Native Forest Remnants Research Articles

Changes to anuran diversity following forest replacement by tree plantations in the southern Atlantic forest of Argentina

The replacement of native forests by high-density tree plantations affects the richness and composition of animal communities through the modification of the resource availability, hydrological regimes, nutrient cycles and soil structure. Previous studies have been conducted mainly on birds and mammals, whereas few have explored the response of anurans, a taxon considered at risk and in steep decline. With this study we aimed to evaluate changes in anuran diversity associated with native forest replacement by pine plantations (Pinus taeda) in the southern Atlantic forest of Argentina, a highly diverse and threatened ecosystem. Additionally, we intended to explore the role of the micro-habitat (terrestrial, aquatic) in the response. We characterized vegetation and habitat structure and sampled anurans in terrestrial and aquatic micro-habitats in the native forest and pine plantations monthly over two consecutive years (2012–2014), using three complementary techniques (pitfall traps, audio strip transects and larval sampling). A total of 964 individuals of 21 species were captured: Physalaemus cuvieri, Odontophrynus americanus and Elachistocleis bicolor were the most abundant species. Replacement of the structurally complex native forest by extremely simplified monoculture tree plantations influenced the patterns of anuran alpha and beta diversity. However, these changes were micro-habitat-dependent: changes in anuran diversity in the terrestrial habitat were explained by species loss, while those in the aquatic habitat were explained by both species loss and turnover. The arboreal species of the family Hylidae (eight) were found absent from tree plantations. Both the hydroperiod instability of the water bodies and the simplified vegetation structure of the tree plantations are probably limiting the suitability for both reproduction and larval development of some specialist species. The native vegetation surrounding the water bodies in the tree plantations constitutes a central element to maintain anuran diversity, through increasing the hydroperiod and providing a habitat for species reproduction in the southern Atlantic forest and to facilitate the movement of individuals among native forest remnants.

A survey of the adventive parasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and native larval parasitoids of native Lepidoptera

ABSTRACTSince its arrival in New Zealand, Meteorus pulchricornis has parasitised adventive and native lepidopteran host species. We carried out a survey of parasitism by M. pulchricornis and native parasitoids of native lepidopteran host species in the Auckland region. From September 2013 to January 2016, parasitoids were reared from larvae collected from native host plants in habitats including urban gardens, regenerating native forest and native forest remnants. Meteorus pulchricornis was the most abundant parasitoid, accounting for 12% of parasitism, and was reared from 11 of 26 native Lepidoptera species. The host range of M. pulchricornis overlapped with eight other parasitoid species. A previously unrecorded species of Casinaria as well as M. pulchricornis were reared from Cleora scriptaria larvae collected from Te Hauturu-ō-Toi/Little Barrier Island. The parasitoid host association data collected provides preliminary information on the potential impact of M. pulchricornis on native parasitoids.

Collapse of ecosystem carbon stocks due to forest conversion to soybean plantations at the Amazon-Cerrado transition

Abstract Deforestation to establish monocrops in the tropics is causing massive reductions in ecosystem C stocks. Amazonia is a principal targets of this process, owing to the expansion of the agribusiness frontier throughout the transition with the Cerrado biome, the zone known as the “Arc of Deforestation”. In this vast contact region between the two largest South American biomes, the conversion of primary forest to soybean and pasture systems has led to the deforestation of nearly five million hectares since 1980. Despite this, we lack precise understanding of the effects of land use on ecosystem C stocks and pools in this region. Addressing this knowledge gap is crucial to improve predictions and fit models for different land use scenarios in Amazonia. To reduce uncertainty regarding the magnitude of the impacts of deforestation on the C cycle, we evaluated ecosystem C stocks in contrasting land-use systems across a topographically, climatically, and edaphically near-homogeneous landscape in southern Amazonia. We investigated the soil, litter, fine root and aboveground biomass (AGB) C stocks of soybean plantations and compared them to those of remnant native forests and rubber plantations; the latter is considered a priori as a cropping system with low impact on the C cycle. We found that the conversion of native forest to soybean plantation caused a 130.5 Mg C ha−1 loss, about threefold higher than the loss when forest is converted to rubber plantations, 48.5 Mg C ha−1. While 30-year old rubber plantations had recovered 84% of forest carbon stocks, all plantation types induced sustained losses of at least one-third of the original soil carbon. Fine root allocation changed sharply in the two crops following conversion, indicating an alteration in plant nutrient dynamics. Our results show that perennial and annual monocrops have very different impacts on the C cycle, which need to be accounted for in carbon-climate models as well as in public policies regulating land use in Amazonia. Our results show that while silviculture has the potential to restore most of the above-ground C stocks of previously forested areas, but neither silviculture nor conventional agriculture may ever restore Amazon soil C stocks once they become vulnerable and oxidized after deforestation. If such conversion-driven soil carbon losses were scaled across the Amazon they would induce a cumulative loss of more than 5 Pg in soil carbon by 2050.

