Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"The long-term absence of natural fires restructures the small-bodied mammal assemblages across a Protected Area of Brazilian Cerrado","authors":"Marco Rodrigo de Souza ,&nbsp;Manoel dos Santos Filho ,&nbsp;Mariella Butti de Freitas Guilherme ,&nbsp;Juliano A. Bogoni","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural fires are an important ecological process that over millennia have shaped savannahs. Local mammalian assemblage structure is influenced by vegetation diversity and complexity, whereby changes in composition and structure of vegetation due to fire absence lead to the reorganization of small-bodied mammal assemblages. We aimed to evaluate how small-bodied mammal assemblages respond to prolonged (i.e., 17 years) fire absence, given that this issue is crucial to understanding the long-term reassembling of small-bodied mammal assemblages in the Cerrado. In our study at Serra das Araras Ecological Station (SAES), we compared small-mammal assemblages sampled in 2016–2017 — during a prolonged period without fire — with those from a study conducted in 1999–2000, when fires had been occurring naturally. We used descriptive statistics, rarefaction to assess species richness, and Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) with SIMPROF for site-specific analysis of mammal composition between both periods. Our major result showed clearly that the absence of natural fires during 2001–2016 in the SAES reassembled the small-bodied mammal fauna compared to the period with constant fires (1995–2000). Our findings indicate that most species are common to both forest and savannah environments, reflecting the homogenization of habitats due to the absence of natural fires. Based on our study, we can conclude that the absence of fire has partially reassembled the small-bodied mammal assemblages across an important protected area of Brazilian Cerrado. Considering that fire is a crucial factor for the dynamics of the Cerrado — which has evolved historically under fire-driven processes — further technical discussions about fire management are needed given its crucial role in maintaining (or erasing) aspects of local diversity, especially with high stocks of dry biomass. In terms of conservation, the evidence so far showed that big-fires are conclusively disastrous, but the absence of natural fires in native areas of Cerrado apparently also harmed the Cerrado-prone biotas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 165-173"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"When waters rise: Biodiversity potentially affected on a major flooding in Southern Brazil","authors":"Daniela Oliveira de Lima ,&nbsp;Fabrício Luiz Skupien ,&nbsp;Alonso Moscon ,&nbsp;Marcelo de Moraes Weber","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Southern South America is projected to experience increased heavy rainfall due to global climate change. These extremes events should be more common and affect negatively both human well-being and biodiversity. Here, we studied the effects of the massive flooding in May 2024 on biodiversity. We showed that 4,300 km² of native ecosystems were inundated, including 1,200 km² of forests and 1,020 km² of grasslands. Aquatic ecosystems, wetlands, and costal vegetation on sandy soils were also affected. Flooding affected 825 km² of an insufficiently Protected Area (PA) network, impacting 17% of areas designated for sustainable use and 26% of strictly PAs. Similarly, 1,440 km² of Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) were flooded, with 67% already lacking native vegetation. The flooding potentially affected 747 tetrapod species, including 84 threatened species, with amphibians and reptiles exhibiting the highest percentage of distribution affected. Threatened species were disproportionately affected by the flooding, especially amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Therefore, restoration efforts, especially in PAs and PPAs, are critical to safeguard ecosystems and human communities in a world of rapid changes. Tetrapod species with reduced mobility, small-ranged species and threatened species should also be prioritized.