Primary forest loss and degradation reduces biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: A global meta‐analysis using dung beetles as an indicator taxon

Abstract

1. Because of continuing degradation or deforestation in areas of undisturbed primary forest, there is a need to study the relative merit of strategies that mitigate their impacts on biodiversity and associated ecological functionality.2. Here, we provide a global synthesis of forest degradation or deforestation using 48 studies published in peer-reviewed journals that use dung beetles as indicators given their sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance and their relevance in performing essential ecological functions in terrestrial ecosystems.3. We evaluated forest cover associated with undisturbed primary forest degradation (i.e. degraded primary forest) and undisturbed primary forest deforestation (i.e. secondary forest, forestry plantations and forestry restoration implementation) on species richness, total abundance, biomass, functional groups' presence and ecological functions provided by dung beetles. Additionally, we determined whether if dung beetle responses to forest disturbances were geographically dependent.4. We found lower diversity and a decrease in ecological functions associated with all classes of disturbance in primary forest. However, the effects were less severe in the case of forest degradation compared to complete deforestation with natural regeneration of secondary forest, development of forest plantations or active forest restoration by planting indigenous trees. The Neotropical and Oriental regions are particularly vulnerable, given the elevated rates of undisturbed primary forest deforestation and its negative impact on their assemblages' diversity and ecological functions.

Impacts of pastures and forestry plantations on herpetofauna: A global meta‐analysis

“…Previous global meta‐analyses have evaluated the potential of forestry plantations to mitigate biodiversity loss—some suggesting positive potential (e.g. Castaño‐Villa et al, 2019; López‐Bedoya et al, 2021; Meli et al, 2017), others negative (Hua et al, 2022; López‐Bedoya, Bohada‐Murillo, et al, 2022) relative to alternative forms of restoration. By focusing on the impacts of different management options within plantations, our results can aid the development of guidelines in forestry plantations to help preserve the most threatened vertebrate group (i.e.…”

“…The global area of anthropic pastures implemented after natural forest conversion (FAO, 2020a) and forestry plantations established by seeding or planting primarily to achieve wood biomass production (López‐Bedoya, Bohada‐Murillo, et al, 2022) increased rapidly over the last decades (~8 million ha annually). Their expansion is one of the main drivers of deforestation (Curtis et al, 2018).…”

Effects of dung beetle activity on tropical forest plants

“…Since dung beetles were proposed as an ideal animal group for analyzing and monitoring biodiversity in modified tropical landscapes 30 years ago (Halffter and Favila, 1993), they have become tremendously popular as a focal taxon in these types of studies (Nichols and Gardner, 2011;Fuzessy et al, 2021a;López-Bedoya et al, 2022). More recently, many of these studies have started quantifying ecological functions of dung beetles, in addition to community attributes, and assessing the relationships between both types of variables.…”

“…Dung beetle functions performed at any given site depend on the composition of the local dung beetle community, which varies strongly among ecosystems, regions, and continents (Hanski and Cambefort, 1991), as well as the type and degree of habitat disturbance (Fuzessy et al, 2021a;López-Bedoya et al, 2022). Most tropical dung beetle species belong to the subfamily Scarabaeinae (often referred to as the 'true dung beetles'), although other dung-feeding beetle taxa (Aphodiinae, Geotrupidae) are important in other bioregions (Scholtz et al, 2009).…”

Restoration intensity shapes floristic recovery after forest road decommissioning

“…structure, diversity, community composition) are vital to ecosystem functioning (Cardinale et al, 2012). For example, structure of forest vegetation (often assessed as percent cover) informs multitrophic habitat suitability (Hingee et al, 2022;López-Bedoya et al, 2022;Schneider et al, 2021). Diverse plant communities provide ecosystems with many benefits and services, such as higher productivity, resistance to invasions, decrease in fungal and viral infections, and increased nutrient cycling (Cardinale et al, 2012) and biodiversity is associated with ecological functions and services after ecological restoration (Benayas et al, 2009).…”