woodcreepers tend to forage lower at midday. Hylexetastes perrotti is rare, and overlaps strongly with D. picumnus. There is fairly large overlap among the 9 professional ant-followers, and large ones chase away smaller ones. Nonprofessional birds tend to forage briefly or peripherally when or slightly after the professional species are active. They also forage above the antbirds and below or above the woodcreepers, and concentrate at forest edges or in second growth. The guild of ant-following birds in this region differs fairly widely from guilds in Panamá and at Belém, Brazil; the absence of large antbirds and the predominance of large woodcreepers north of the Amazon are the major differences.

Edge effects on the distribution and abundance of birds in a southern Victorian forest

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lainie Berry
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Open Country ◽  
Habitat Edge ◽  
Malurus Cyaneus ◽  
Grey Shrike

An important consequence of habitat fragmentation for wildlife communities is the effect of an increase in the ratio of habitat edge to interior. This study compares the bird communities at forest/farmland edges and in forest interior at Bunyip State Park, Victoria. Overall, there was a significantly higher number of bird species and individuals in forest edge than in forest interior sites. The greater diversity of species at edge sites appeared to be due to an increase in forest-edge specialists, as opposed to an influx of open-country species. Four bird species: the white-throated treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaeus), the superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus), the grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica) and the grey fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) were significantly more abundant in edge sites. There were no species that were significantly more abundant in interior sites. Differences between the bird communities in edge and interior sites were attributed to increased foraging opportunities in the open country adjacent to forest edges.

Predation rates of artificial nests in the edge and interior of a southern Victorian forest

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lainie Berry
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Avian Predators ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Grey Shrike ◽  
Predation Rates

Predation rates of nests at human-induced habitat edges may be greater than in forest interior due to differences in predator assemblages and predator activity. I compared the predation rates on 192 artificial nests containing plasticine eggs placed in forest edge and interior sites at Bunyip State Park, Victoria. The nest-predation rates at the forest edge sites were significantly greater (mean = 52–58%) than that at the forest interior sites (mean = 30–39%). The relative rates of predation by birds compared with mammals were significantly greater at forest edge sites (mean = 78–94%) than at forest interior sites (mean = 36–67%). Higher rates of nest predation at forest edges appeared to be due to greater densities of avian predators such as the grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica), and/or lower abundances of small mammals. However, biases towards certain predator types may mask real, or create false, patterns in predation rates of artificial nests. A better understanding of how predators respond to artificial nests compared with natural nests is required. Until then, results of predation studies that use artificial nests should be interpreted with caution.

scholarly journals Edge effects on biomass, growth, and tree diversity of a degraded peatland in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 272-278
Author(s):  
DWI ASTIANI ◽  
LISA M. CURRAN ◽  
MUJIMAN MUJIMAN ◽  
DESSY RATNASARI ◽  
RUSPITA SALIM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Edge Effects ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Tree Diversity ◽  
Biomass Growth ◽  
West Kalimantan ◽  
Abiotic Conditions ◽  
Edge Site

Astiani D, Curran LM, Mujiman, Ratnasari D, Salim R, Lisnawaty N. 2018. Edge effects on biomass, growth, and tree diversity of a degraded peatland in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 272-278. Tropical forested peatlands in Indonesia are threatened by logging and clearing which reduce their ecosystem functions and degrade the environment. Land use change activities disturbed intact forests, resulted in landscape fragmentation. Scattered forest matrices resulted in forest edge areas, which will considerably affect the forest biotic and abiotic conditions, as well as forest tree dynamics within the edge sites. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of forest edge on perimeter of the forest fragment on the forest biomass stock, growth, tree basal area as well as species composition, richness and abundance in a degraded peatland forest in West Kalimantan. A twelve-ha forest was divided into 35 plots in the interior forest and 13 at the forest edge; each plot was 50 m by 50 m in size based on their abiotic conditions such as light and temperatures. Leaf Area Index (LAI) was measured in each plot of both forest edge and interior sites using Licor-2100. The results indicated that even though the biomass levels maintained relatively moderate to high levels on both sites, forest edge significantly lowered forest biomass by 32%, reduced 23-25% of tree-biomass growth per unit area for both tree diameter of 10-20 cm and >20 cm. There was a shift of tree species composition, 76 species were found on both sites, 24 species were not found in edge site, but present in the interior site and 10 species were found only in edge site. Peatland forest matrix created forest edges that are lowering peatland forest roles in sequestering carbon per unit area and reducing species diversity. Peatland forest restoration should be conducted to reduce forest matrices and to lower the edge effects.

