Abstract
Rainforests are undergoing severe deforestation and fragmentation worldwide. A huge amount of small forest patches are being created, but their value in conserving biodiversity and forest structure is still controversial. Here, we demonstrate that in a species-rich and moderately-managed Mexican tropical landscape small rainforest patches (<100 ha) can be highly valuable for the conservation of tree diversity and forest structure. These patches showed diverse communities of native plants, including endangered species, and a new record for the country. Although the number of logged trees increased in smaller patches, patch size was a poor indicator of basal area, stem density, number of species, genera and families, and community evenness. Cumulative species-area curves indicated that all patches had a similar contribution to the regional species diversity. This idea also was supported by the fact that patches strongly differed in floristic composition (high β-diversity), independently of patch size. Thus, in agreement with the land-sharing approach, our findings support that small forest patches in moderately-managed landscapes should be included in conservation initiatives to maintain landscape heterogeneity, species diversity, and ecosystem services.
Highlights
83% of earth’s land surface has been altered by human action [1], leading to the rapid destruction and fragmentation of terrestrial ecosystems
Whereas some studies argue that highly fragmented tropical landscapes can maintain high levels of the original diversity [7,8], others demonstrate that species diversity in forest patches declines rapidly after forest fragmentation [9,10]
Indicated that the resulting species-area curves were indistinguishable, regardless of whether small or large patches were added first. This pattern was almost identical to that observed in the landscape with lower deforestation level (24% of forest cover) at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico; in this region, the landscape with highest deforestation level (4% of forest cover) showed that collections of small patches contained a lower number of species than fewer larger patches (SI = 20.14; Figure 4), indicating that the relative contribution of small forest patches to regional diversity declines in landscapes with lower forest cover
Summary
83% of earth’s land surface has been altered by human action [1], leading to the rapid destruction and fragmentation of terrestrial ecosystems. Increasing tree mortality rates have been reported near forest edges [9], among emergent species [11,12]. This process may lead to declines in tree species richness in smaller forest patches [10,13], near forest edges [11,12]. Approximately 40% of old-growth forest cover remains as remnant patches of variable sizes embedded in a heterogeneous matrix of secondary forests, human settlements, cattle pastures, and crop fields
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