Shelter from the storm: Restored populations of the neotropical tree Myroxylon peruiferum are as genetically diverse as those from conserved remnants

Abstract One of the major strategies used to prevent extinction of forest species is restoration of previously depleted areas. In this paper, we investigate the ability of forest restoration to produce tree populations with high genetic diversity in previously deforested areas. We used nine SSR markers to genotype populations of two forest restorations and two areas of natural remnants. There were no significant differences between natural forest remnants and restored forests with respect to inbreeding levels (f = 0.20) or genetic diversity, as assessed by levels of heterozygosity (HS ∼ 0.31–0.43) and allelic richness (2.41–2.94). Instead, we found evidence of gene flow from neighbouring woods to restored forests. Although some populations may show a lower number of private alleles, this would be an expected result of a bottleneck effect in reduced populations such as those in forest restorations. Although the loss of these low frequency alleles has no major consequences for genetic diversity, the impact on population fitness in a scenario of environmental change is unpredictable.

Phytosociological study of a riverine forest remnant from Taquari river, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

ABSTRACT Aiming to characterize the structure of the arboreal community in a riverine forest remnant of the Taquari river, State of Rio Grande do Sul, 42 sampling units of 100 m2 (10 × 10 m) were located. Phytosociological parameters were also assessed and the indexes of Shannon diversity (H') and Pielou evenness (J) were evaluated. A total of 39 species, 21 families, 2.83 nats ind-1 for H' and 0.77 for J were recorded. Among the species found, the endemic Callisthene inundata O.L. Bueno, A.D. Nilson & R.G. Magalh. and Picrasma crenata (Vell.) Engl. are included in the list of endangered species. The density found was of 1,557.14 ind ha-1. Luehea divaricata Mart. and Lonchocarpus nitidus Benth. showed the highest indexes of importance values. Besides contributing to the knowledge of species distribution and community structure, this study points out the need for conservation of existing native forest remnants.

Accompanying vegetation in young Pinus radiata plantations enhances recolonization by Ceroglossus chilensis (Coleoptera: Carabidae) after clearcutting

The replacement of native forests by Pinus radiata plantations modifies habitat availability and quality for wildlife, constituting a threat to species survival. However, the presence of understory in mature pine plantations minimizes the negative impacts of native forest replacement, rendering a secondary habitat for wildlife. Whether forest-dwelling species recolonize clear-felled areas pending on the spontaneous development of accompanying vegetation growing after harvesting is yet to be assessed. In this context, we analyze the abundance, movement and habitat selection of the endemic ground beetle Ceroglossus chilensis (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in an anthropic forest landscape consisting of native forest remnants, adult pine plantations (> 20 years) with a well-developed understory, and young (1–2 years) pine plantations with varying degrees of accompanying vegetation development. Particularly, we analyze the likelihood that C. chilensis would recolonize young pine plantations depending on the presence (> 70% cover) or the absence (< 20% cover) of this accompanying vegetation. C. chilensis shows a greater probability of selecting habitats with understory (pine plantations and native forest) and young plantations with accompanying vegetation (future understory) than habitats without such vegetation. Movement of C. chilensis also favors their permanence in habitats with understory vegetation, coinciding with higher abundances than in young pine plantations devoid of accompanying vegetation. Hence, the effect of clearcutting could be mitigated by allowing the development of accompanying vegetation into a future understory, which facilitates the recolonization of pine plantations and its use as secondary habitat for wildlife.

