Mammal functional diversity increases with forest patch complexity in tropical mining areas

Abstract

Enhanced mammal functional diversity is crucial for forest ecological functioning. However, this group is affected by habitat degradation, such as mineral exploitation, which is a major threat worldwide. In these habitats, the maintenance of forest patches is important to support species diversity. Here, we addressed this knowledge gap by examining the functional diversity of medium-sized mammals among forest patches of different sizes in an area of approximately 3195 ha that is used for copper mining in the eastern Pará state, in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. In these patches, we also observed responses between mammal functional diversity and patch structural complexity. We used camera traps to survey the mammal fauna. We observed that large forest patches are associated with enhanced mammal functional diversity, mainly due to higher canopy closure and overstory tree density. In these habitats, species with functional attributes that allow resource partitioning may occur, which is important for habitat functioning. These findings have major implications for maintaining forest patch heterogeneity in mined areas, which is important for mammal functional diversity. Thus, management efforts in mining areas should explicitly include large forest patches to conserve mammal assemblages.