Abstract
AbstractLand-use change is a major driver of biodiversity loss. Large-scale disturbances such as habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are known to have negative consequences for native biota, but the effects of small-scale disturbances such as selective logging are less well known. We compared three sites with different regimes of selective logging performed by Indigenous communities in the South American temperate rainforest, to assess effects on the density and habitat selection patterns of the Near Threatened endemic arboreal marsupial Dromiciops gliroides. We used structured interviews to identify patterns of wood extraction, which was 0.22–2.55 m3 per ha per year. In the less disturbed site only two tree species were logged, in the intermediately disturbed sites eight species were logged at low intensity, and in the most disturbed site seven species were logged intensively. The site with intermediate disturbance had the highest fleshy-fruited plant diversity and fruit biomass values as a result of the proliferation of shade-intolerant plants. This site also had the highest density of D. gliroides. These findings are consistent with Connell's intermediate disturbance hypothesis, suggesting that coexistence of people with nature is possible if wood extraction volumes are moderate, increasing plant diversity. Indigenous communities have sustainably used natural resources for centuries, but current rates of land-use change are becoming a significant threat to both them and their natural resources.
Highlights
Land-use change is a major driver of biodiversity loss (Chapin et al, )
We found significant differences in habitat characteristics among the three sites, which were explained by significant variations in canopy cover (Supplementary Fig. a), fruit biomass (Supplementary Fig. b), fruiting plant diversity (Supplementary Fig. c) and fruit biomass diversity (Supplementary Fig. d), but not by variations in plant diversity (Supplementary Fig. e)
The different intensities of selective logging at our three study sites could have been responsible for the habitat differences that influenced D. gliroides abundance and habitat selection
Summary
Land-use change is a major driver of biodiversity loss (Chapin et al, ). As a consequence of human activities, natural habitats have been fragmented and degraded, posing a major threat to wildlife through marked reductions in habitat quantity and quality (Didham et al, ; Tscharntke et al, ; Haddad et al, ). In forest ecosystems, intermediate disturbance events are usually associated with forest gaps that allow shade-intolerant understorey plants to thrive (Dalling & Hubbell, ). These shade-intolerant plants usually have flowers and fruits that are important food resources for native animals (Fontúrbel et al, )
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