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 183-190"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Açaí palm management and the multidimensional erosion of beta diversity across tree assemblages in the Amazon estuarine forest","authors":"Madson Antonio Benjamin Freitas ,&nbsp;Arleu Barbosa Viana-Junior ,&nbsp;Maria Fabíola Barros ,&nbsp;José Leonardo Lima Magalhães ,&nbsp;Elâine Maria dos Santos Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Ima Célia Guimarães Vieira ,&nbsp;Marcelo Tabarelli","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Non-timber forest products persist as an opportunity to conciliate tropical forest integrity and better life for traditional communities, but sustainability must be continuously evaluated. This paper examines diversity-related impacts from increments on the açaí palm density for fruit production (i.e., açaí intensification) on the tree assemblages of the Amazon estuarine forest. By examining 43 forest stands covering 20–1260 açaí clump.ha⁻¹, we documented a decline on taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional beta diversity, which resulted from species loss along the intensification gradient. Such an impoverished community assembly resulted from the fact that forest stands with &lt;400 açaí clump.ha⁻¹ exhibited higher scores of species accumulation or beta diversity, while no species responded positively to increments on açaí clump density and 17 species did negatively. The community-level threshold for species loss was 180 clump.ha⁻¹, and after the 400-clumps threshold (as posed by current regulation) almost half of the tree species was already lost. Our results suggest that the açaí intensification represents a driver of tree species assembly and a tangible threat for integrity of the Amazon estuarine forest by promoting a multidimensional community impoverishment at regional scale. Threat magnitude depends on which extension managed, high-density açaí stands replace forest patches supporting açaí natural densities. The açaí case demonstrated how fragile or ephemeral the sustainable production of non-timber forest products can be, since markets pose a demand beyond the threshold represented by the yields supported by natural populations, while it offers additional revenue from traditional communities coming from such a “industrial production and harvesting”.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 174-182"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climatic driver of chytrid prevalence in the Critically Endangered Admirable Redbelly Toad","authors":"Mariana Retuci Pontes ,&nbsp;Michelle Abadie ,&nbsp;Luisa P. Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Guilherme Augusto-Alves ,&nbsp;Márcio Borges-Martins ,&nbsp;C. Guilherme Becker ,&nbsp;Luís Felipe Toledo","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global warming is driving shifts in rainfall and temperature patterns, and projections indicate an increase in frequency and intensity of climate anomalies. These changes influence wildlife disease dynamics, affecting pathogen development, host behavior, physiology, and disease susceptibility. Understanding the intricate interplay between climatic anomalies and emerging pathogens in amphibians is essential to inform conservation efforts targeted towards this highly threatened vertebrate group. We therefore investigated the dynamics of the waterborne chytrid fungus <em>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</em> (<em>Bd</em>) in the microendemic and Critically Endangered amphibian <em>Melanophryniscus admirabilis</em> under climatic anomalies and seasonal climatic fluctuations. Additionally, considering the sublethal effects of <em>Bd</em> in our focal host species, we tested whether <em>Bd</em> infection explains the variation in host body condition. We found that <em>Bd</em> was consistently infecting Admirable Redbelly Toad population for more than three years. Our results point to links between <em>Bd</em> prevalence and seasonal temperatures, indicating that temperature plays a crucial role in <em>Bd</em> transmission among toads. However, we failed to find an effect of <em>Bd</em> infection on host body condition. The insights gained from this study can improve conservation efforts and help elucidate the links between climatic factors and chytrid infection, informing management plans for threatened amphibian populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 208-213"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecosystem functional meltdown through biological annihilation in the world’s ecoregions","authors":"José F. González-Maya ,&nbsp;I. Mauricio Vela-Vargas ,&nbsp;Gerardo Ceballos","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.05.