Macroecological Patterns for the Loss of Ecosystem Services in Anthropocene: Allying Phylogeny, Functional Attributes, and Diversity of Neotropical Mammals

• Grant number: 18/05970-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal researcher: Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz
• Grantee: Juliano André Bogoni
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/11901-5 - Extent and determinants of biogeographic constraints on New World mammal diversity, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Mammals play several ecological roles and among 4,556 terrestrial species, 1,169 are highly endangered. Several studies showed important downstream effects of species loss on ecosystem functioning. The suitable functioning of ecosystems provides ecosystem services benefiting human populations. Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities can contribute to the evaluation of the ecosystems services. From a perspective of continued species loss, remain gaps to understand the ecosystem services promoted by mammals and the impacts defaunation processes on these services. Through a careful evaluation of functional attributes and phylogenetic diversity of Neotropical mammals, we aim to discover and predict the effects of defaunation on the ecosystems functioning, measured via ecosystem services. Based on a recent phylogeny of mammals, we built a database of functional attributes for all 1,669 species of the Neotropical region. According to the functional attributes and their services promoting, we will analyze the data with ecological network approaches for real and theoretical scenarios simulating the effects of defaunation. We aimed to understand how patterns and threats to the mammalian diversity influence ecological processes that are directly linked to human well-being. Combining knowledge of Ecology, Evolution and Zoology, this empirical-theoretical proposal employs appropriate analytical methods and with high appreciation in the literature to ensure the continuity of the technical and scientific formation of the proponent, guaranteeing its institutional link and returning to the demands of the PPGI-EA of USP. The project viability remains on data available in literature and Internet search platforms, with no onus of data collection in situ, and with a large volume of data already obtained, ensuring its temporal viability.