Genetic diversity of reintroduced tree populations in restoration plantations of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Long‐term ecological success of large‐scale restoration programs planned for the next decades will rely on genetic diversity (GD) of reintroduced or colonizing species, a limiting factor in highly fragmented landscapes. In small and isolated natural remnants or restoration areas, substantial reduction in population's size or connectivity may lead to local extinctions due to the accumulation of deleterious recessive alleles and ongoing reduction of fecundity, plant vigor, recruitment success, and adaptive potential. Despite the paramount role of GD for species persistence, its levels in restoration programs are poorly known. We assessed the GD of four model tree species (different succession stages, dispersal, and pollination syndromes) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, comparing two high‐diversity restoration plantations, one forest fragment and one conserved remnant. Contrary to the expectation that the plantation strategies adopted in the restoration programs could result in genetic composition homogenization, we found that restoration areas established heterogeneous genetic groups with similar levels of neutral GD and inbreeding to those observed in natural forest remnants. This pattern was consistent across the four functionally different tree species, despite some species idiosyncrasies. For instance, we observed lower allelic richness in early successional species in restoration sites, suggesting that some species may be more prone to reintroduction with lower GD. Thus, we advocate the use of high GD levels in restoration to support biodiversity conservation in human‐modified landscapes, thus reinforcing the role of ecological restoration for recovering the diversity of genes—the basic constituent of biodiversity.

Do Riparian Buffers Protect Stream Invertebrate Communities in South American Atlantic Forest Agricultural Areas?

We investigated the influence and relative importance of insecticides and other agricultural stressors in determining variability in invertebrate communities in small streams in intensive soy-production regions of Brazil and Paraguay. In Paraguay we sampled 17 sites on tributaries of the Pirapó River in the state of Itapúa and in Brazil we sampled 18 sites on tributaries of the San Francisco River in the state of Paraná. The riparian buffer zones generally contained native Atlantic forest remnants and/or introduced tree species at various stages of growth. In Brazil the stream buffer width was negatively correlated with sediment insecticide concentrations and buffer width was found to have moderate importance in mitigating effects on some sensitive taxa such as mayflies. However, in both regions insecticides had low relative importance in explaining variability in invertebrate communities, while various habitat parameters were more important. In Brazil, the percent coverage of soft depositional sediment in streams was the most important agriculture-related explanatory variable, and the overall stream-habitat score was the most important variable in Paraguay streams. Paraguay and Brazil both have laws requiring forested riparian buffers. The ample forested riparian buffer zones typical of streams in these regions are likely to have mitigated the effects of pesticides on stream invertebrate communities. This study provides evidence that riparian buffer regulations in the Atlantic Forest region are protecting stream ecosystems from pesticides and other agricultural stressors. Further studies are needed to determine the minimum buffer widths necessary to achieve optimal protection.

Does silvoagropecuary landscape fragmentation affect the genetic diversity of the sigmodontine rodent Oligoryzomys longicaudatus?

