Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest
Land-use change influences biodiversity in non-random ways, affecting some species and functional groups more than others, with potential implications for the loss or degradation of important ecological processes, such as seed dispersal. Here we investigate the effect of patch-size reduction on the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064417301049 |
| _version_ | 1818447843853074432 |
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| author | Alex A.A. Bovo Katia M.P.M.B. Ferraz Marcelo Magioli Eduardo R. Alexandrino Érica Hasui Milton C. Ribeiro Joseph A. Tobias |
| author_facet | Alex A.A. Bovo Katia M.P.M.B. Ferraz Marcelo Magioli Eduardo R. Alexandrino Érica Hasui Milton C. Ribeiro Joseph A. Tobias |
| author_sort | Alex A.A. Bovo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Land-use change influences biodiversity in non-random ways, affecting some species and functional groups more than others, with potential implications for the loss or degradation of important ecological processes, such as seed dispersal. Here we investigate the effect of patch-size reduction on the composition and functional richness (FRic) of avian communities in Atlantic Forest fragments, focusing on morphological traits associated with seed dispersal in frugivorous birds. We found that FRic of three key traits—hand-wing index, body mass and gape width—decreased with patch size reduction, because species with larger values for morphological traits were lost through local extinction. The relative absence of large-gaped and more-dispersive frugivores in small forest fragments has important implications because these species play a pivotal role in seed dispersal, carrying higher seed loads for longer distances, and consuming larger-sized seeds that cannot be dispersed by smaller-gaped frugivores. Our results highlight the importance of preserving large or interconnected habitat patches, and promoting habitat restoration of cleared areas, to ensure that sufficient avian functional diversity is maintained to supply the full range of seed dispersal services required by tropical forests, both currently and in future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:10:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5c8dddf6cb34b099faa2aca5bebbcac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2530-0644 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:10:04Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5c8dddf6cb34b099faa2aca5bebbcac2022-12-21T22:48:57ZengElsevierPerspectives in Ecology and Conservation2530-06442018-04-011629096Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forestAlex A.A. Bovo0Katia M.P.M.B. Ferraz1Marcelo Magioli2Eduardo R. Alexandrino3Érica Hasui4Milton C. Ribeiro5Joseph A. Tobias6Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Lab (LEMaC), Forest Science Department, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 – Caixa Postal 09, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom; Corresponding author at: Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Lab (LEMaC), Forest Science Department, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 – Caixa Postal 09, 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Lab (LEMaC), Forest Science Department, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 – Caixa Postal 09, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, BrazilWildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Lab (LEMaC), Forest Science Department, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 – Caixa Postal 09, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, BrazilWildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Lab (LEMaC), Forest Science Department, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 – Caixa Postal 09, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, BrazilInstitute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), 37130-000, Alfenas, MG, BrazilBioscience Institute, UNESP – University Estadual Paulista, Department of Ecology, Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab (LEEC), 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilEdward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, United KingdomLand-use change influences biodiversity in non-random ways, affecting some species and functional groups more than others, with potential implications for the loss or degradation of important ecological processes, such as seed dispersal. Here we investigate the effect of patch-size reduction on the composition and functional richness (FRic) of avian communities in Atlantic Forest fragments, focusing on morphological traits associated with seed dispersal in frugivorous birds. We found that FRic of three key traits—hand-wing index, body mass and gape width—decreased with patch size reduction, because species with larger values for morphological traits were lost through local extinction. The relative absence of large-gaped and more-dispersive frugivores in small forest fragments has important implications because these species play a pivotal role in seed dispersal, carrying higher seed loads for longer distances, and consuming larger-sized seeds that cannot be dispersed by smaller-gaped frugivores. Our results highlight the importance of preserving large or interconnected habitat patches, and promoting habitat restoration of cleared areas, to ensure that sufficient avian functional diversity is maintained to supply the full range of seed dispersal services required by tropical forests, both currently and in future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064417301049Ecological processesFrugivorous birdsHabitat lossHabitat fragmentationTrophic interactionsPatch size |
| spellingShingle | Alex A.A. Bovo Katia M.P.M.B. Ferraz Marcelo Magioli Eduardo R. Alexandrino Érica Hasui Milton C. Ribeiro Joseph A. Tobias Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation Ecological processes Frugivorous birds Habitat loss Habitat fragmentation Trophic interactions Patch size |
| title | Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest |
| title_full | Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest |
| title_fullStr | Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest |
| title_short | Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest |
| title_sort | habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest |
| topic | Ecological processes Frugivorous birds Habitat loss Habitat fragmentation Trophic interactions Patch size |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064417301049 |
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