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystem resilience and functioning depends largely on species’ diversity and ecological roles. Functional diversity (FD) is a measure of the diversity of roles within ecosystems. The massive population and species extinction crisis, namely biological annihilation, is occurring around the World. Here we assessed the influence of mammals at risk, according to IUCN, on FD (trait richness) across ecoregions globally. Overall global models showed significant influence of mammals at risk over FD, and this influence was greater at regional scale. At least 65% of total FD was explained by threatened species in selected ecoregions in Asia, Europe, America and to a lesser extent in others. Since the ecoregion FD is disproportionally influenced by species at risk of disappearing in the short term, ecosystems supporting those species are more vulnerable to ecological meltdown through loss of its functional and resilience capacity; implications for humanity are unprecedented and ecological meltdown will undoubtedly impact to the globe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 157-164"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Positive effects of an Atlantic Forest program of payment for ecosystem services on native vegetation and pasture quality","authors":"Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva ,&nbsp;Felipe Altivo ,&nbsp;James D.A. Millington ,&nbsp;Yue Dou ,&nbsp;Andrés Viña ,&nbsp;Milton Cezar Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Simone Aparecida Vieira ,&nbsp;Jianguo Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent decades, Brazil has implemented several payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs, including the <em>Projeto Conexão Mata Atlântica</em> (PCMA), a partnership between the Brazilian federal government, the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro and the Global Environmental Facility. The PCMA was co-designed by state organizations with many stakeholders, including landowners. The innovative polycentric approach of the program prompted exploration of different schemes, including one to conserve and restore natural vegetation cover (‘protection scheme’) and another to enhance the multi-functionality of individual properties with focus on pasture quality (‘multiple-use scheme’). Using a propensity score matching approach, we assessed the PCMA’s effects on natural vegetation cover and pasture quality of private rural properties that did and did not participate in this PES program between 2017 and 2022. Properties participating in the ‘protection scheme’ exhibited an average ‘additional’ increase in natural vegetation cover of 1 ha compared to non-participants. Properties participating in the ‘multiple-use scheme’ exhibited 7–10% less pasture quality degradation. These results suggest that the PCMA not have only contributed to maintaining and even increasing ecosystem services (through increases in natural vegetation), but also potentially creating economic benefits by enhancing pasture quality which indirectly improves soil conservation and water quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 191-199"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Legally protected, practically overlooked: The neglect of diffuse seeps in the conservation of Cerrado non-floodplain wetlands","authors":"Alessandra Bassani ,&nbsp;Natashi A.L. Pilon ,&nbsp;Franciele Parreira Peixoto ,&nbsp;Caio R.C. Mattos ,&nbsp;Fernando A.O. Silveira ,&nbsp;Luciano Soares da Cunha ,&nbsp;Rafael S. Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Brazil stands out globally for legally protecting seeps (olhos d’água, in Portuguese) — defined as natural outcrops of the water table, even if intermittent — as Permanent Preservation Areas. However, this protection does not extend to non-floodplain wetlands, such as campos úmidos and campos de murundus, which are formed by diffuse seeps and play critical roles in regulating the hydrological cycle and storing carbon. These ecosystems are frequently excluded from conservation efforts due to the lack of clear terminology connecting scientific understanding with legal definitions. In the Cerrado, where diffuse seeps are essential for water security, this disconnect hinders effective protection. Drawing on Brazil’s existing legal framework, we argue that recognizing non-floodplain wetlands as seep-formed ecosystems would strengthen conservation and enforcement. We urge scientists, landowners, environmental consultants and government agencies to adopt the term “seeps” when describing these wetlands, ensuring they are recognized as Permanent Preservation Areas under current legislation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 151-156"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wildfires and their toll on Brazil: Who's counting the cost?","authors":"Ernandes Sobreira ,&nbsp;Wilkinson Lopes Lázaro ,&nbsp;Breno Dias Vitorino ,&nbsp;Angélica Vilas Boas da Frota ,&nbsp;Carlos Eduardo Frickmann Young ,&nbsp;Derick Victor de Souza Campos ,&nbsp;Cleverson Ricardo Soares Viana ,&nbsp;Edvagner de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Luis López-Ramirez ,&nbsp;Acisa Raimunda de Souza ,&nbsp;Dionei José da Silva ,&nbsp;Eliane Ignotti ,&nbsp;Sandra Hacon ,&nbsp;Áurea Regina Alves Ignácio ,&nbsp;Claumir César Muniz ,&nbsp;Manoel dos Santos Filho ,&nbsp;Juliano A. Bogoni","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rampant