BackgroundFragmentation of native forests is a highly visible result of human land-use throughout the world. In this study, we evaluated the effects of landscape fragmentation and matrix features on the genetic diversity and structure of Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, the natural reservoir of Hantavirus in southern South America. We focused our work in the Valdivian Rainforest where human activities have produced strong change of natural habitats, with an important number of human cases of Hantavirus.MethodsWe sampled specimens of O. longicaudatus from five native forest patches surrounded by silvoagropecuary matrix from Panguipulli, Los Rios Region, Chile. Using the hypervariable domain I (mtDNA), we characterized the genetic diversity and evaluated the effect of fragmentation and landscape matrix on the genetic structure of O. longicaudatus. For the latter, we used three approaches: (i) Isolation by Distance (IBD) as null model, (ii) Least-cost Path (LCP) where genetic distances between patch pairs increase with cost-weighted distances, and (iii) Isolation by Resistance (IBR) where the resistance distance is the average number of steps that is needed to commute between the patches during a random walk.ResultsWe found low values of nucleotide diversity (π) for the five patches surveyed, ranging from 0.012 to 0.015, revealing that the 73 sampled specimens of this study belong to two populations but with low values of genetic distance (γST) ranging from 0.022 to 0.099. Likewise, we found that there are no significant associations between genetic distance and geographic distance for IBD and IBR. However, we found for the LCP approach, a significant positive relationship (r = 0.737, p = 0.05), with shortest least-cost paths traced through native forest and arborescent shrublands.DiscussionIn this work we found that, at this reduced geographical scale, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus shows genetic signs of fragmentation. In addition, we found that connectivity between full growth native forest remnants is mediated by the presence of dense shrublands and native forest corridors. In this sense, our results are important because they show how native forest patches and associated routes act as source of vector species in silvoagropecuary landscape, increasing the infection risk on human population. This study is the first approach to understand the epidemiological spatial context of silvoagropecuary risk of Hantavirus emergence. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of landscape fragmentation in order to generate new predictive models based on vector intrinsic attributes and landscape features.

An Assessment of a Community-Based, Forest Restoration Programme in Durban (eThekwini), South Africa

The restoration of degraded forests to enhance biodiversity, ecosystem services, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation is now a major priority in cities around the world. This study evaluated the success of the Buffelsdraai Landfill Site Community Reforestation Project in Durban, South Africa, by assessing ecological attributes. Measures of plant richness, diversity, vegetation structure, invasive alien plants (IAPs) and ecological processes were contrasted across a chronosequence of habitats under restoration (0-year-old, 3-year-old and 5-year-old) and compared with a reference forest habitat (remnant natural forest). Native tree species recruitment and vegetation structure increased with restoration age. Ecological processes, represented by the composition of pollination and seed dispersal traits in all of the habitats under restoration, were similar to the reference habitat. However, low tree density and an increase in IAP cover with an increase in restoration age were identified as threats to reforestation success. We recommend enrichment planting and an effective IAP management strategy to promote more rapid habitat restoration while reducing site maintenance costs. Enrichment planting should not only focus on increasing tree species density and richness, but also on the inclusion of species with missing pollination and seed dispersal categories.

Fragmentation of hardwood floodplain forests \u2013 how does it affect species composition?

The present study focuses on how spatial patch characteristics, such as patch area, shape and isolation, affect the natural species composition of hardwood floodplain forests. The natural species composition is defined according to species groups obtained using phytocoenological methods. The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between fragmentation indices and the number and proportion of species in each functional species group stated in this paper. This study is based on a dataset of 118 phytocoenological relevés sampled using the standard methodology of the Zürich-Montpellier School, ordered within the suballiance Ulmenion (mixed oak-elm-ash forests along the great rivers). The study area is situated in Central Europe, in the northern part of the Pannonian biogeographic region. The digital map of hardwood floodplain forests was rasterized to 25 m cell size. The FRAGSTATS software was used to obtain fragmentation indices, and generalised linear models tested the influence of forest patch fragmentation indices on species composition. Our analyses confirm that large hardwood floodplain forests are essential for natural species composition conservation, and that large fragment areas are highly susceptible to non-native species penetration. We also determined that small, compact fragments contain very valuable remnants of well-preserved natural hardwood floodplain forests with a high proportion of specialised Ulmenion species. However, disruption to hardwood floodplain forest natural borders engenders a greater threat to its natural species composition than decline in patch area, because disruption results in increased Shape index, increased contact with the surrounding environment, greater edge effect and a higher proportion of alien species in the forest community.