scholarly journals Evidence for Edge Effects on Multiple Levels in Tallgrass Prairie

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maiken Winter ◽  
Douglas H. Johnson ◽  
John Faaborg
Keyword(s):  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Edge Effects ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Nest Survival ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Spiza Americana ◽  
Ammodramus Henslowii

Abstract We tested how edges affect nest survival and predator distribution in a native tallgrass prairie system in southwestern Missouri using artificial nests, natural nests of Dickcissels (Spiza americana) and Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii), and mammal track stations. Survival of artificial nests was lower within 30 m of forest edge. Nesting success of Dickcissels and Henslow's Sparrows was lower within 50 m to a shrubby edge than at greater distances, whereas fates of nests were not related to distances to roads, agricultural fields, or forests. Evidence from clay eggs placed in artificial nests indicated that mid-sized carnivores were the major predators within 30 m of forest edges. Furthermore, mid-sized carnivores visited track stations most frequently within 50 m of forest edges. Because proximity of woody habitat explained more variation in nest survival and mammal activity than did fragment size, it appears that edge effects were more pronounced than area effects. Edge effects appeared to be caused mainly by greater exposure of nests to mid-sized carnivores. We argue that, based on edge avoidance behavior, “grassland-interior” species such as the Henslow's Sparrow respond to edge effects mainly by a decrease in density, whereas habitat generalists such as the Dickcissel are affected mainly by a decrease in nesting success.

scholarly journals Bird species that occupy river edge in continuous forest tend to be less sensitive to forest fragmentation

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-186
Author(s):  
Barbara Rocha Arakaki Lindsey ◽  
Gabriela Menezes Bochio ◽  
Luiz dos Anjos
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fragmentation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Small Stream ◽  
Edge Habitat ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractAlong a distance gradient from a given river, two types of habitat can be recognized: natural river edge and forest interior, each one with its own vegetation characteristics and dynamics. In a continuous area of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we investigated (1) if bird communities are different between a riverbank of a small stream and an inland forest habitat; (2) if the species of the river edge habitat are the ones that persist in the most in forest fragments after deforestation of a continuous forest; (3) if the river edge habitat species are those that are less sensitive to forest fragmentation. It is expected that there are differences in the bird communities and the occupancy of some species between the two habitats. We allocated 16 sampling points in each of the habitats and sampled the birds by point counts with a short radius of 30 m. Results suggest that there is a significant difference between the composition of the bird communities of the river edge and forest interior habitats, although the species richness is similar. Six species were more likely to occupy the river edge and 14 species had a greater probability of occupancy in the forest interior. Species associated with the river edge habitat (15 species) tend not to be sensitive to forest fragmentation (12 species). In this study, we demonstrated that river-border species of continuous forest areas form a significant part of the bird communities that persist in small forest fragments, with intense edge effect. This shows that not all forest edge species are the result of the colonization from open areas. Congruently, species that occupy the most distant areas from the river vegetation in a continuous forest are those more sensitive to forest fragmentation.

