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Published on: July 22, 2018
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High-quality surrounding landscapes mitigate avian extirpations from forest remnants
Anderson S Bueno1, Chase D Mendenhall2, Marina Anciães3
1Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Júlio de Castilhos, RS 98130-000, Brazil.
Summary
Species extirpation rates depend on habitat area, landscape context, and species specialization. Surrounding tree cover significantly reduces bird losses in forest fragments, emphasizing landscape-scale conservation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Biodiversity Research
Background:
- The species-area relationship (SAR) traditionally predicts species loss with habitat area.
- Habitat fragmentation impacts extirpation rates, influenced by landscape matrix and species traits.
- Anthropogenic forest islands offer insights into contemporary habitat fragmentation effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how matrix type and surrounding tree cover affect avian species-area relationships (SARs).
- To compare extirpation rates in forest fragments versus natural islands.
- To assess the role of local landscape features in mitigating species loss.
Main Methods:
- Compiled global data from 50 datasets across 45 studies in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Analyzed 1,954 bird species incidence records from 336 forest islands and 669 forest fragments.
- Examined the influence of matrix type (aquatic/terrestrial) and tree cover on avian SARs.
Main Results:
- Bird extirpation rates were lower in forest fragments than in natural islands, particularly for forest-dependent species.
- Increased tree cover within 300m of forest remnants reduced species loss.
- Small fragments with substantial surrounding tree cover demonstrated high conservation value.
Conclusions:
- Matrix quality and surrounding tree cover are critical for mitigating avian extirpations in habitat fragments.
- Conservation strategies should integrate landscape-level improvements alongside protecting core habitat areas.
- Small-scale conservation efforts focusing on matrix enhancement can significantly bolster biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.
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