Does hydroelectric reservoirs affect the structure of surrounding tree communities? A test of hypotheses in subtropical South America

Despite its advantages over other energy sources, hydropower facilities are recognized as causes of terrestrial and freshwater environmental impacts. A deeper understanding of hydropower effects on surrounding riparian forests is thus important to the development hydropower facilities of less impact on the environment as well as to define criteria to manage the vegetation in the vicinity of large hydroelectric dams. We compared tree community structure on forest slopes exposed to a hydropower reservoir created in 2005 with control ones, in the biodiversity-rich subtropical forests of southern Brazil. Field data were collected between 2009 and 2011 on six forest slopes of which three were affected by the rise in water level caused by a hydropower dam, while the other three were in nearby sites unaffected by damming. Ninety 10 × 10 plots were set along six 50 m × 10 m transects. Forest structure was significantly affected by vicinity of reservoir, but this effect differed significantly between different tributaries of the Pelotas River. Rarefaction curves showed homogeneity in species richness among the studied hills. Composition differed significantly between reservoir and control areas. Variance partition results showed that pure reservoir effects explained a fraction of the variance in floristic composition comparable to environmental factors. Vicinity to reservoir was the main factor able to distinguish between communities in the studied system in a multiple regression tree. Our results highlight that hydroelectric facility building produces more extensive damage to remnant native forests than anticipated and that even forests upslope from reservoir border may suffer rapid structural and compositional degradation due to changes in environmental conditions caused by altered hydrology.

Impacts of reforestation on woody species composition, species diversity and community structure in dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River, southwestern China

To understand the impacts of reforestation on woody species composition, species diversity and community structure, seven plantation forests in dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River in Southwest China were investigated, with adjacent wastelands, natural shrub grassland and a natural forest as references. Species importance value, species richness, species heterogeneity and Sorenson similarity index between plantations and the natural forest were analyzed. Results indicated that compared to wastelands and natural shrub grassland, reforestation improved species diversity and community structure, and more forest woody species found suitable habitats in plantations. Species diversity in understory of plantations and Sorenson similarity index were significantly negatively correlated with stem density in mature plantations (26-31 years old). Higher species diversity and Sorenson similarity index existed in mature sparse plantations due to lower stem density and more tree species planted initially. In contrast, reference natural forest, with species heterogeneity of 2.28 for shrub layer, showed the highest species diversity. It would take a long time for species composition and diversity to recover through reforestation in a dry-hot valley. Therefore, it was essential to protect remnant natural forests strictly and reforest with suitable management such as lower stem density and increasing genetic diversity of trees planted.

INFLUÊNCIA DA POSIÇÃO SOCIAL NAS RELAÇÕES MORFOMÉTRICAS DE &lt;i&gt;Araucaria angustifolia&lt;/i&gt;

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509821116As relações morfométrias permitem descrever dimensões das árvores sem o prévio conhecimento da idade, auxilia no planejamento florestal e na execução de atividades silviculturais, principalmente quando se deseja tornar sustentável o uso das florestas. Com esse propósito, o objetivo do presente estudo foi modelar e comparar as relações morfométricas de árvores de araucária que crescem em posição social dominante, codominante e dominada em remanescente florestal nativo, localizado no município de Lages - SC. Um total de 294 árvores distribuídas em classes de DAP foi selecionado intencionalmente no interior da floresta. De cada árvore foi medido o DAP, altura total, altura do fuste, diâmetro de copa sob oito raios, bem como a classificação quanto à posição social. Modelos de regressão linear simples e múltipla foram empregados para descrever a relação h/d, proporção de copa e formal de copa em função do diâmetro a altura do peito na forma simples, quadrática, cúbica, inversa e logarítmica. A análise de covariância com variáveis dummy para descrever a posição social foram usadas para testar o paralelismo e inclinação das regressões indicando a necessidade ou não do emprego de regressões independentes. Os resultados indicaram que, mesmo com grande variabilidade na forma e dimensão das copas decorrente do processo de crescimento e de competição, as relações morfométricas de araucária podem ser estimadas com precisão por modelos de regressão. A relação h/d, proporção de copa e formal de copa pode ser descrita por modelo individual para posição social dominante, codominante e dominada, ou alternativamente por modelo único, com a utilização de variáveis dummy que diferenciam o estrato dominado no modelo de relação h/d e de formal de copa. Para a proporção de copa existe diferença de dimensões das árvores dos três estratos sociais, sendo necessário utilizar uma variável de classificação dummy para cada caso ou os modelos individuais.

