orest loss and fragmentation can promote the crowding effect in a forest-specialist primat

Author(s)

Gestich, Carla C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Arroyo-Rodriguez, Victor ^{[3, 4]} ; Saranholi, Bruno H. ^{[5, 2]} ; da Cunha, Rogerio G. T. ^[6] ; Setz, Eleonore Z. F. ^[1] ; Ribeiro, Milton C. ^[7]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Biol Anim, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Genet & Evolucao, Rd Washington Luis Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Ecosistemas & Sustentabilidad, Morelia 58190, Michoacan - Mexico

^[4] Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Escuela Nacl Estudios Super, Merida 97357, Yucatan - Mexico

^[5] Imperial Coll London, Dept Life Sci, Ascot SL5 7PY, Berks - England

^[6] Univ Fed Alfenas, Inst Ciencias Nat, BR-37130001 Alfenas, MG - Brazil

^[7] Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Ecol, Lab Ecol Espacial & Conservacao LEEC, BR-13506692 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY; v. 37, n. 1 SEP 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Context Forest loss and fragmentation are rapidly expanding across the tropics. Although forest loss is a major driver of the current biodiversity crisis, the effect of fragmentation remains debated, particularly for forest-specialist species. Objectives We evaluated the univariate and combined effect of forest loss (percent of forest cover) and fragmentation (forest patch density) on populations of a forest-specialist primate, the black-fronted titi monkey (Callicebus nigrifrons), in the landscapes from a transitional zone between Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. Methods We surveyed titi monkey density in 14 landscapes. Using a multiscale and multimodel inference approach, we tested the relative effect of each landscape variable assessed at their respective scales of effect on titi monkey density. Results Titi monkey density ranged from 0 to 12 groups/km(2) and was best predicted by the combined effect of forest cover and patch density. Density increased in forest patches embedded in more deforested and fragmented landscapes. Interestingly, the effect of forest patch density was consistently positive along the entire evaluated forest cover gradient (9-42%). Conclusions Our findings support that fragmentation per se can have positive effects on biodiversity, in this case, by increasing the likelihood that more individuals can be `rescued' from deforestation and crowded in the remaining forest patches. Although the long-term consequences of living crowded in forest patches are unknown, a conservative approach for preserving this (and potentially other) forest-specialist species could be to promote forest restoration projects focused on increasing the number and/or size of forest patches in the landscape (i.e., reverse fragmentation). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/01779-5 - Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: agroecosystem effects on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function maintenance
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/50421-2 - New sampling methods and statistical tools for biodiversity research: integrating animal movement ecology with population and community ecology
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/14245-2 - Influence of landscape parameters on the occurrence of primates and density of Callicebus nigrifrons in the Northeast of São Paulo State
• Grantee: Carla Cristina Gestich
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/24453-4 - Genetic diversity of felids (Puma concolor, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus tigrinus and Puma yagouaroundi) and the mesopredator (Leopardus pardalis) presence effect on density and genetic diversity of the smaller felid species.
• Grantee: Bruno Henrique Saranholi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate