Can an exotic tree (Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) influence the non-volant small mammals assemblage in a protected area of Atlantic Forest?

Rayanne Gama-Matos,Juliane Pereira-Ribeiro,Walker Dantas Isidoro Grisóstomo,Natália Vagmaker,Átilla Colombo Ferreguetti,Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha,Helena Godoy Bergallo,Alex Júnior Boazi,Giulia Mekiassen Do Nascimento

doi:10.1017/s026646742000019x

Abstract

AbstractJackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is an exotic invasive plant species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest that causes changes in the environment through the release of allelopathic substances and has high fruit production. We aimed to understand the potential effects of the jackfruit on the non-volant small mammal assemblage in an area protected by law, in the municipality of Cariacica – Espírito Santo, south-eastern Brazil. We sampled the small mammals assemblage using live traps in 18 sites, eight with jackfruit and 10 without. We ordinated the assemblage and tested possible differences in species richness and abundance according to the jackfruit density. We recorded 31 species of non-volant small mammals, with 13 species endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Jackfruit species can affect both positively and negatively the studied assemblage of non-volant small mammals. For species with a frugivory habit, jackfruit has a positive effect favouring these species. On the other hand, for insectivorous species, jackfruit represents an impact inhibiting the presence of these species in an area with high jackfruit density. The results presented are the first step in understanding the effect of this invasive species on a small mammals assemblage and initiating a monitoring of these species in areas affected by jackfruits. Furthermore, management of jackfruits in this protected area is required.

Highlights

Anthropogenic introduction of exotic plants around the world has modified habitats and ecosystems (Essl et al 2011, Liebhold et al 2017)
We aimed to answer the following questions: (1) What is the difference between the composition of non-volant small mammals among the studied areas? (2) Is there a difference in the species richness between areas with and without jackfruits? and (3) Is the abundance of non-volant small mammal species influenced by the jackfruit density? We expected to find a difference in the mammalian assemblage composition between the areas with and without jackfruit, and areas with higher jackfruit density will present a higher abundance of frugivorous mammals, while areas without jackfruit will present higher species richness
We conducted the study at the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve (DBBR), located in the rural area of the municipality of Cariacica, Espírito Santo state, south-eastern Brazil, between the coordinates 20o18 031 0 0S and 40o20 026 0 0W (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Anthropogenic introduction of exotic plants around the world has modified habitats and ecosystems (Essl et al 2011, Liebhold et al 2017). The introduction of a non-native species can cause direct and indirect impacts, altering the natural characteristics of the ecosystem (Sousa et al 2017, Jeschke et al 2014, Richardson & Rejmanek 2011). The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is one of the most common exotic plant species in Brazil (Freitas et al 2017, Guimarães et al 2017, Sartori et al 2018) and is native to Asian tropical forests; it grows well in humid climates and soils, reaching up to 20 m in height (Elevitch & Manner 2006, Khan et al 2010, Lider Agronomia 2012, Saxena et al 2011). In Brazil, this plant species produces fruits all year long, with higher maturation period between October and April, and a single tree produces on average 50 fruits per year, each fruit with a mass of 3–10 kg (Elevitch & Manner 2006, Khan et al 2010, Lider Agronomia 2012, Saxena et al 2011)

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