Does Participatory Forest Management Save the Remnant Forest in Ethiopia?

Forest resources play a critical role in supporting the livelihood of poor people worldwide, particularly in meeting daily subsistence needs. It should be managed sustainably. Conventional forest management has alienated local communities from participating in forest conservation and protection in Ethiopia, which has led to illegal and unsustainable resource utilization; hence, a resulting paradigm shift is necessary in forest management to involve local community in management of natural resources. Currently, the Ethiopian government is working to protect the remnant natural forests for their various social, economic and environmental values, with a belief that participatory forest management (PFM) can play a great role in saving natural forests. PFM was introduced in Ethiopia in the mid of 1990s, by International Non-Governmental Organizations, with the objective of promoting sustainable management and conservation of forest ecosystems and improving the livelihood of people living in or around these resources. In the present paper, researches on several forests undergoing PFM in Ethiopia were reviewed. Comprehensive review of previous studies on PFM in Ethiopia confirmed that there is an improvement in forest condition and livelihood in areas under PFM though the success is claimed to be mixed.

Zooplankton generation following inundation of floodplain soils: effects of vegetation type and riverine connectivity

We investigated the potential for zooplankton to emerge following inundation of dry soils on the lower Waikato River floodplain, North Island, New Zealand. Soil cores were collected from native forest remnants, scrub (predominantly Salix spp.) and pasture, and from sites inside or outside of stopbanks, to examine the effects of vegetation type and hydrological disconnection. We hypothesised that more larger-bodied zooplankton would emerge from forested floodplain areas, and that areas with high connectivity with the river would produce more zooplankton. Zooplankton appeared from soil cores within 3 days of wetting and no new taxa arose after 12 days. Community composition differed between vegetation types, with larger bodied cladocerans and copepods dominating forested and scrub sites, and rotifers dominating pastoral sites. Connectivity did not play a statistically significant role in determining community composition. Soil conditions were implicated as important in affecting emergent zooplankton community composition, with copepods and cladocerans characteristic of sites with wetter soils and bdelloid rotifers abundant in open sites with higher soil temperatures. Our findings indicate scrub and forested floodplains can be important areas for large-bodied zooplankton production, and that maintaining vegetative heterogeneity on floodplains may promote trophic subsidies for migrating juvenile fish as floodwaters subside.

Phylogeography and population genetics of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) in Ireland: putting it in a European context

Black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) is a widespread tree of European forests with a high potential for wood and biomass production. This study investigated the genetic origin and diversity in remnants of putative native alder forest stands in Ireland and compared it with other European populations to determine phylogeographic patterns. The efficiency of capture of the genetic diversity in a breeding population was also assessed. Data were obtained from chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) polymorphisms and from nuclear microsatellites. In silico PCR-RFLP was used to locate cpDNA sequence polymorphisms in order to develop flanking primers for high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. The cpDNA polymorphism analysis detected two main haplotypes in Ireland. The same two are also found in Wales and England while only one is found in Scotland. The results suggest that Irish populations of alder have originated from at least two European glacial refugia. Black alder in Ireland exhibited no or very weak population differentiation using nuclear microsatellite markers, which is consistent for a wind-dispersed, outcrossing species. Based on the nuclear microsatellite data, a decline in population sizes is estimated to have occurred around a timeframe that coincides with a period of large-scale deforestation. The breeding population contained two haplotypes and showed a high level of genetic capture (86 % of microsatellite alleles) when compared with all samples combined. This study fills a gap in previous knowledge, provides an additional marker and an additional method for future studies. The characterisation of a breeding population provides valuable baseline data for a national alder tree improvement programme.

Diurnal Human Activity and Introduced Species Affect Occurrence of Carnivores in a Human-Dominated Landscape.