Mantled Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in a Costa Rican Forest Fragment Do Not Modify Activity Budgets or Spatial Cohesion in Response to Anthropogenic Edges

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Amy L. Schreier ◽  
Laura M. Bolt ◽  
Dorian G. Russell ◽  
Taylor S. Readyhough ◽  
Zachary S. Jacobson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Edge Effects ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Alouatta Palliata ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Mantled Howler ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Spatial Cohesion ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Forest fragmentation increases forest edge relative to forest interior, with lower vegetation quality common for primates in edge zones. Because most primates live in human-modified tropical forests within 1 km of their edges, it is critical to understand how primates cope with edge effects. Few studies have investigated how primates inhabiting a fragment alter their behaviour across forest edge and interior zones. Here we investigate how anthropogenic edges affect the activity and spatial cohesion of mantled howler monkeys (<i>Alouatta palliata</i>) at the La Suerte Biological Research Station (LSBRS), a Costa Rican forest fragment. We predicted the monkeys would spend greater proportions of their activity budget feeding and resting and a lower proportion travelling in edge compared to forest interior to compensate for lower resource availability in the edge. We also predicted that spatial cohesion would be lower in the edge to mitigate feeding competition. We collected data on activity and spatial cohesion (nearest neighbour distance; number of individuals within 5 m) in forest edge and interior zones via instantaneous sampling of focal animals. Contrary to predictions, the monkeys spent equal proportions of time feeding, resting and travelling in forest edge and interior. Similarly, there were no biologically meaningful differences in the number of individuals or the distance between nearest neighbours in the edge (1.0 individuals; 1.56 m) versus the interior (0.8 individuals; 1.73 m). Our results indicate that <i>A. palliata</i> at LSBRS do not adjust their activity or spatial cohesion patterns in response to anthropogenic edge effects, suggesting that the monkeys here exhibit less behavioural flexibility than <i>A. palliata</i> at some other sites. To develop effective primate conservation plans, it is therefore crucial to study primate species’ responses to fragmentation across their geographic range.

scholarly journals Introduction and Spread of the Invasive Alien Species Ageratina altissima in a Disturbed Forest Ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6152
Author(s):  
Eunyoung Kim ◽  
Jaeyong Choi ◽  
Wonkyong Song
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Canopy Area

Invasive alien species (IAS) not only displace nearby indigenous plants and lead to habitat simplification but also cause severe economic damage by invading arable lands. IAS invasion processes involve external forces such as species characteristics, IAS assemblage traits, environmental conditions, and inter-species interactions. In this study, we analyzed the invasion processes associated with the introduction and spread of Ageratina altissima, a representative invasive plant species in South Korea. We investigated 197 vegetation quadrats (2 × 20 m) in regions bordering 47 forests in southern Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A total of 23 environmental variables were considered, which encompassed vegetation, topography, land use, and landscape ecology indices. The model was divided into an edge and an interior model and analyzed using logistic regression and a decision tree (DT) model. The occurrence of Ageratina altissima was confirmed in 61 sites out of a total of 197. According to our analysis, Ageratina altissima easily invaded forest edges with low density. The likelihood of its occurrence increased with lower elevation and gentler slope. In contrast, the spread of Ageratina altissima in the forest interior, especially based on seed spread and permeability, was favored by a lower elevation and gentler slopes. The analysis of Ageratina altissima settlement processes in forest edges coupled with the DT model demonstrated that land characteristics, such as the proximity to urbanized areas and the number of shrub and tree species, play a pivotal role in IAS settlement. In the forest interior, Ageratina altissima did not occur in 68 of the 71 sites where the soil drainage was under 2.5%, and it was confirmed that the tree canopy area had a significant impact on forest spread. Based on these results, it can be assumed that Ageratina altissima has spread in South Korean forests in much the same way as other naturalized species. Therefore, vegetation management strategies for naturalized species should be developed in parallel with land use management policy in regions surrounding forest edges to successfully manage and control Ageratina altissima invasion.

scholarly journals Urbanization Impacts on Mammals across Urban-Forest Edges and a Predictive Model of Edge Effects

PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e97036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nélida R. Villaseñor ◽  
Don A. Driscoll ◽  
Martín A. H. Escobar ◽  
Philip Gibbons ◽  
David B. Lindenmayer
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Model ◽  
Edge Effects ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Forest Edges
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