The conservation value of linear forest remnants in central Amazonia

Abstract

Riparian forest is protected under federal legislation in Brazil. In the Amazon Basin, numerous streams and rivers provide huge potential for increasing the conservation value of deforested and fragmented landscapes through the protection of linear remnants along watercourses. However, the potential of such remnants to be used as faunal habitat and possibly as movement corridors has never been fully investigated. We surveyed small mammal and litter-frog communities in linear remnants of primary rainforest ranging from 140 to 190 m in width, and in adjacent continuous rainforest, to compare their species richness, composition, and abundance. No significant differences were found in any aspect of community structure or species abundance. This suggests that linear remnants along watercourses provide suitable habitat for at least some forest vertebrates, a conclusion reinforced by the fact that many frogs and small mammals were found reproducing and moving in the remnants. These results highlight the potential of linear remnants to serve as habitat for small forest vertebrates and suggest they could function as corridors for some species to increase landscape connectivity.