Fernando Igor de Godoy, Rogério Hartung Toppa, Marcos Roberto Martines, Rodrigo Bernardo, Augusto João Piratelli
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Human population growth has significantly altered tropical forests, resulting in negative environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Forest-dependent species face increasing challenges, including habitat loss, fragmentation and severe landscape changes, often resulting in population declines and local extinction. In this study, we investigate the effects of anthropogenic landscape changes—specifically fragmentation and native vegetation cover on—bird populations in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. We hypothesise that (1) sites with pristine native vegetation will exhibit higher thresholds for local extinction compared to disturbed areas, even when large habitat fragments are present; (2) bird responses will vary based on land use patterns, landscape structure and forest dependence; and (3) many species will display distinct local sensitivity to environmental disturbances, diverging from global patterns reported in the literature. We collected data from 100 sites between 2012 and 2019, ensuring an even distribution across 10 classes of native vegetation. We assessed three bird attributes within a 1-km radius buffer around each site, using six landscape metrics. We recorded a total of 238 bird species, with 36 identified as highly sensitive. Our findings reveal that the most pristine areas support bird taxa that have already disappeared locally in other regions. Semi-dependent forest species appeared to benefit from reduced native vegetation cover. Moreover, our data unveiled unique local patterns of species sensitivity to environmental change. To safeguard Atlantic Forest birds in northeastern Brazil, we emphasise the importance of maintaining a minimum threshold of 60% native vegetation within the landscape, preserving fragments larger than 100 ha.
期刊介绍:
Austral Ecology is the premier journal for basic and applied ecology in the Southern Hemisphere. As the official Journal of The Ecological Society of Australia (ESA), Austral Ecology addresses the commonality between ecosystems in Australia and many parts of southern Africa, South America, New Zealand and Oceania. For example many species in the unique biotas of these regions share common Gondwana ancestors. ESA''s aim is to publish innovative research to encourage the sharing of information and experiences that enrich the understanding of the ecology of the Southern Hemisphere.
Austral Ecology involves an editorial board with representatives from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina. These representatives provide expert opinions, access to qualified reviewers and act as a focus for attracting a wide range of contributions from countries across the region.
Austral Ecology publishes original papers describing experimental, observational or theoretical studies on terrestrial, marine or freshwater systems, which are considered without taxonomic bias. Special thematic issues are published regularly, including symposia on the ecology of estuaries and soft sediment habitats, freshwater systems and coral reef fish.