Ecological corridors as a strategy for biodiversity conservation: landscape study and occurrence of mammals in the Atlantic Forest of São Paulo.

• Grant number: 25/12484-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Erika Hingst-Zaher
• Grantee: Lia Aruni Damous Bertolo
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is home to six main biomes, including the Atlantic Forest, a tropical rainforest that originally spanned 136 million hectares but has now been reduced to 8% of its original size due to deforestation. This biome is one of the world's largest biodiversity hotspots, facing pressures from agricultural expansion and urbanization since the arrival of colonizers. Today, it is home to 70% of the Brazilian population and consists of fragmented and isolated areas that threaten the survival of many species. Connectivity between these areas is essential for maintaining biodiversity and can be promoted through ecological corridors, which link fragments and enable species flow.Ecological corridors are crucial for species with large territorial needs, such as large carnivores and herbivores. The conservation of these umbrella species benefits entire ecosystems, promoting ecological balance and vital functions such as seed dispersal and population regulation. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of corridors in enhancing habitat connectivity and increasing population resilience in fragmented landscapes.This project focuses on the Serra de Paranapiacaba and its surroundings, a region that includes the Paranapiacaba Ecological Continuum, which spans over 120,000 hectares of well-preserved Atlantic Forest. It encompasses conservation units such as Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, Parque Estadual Intervales, Parque Estadual Nascentes do Paranapanema, Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira, and the Estação Ecológica de Xitué. These areas provide habitats for threatened species like the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), and lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), and white-lipped peccary (*Tayassu pecari*). Adjacent areas, such as the Parque Estadual Jurupará, the Morro Grande Forest Reserve, and São Lourenço da Serra, are also considered, as they have the potential to integrate into a connected forest mosaic.The main objective is to propose ecological corridors that ensure connectivity between these fragments, promoting the conservation of medium- and large-sized mammals. Species selection is based on ecological criteria, such as their importance to the ecosystem and conservation status. The implementation of the corridors will aim to minimize physical barriers and increase genetic flow between populations, strengthening the conservation of local and regional biodiversity.