wildfires in Brazil are imposing severe biodiversity declines, incrementing public health problems, and negatively affecting the nationwide economy. Influenced by political interests, wildfires have far-reaching impacts on small-scale farming, essential services, and ecosystems. Hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular issues increased due to smoke exposure, overburdening the health system. Moreover, wildfires contribute to long-term biodiversity loss, degrading natural habitats and disrupting ecological functions and ecosystem services. We probe a critical question: What are the costs of Brazil's wildfires? We foster a discussion of a comprehensive approach to assessing the financial toll across sectors of the national economy, guiding data-driven strategies for mitigation and environmental restoration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 214-217"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heterogeneity in mesocarnivore occupancy highlights the complexity of biodiversity changes in a threatened ecoregion","authors":"Marília Marques ,&nbsp;Marcelo Magioli ,&nbsp;Pedro Monterroso ,&nbsp;Gonçalo Curveira-Santos ,&nbsp;Camila Righetto Cassano","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mesocarnivores are sensitive to global environmental changes, thereby serving as valuable sentinel species for assessing the ecological effects of anthropogenic disturbances. In human-modified landscapes, understanding mesocarnivore community structure and species habitat use is useful for guiding conservation strategies and preserving key ecosystem functions and services. Using camera-trap data, we evaluated the occupancy and detection probabilities of mesocarnivore assemblages in two protected areas of the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil: RPPN Estação Veracel (sustainable-use) and Pau Brasil National Park (strictly protected). Ten mesocarnivore species were recorded, with higher species richness and occupancy rates in the strictly protected area. Occupancy and detection probabilities varied substantially among species and over time, with no strong responses to site-scale covariates. <em>Nasua nasua</em> was favored in sites with larger tree basal area, while <em>Cerdocyon thous</em> avoided these sites. <em>Didelphis aurita</em> was more common in sites distant from roads, contrasting with <em>C. thous.</em> All species, particularly <em>Leopardus</em> sp. and <em>N. nasua,</em> tended to use areas near reserve boundaries. Despite the high species diversity, low average occupancy suggests barriers limiting population growth, with some species benefiting from anthropogenic disturbance, underscoring the complexity of mesocarnivore roles in tropical ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 200-207"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forest fragmentation in the Brazilian Amazon: Trends and conservation strategies","authors":"Pedro Trejo ,&nbsp;Claudia Azevedo-Ramos ,&nbsp;Felipe Lenti","doi":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pecon.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tropical forests have experienced increasing fragmentation. The trajectory of forest fragmentation (sequence, permanence, and location) offers valuable insights for shaping environmental strategies. We examined fragmentation trends and metrics in the Brazilian Amazon over a 34-year period, encompassing its macroregions: Western (WA), Central (CA), and Eastern Amazon (EA). The findings reveal an ongoing fragmentation, characterized by an increase in fragment numbers (WA: +37%, from 49,871 to 68,067 fragments; CA: +82%, 72,463–132,051 fragments; EA: +178%, 164,249–456,399 fragments) and a reduction in mean fragment size (WA: −28%, from 2825.7–2036.8 ha; CA: −48%, 1747.4–905.4 ha; EA: −75%, 651.8–162.3 ha), particularly in the east. Transitions occurred across few forest classes, typically, from forest Core to connecting forest, and eventually to anthropogenic areas. The Core class's permanence was longest in WA (32 years), while anthropogenic areas had the highest permanence in EA (7.6 years) and the lowest in WA (&lt;1 year). Intermediate fragmentation classes were more prevalent in EA, which also demonstrated higher entropy. CA requires immediate attention actions from decision-makers to prevent the intense fragmentation shown in EA. We suggested strategies to mitigate Amazon fragmentation, emphasizing integrated metrics and region-specific approaches for enhanced connectivity and reduced forest loss.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56034,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation","volume":"23 2","pages":"Pages 104-109"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144243406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}