Diurnal human activity and domestic dogs in agro-forestry mosaics should theoretically modify the diurnal habitat use patterns of native carnivores, with these effects being scale-dependent. We combined intensive camera trapping data with Bayesian occurrence probability models to evaluate both diurnal and nocturnal patterns of space use by carnivores in a mosaic of land-use types in southern Chile. A total of eight carnivores species were recorded, including human-introduced dogs. During the day the most frequently detected species were the culpeo fox and the cougar. Conversely, during the night, the kodkod and chilla fox were the most detected species. The best supported models showed that native carnivores responded differently to landscape attributes and dogs depending on both the time of day as well as the spatial scale of landscape attributes. The positive effect of native forest cover at 250m and 500 m radius buffers was stronger during the night for the Darwin's fox and cougar. Road density at 250m scale negatively affected the diurnal occurrence of Darwin´s fox, whereas at 500m scale roads had a stronger negative effect on the diurnal occurrence of Darwin´s foxes and cougars. A positive effect of road density on dog occurrence was evidenced during both night and day. Patch size had a positive effect on cougar occurrence during night whereas it affected negatively the occurrence of culpeo foxes and skunks during day. Dog occurrence had a negative effect on Darwin's fox occurrence during day-time and night-time, whereas its negative effect on the occurrence of cougar was evidenced only during day-time. Carnivore occurrences were not influenced by the proximity to a conservation area. Our results provided support for the hypothesis that diurnal changes to carnivore occurrence were associated with human and dog activity. Landscape planning in our study area should be focused in reducing both the levels of diurnal human activity in native forest remnants and the dispersion rates of dogs into these habitats.

The potential of smallEucalyptusplantations in farmscapes to foster native woody plant diversity: local and landscape constraints

The major focus of ecological restorations has been on understanding local factors. However, landscape factors such as dispersal limitation of individuals or propagules across the surrounding matrix can also constrain the restoration progress. We investigated to what extent native woody species colonize and thrive in plantations, focusing on both the role of local factors such as grazing and canopy cover as well as on landscape factors. We recorded all native tree and shrub species in 60 smallEucalyptusplantations embedded in an open agricultural landscape at 0.1–12 km from a remnant continuous forest in central Ethiopia. We found a total of 1,571 individuals of native woody plants belonging to 55 species. Number of such species in a plantation increased significantly with the height of the grass sword indicating their sensitivity to grazing. Moreover, the number of woody species in the patches decreased significantly with distance to the forest. Our results illustrate the need for regulating the grazing pressure for a successful regeneration of native species inEucalyptusplantations. In addition, sowing or planting native trees will be necessary in most plantations, as only few remnant natural forests that could act as seed sources occur across the Ethiopian highlands. Another main obstacle might be the prohibition of selling timber of native trees, which indirectly discourage farmers from letting native trees regenerate. Thus, the increasing cover ofEucalyptusseen across the country will not automatically foster a recovery of native woody plant biodiversity, even if managed to optimize local environmental conditions.

PRIMEIRO REGISTRO DE DESCASCAMENTO DE &lt;i&gt;Eucalyptus &lt;/i&gt;spp. POR MACACOS-PREGO (&lt;i&gt;Sapajus nigritus&lt;/i&gt;, PRIMATES: CEBIDAE)

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509818469Conflitos envolvendo animais selvagens e plantios comerciais têm sido comumente registrados em todo o mundo, incluindo o descascamento de árvores nativas ou exóticas por primatas. No sul do Brasil, o macaco-prego (Sapajus nigritus) é responsável por provocar danos em plantios comerciais de Pinus spp e Araucaria angustifolia. Nesse artigo, apresentamos de forma inédita na literatura o descascamento de Eucalyptus spp. por macacos-prego. Considerando o crescimento das áreas com plantios de eucaliptos no Brasil e países vizinhos, a informação apresentada aqui é de grande importância para a economia florestal. Ele também ressalta a necessidade de estudos científicos que visem minimizar os danos causados à produção sem comprometer a conservação da vida selvagem, como aqueles que visam monitorar a disponibilidade de recursos alimentares (principalmente frutos) em fragmentos de floresta nativa e incrementá-la por meio da recuperação de áreas depauperadas ou ainda aqueles que buscam compostos naturais deterrentes.