Impacts of anthropogenic climate change on tropical montane forests: an appraisal of the evidence

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(4), P. 1200 - 1224

Published: March 29, 2023

ABSTRACT In spite of their small global area and restricted distributions, tropical montane forests (TMFs) are biodiversity hotspots important ecosystem services providers, but also highly vulnerable to climate change. To protect preserve these ecosystems better, it is crucial inform the design implementation conservation policies with best available scientific evidence, identify knowledge gaps future research needs. We conducted a systematic review an appraisal evidence quality assess impacts change on TMFs. identified several skews shortcomings. Experimental study designs controls long‐term (≥10 years) data sets provide most reliable were rare gave incomplete understanding Most studies based predictive modelling approaches, short‐term (<10 cross‐sectional designs. Although methods moderate circumstantial they can advance our effects. Current suggests that increasing temperatures rising cloud levels have caused distributional shifts (mainly upslope) biota, leading alterations in ecological functions. Neotropical TMFs studied, thus derived there serve as proxy for responses under‐studied regions elsewhere. focused vascular plants, birds, amphibians insects, other taxonomic groups poorly represented. at species or community levels, marked paucity genetic studies, limiting adaptive capacity TMF biota. highlight need widen methodological, thematic geographical scope under address uncertainties. short term, however, in‐depth well‐studied advances computer approaches offer sources information expeditious action threatened forests.

Language: Английский

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Effects of land‐use change on avian taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in a tropical montane rainforest

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(9), P. 1732 - 1746

Published: June 27, 2021

Abstract Aim Although land use change is a leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide, there scant information on the extent to which it has affected structure and composition bird communities in Afrotropical region. This study aimed quantify effects habitat transformation taxonomic, functional phylogenetic diversity communities. Location Nyungwe landscape, montane rainforest with adjoining farmland south‐west Rwanda. Methods Data occurrence, abundance traits were collected 2017/18 using point counts. We also data morphological for all species recorded. quantified range metrics, including inverse Simpson index, dispersion standardized effect size mean nearest taxon distance. Results In comparison primary forest areas, even low levels altered reduced diversity. overall similar across types, we found significant contraction trophic locomotory trait structures restored areas cultivated respectively. Soil moisture, elevation lower vegetation height major factors influencing dimensions communities, although their varied these dimensions. Main conclusions The sensitivity minor disturbance emphasizes value conserving vegetation. Long‐term conservation Afromontane ecosystems requires halting wide‐scale destruction forest, promoting heterogeneity ecological restoration degraded habitats adopting wildlife‐friendly agricultural practices. Our results suggest that monitoring landscapes can be refined metrics provide complementary about current likely future impacts change.

Language: Английский

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Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: March 29, 2025

Chronic disturbance is a major driver of biodiversity loss in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs). However, its consequences on the functional dimension diversity, particularly dispersal traits, remain unclear. We evaluated effects chronic traits woody plant community and potential for frugivores. characterized eight related to seed calculated weighted means diversities trees whole community. used GLMs evaluate these metrics, including abundance diversity fruits as resources frugivorous group. filtered dispersal, reducing proportion species with fleshy heavier fruits, producing more seeds per fruit. Functional richness dispersion declined disturbance. found general pattern reduction availability fruits. Our results suggest that changes are not random but result from environmental filtering costs stress tolerance. Changes vegetation directly affected group, which medium term can affect persistence catalyze loss.

Language: Английский

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Spatial Occupancy, Local Abundance and Activity Rhythm of Three Ground Dwelling Columbid Species in the Forests of Guadeloupe in Relation to Environmental Factors

Diversity, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(6), P. 480 - 480

Published: June 14, 2022

Although forest-dependent, tropical island endemic birds are particularly at risk of extinction, they remain largely understudied. In this context, we assessed the spatial occupancy, local abundance, and diel activity in three forest columbid species hunting interest, Ruddy Quail-Dove (RQD), Geotrygon montana; Bridled (BQD), mystacea; Zenaida Dove (ZD), aurita, Guadeloupe (French West Indies), using 5 camera-traps over 14 days on 24 survey stations, resulting 1680 trap days. The number observed RQD was too small to allow for a statistical comparison between habitats. BQD were more frequently camera-trap stations that dominated by rainforest than those flooded forest. Conversely, ZD dry rainforest. High temperatures negatively affected abundance BQD, while significantly lower rainforests compared forests tended increase with canopy openness. diurnal. positively co-occurred spatially temporally Indian mongooses, Urva auropunctata, whereas temporal distribution overlapped domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, cats, Felis catus. Our results provide firm evidence remains scarce is outnumbered which contrast has been reported other Caribbean islands.

Language: Английский

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Tropical Dry Forests

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 294 - 312

Published: May 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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Patterns of variation in plant diversity vary over different spatial levels in seasonal coastal wetlands

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(9), P. 1875 - 1890

Published: June 28, 2022

Abstract Aim To quantify the responses of alpha and beta diversity to multivariate gradients, incorporating variation in environmental management variability coastal dune slacks. Location United Kingdom Methods Plant community composition, plant nutrient status soil characteristics were measured for 164 quadrats 41 slacks across 12 sand systems. Data collated on climate atmospheric deposition. Hydrological regimes at daily resolution modelled calibrated using daily‐to‐monthly site measurements, from which we calculated quadrat‐level hydrological metrics. Alpha (richness, Shannon Pielou's evenness) metrics (turnover nestedness) species genera three spatial levels system (highest) slack quadrat (lowest). Results Diversity patterns depended taxonomic level considered. At smaller (between between quadrats), varied along gradients driven by characteristics, water table depth larger systems), a consequence status. There was little this same gradient, with only small changes evenness. Patterns coarser (genus) mirrored those level. Main conclusion We show that are dependent considered, but made difference understanding these patterns. Therefore, if do not consider different levels, important drivers could be missed. The high biodiversity value degree threat European protected habitats makes such invaluable their conservation.

Language: Английский

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A new species of Picrasma, P. nanophylla (Simaroubaceae), from the Dominican Republic

Brittonia, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 73(3), P. 334 - 342

Published: April 22, 2021

Language: Английский

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Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus)

Birds of the World, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 10, 2024

Language: Английский

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Fewer berries and more pods: losers and winners of chronic disturbance in an Ecuadorian tropical dry forest

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 12, 2024

Although chronic disturbance is widely recognized as a main driver of biodiversity loss in tropical dry forests, their consequences beyond the taxonomic perspective (i.e functional dimension diversity) still need to be clarified, especially those plant traits associated with dispersal. Here, we evaluated effects on diversity seasonally forest, and potential frugivores guild. We characterized eight related seed dispersal calculated community weighted means diversities for trees whole woody community. used generalized linear models evaluate these estimates relation abundance fruits resources wildlife. Our results revealed that, dominance plants costly fruiting species was reduced disturbance. Functional richness divergence were disturbance, mainly qualitative traits. Finally, availability slightly different between groups dispersers, observing general pattern reduction suggest that changes are not random but result filtering costs subsequent ability withstand environmental stress. The observed vegetation have direct effect frugivorous species, which medium term can affect persistence catalyze loss.

Language: Английский

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Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus)

Birds of the World, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 22, 2024

Language: Английский

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