Protection status and density-dependent effects mediate the abundance-suitability relationship of a threatened species

Souza, Aline Cavalcante de; Weber, Marcelo de Moraes; Prevedello, Jayme Augusto

doi:10.1016/j.pecon.2022.03.002

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…It is much appreciated in Brazilian gastronomy, both for the fruits, which are usually harvested in nondestructive ways and especially for the palm heart, considered a delicacy, although harvesting kills the palm. For this reason, some E. edulis plantations have been established to supply commercial demand, but illegal harvesting in natural forest remnants is still a common practice as an incomegenerating alternative and food resource (Galetti and Fernandez, 1998;Souza et al, 2022). Freckleton et al (2003) simulated different harvesting scenarios for E. edulis populations from a large and well-conserved forest fragment of semideciduous forests in the Atlantic Rainforest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting the impacts of palm heart and fruit harvesting using Integral Projection Models

Mendes

Galdino²,

Portela³

2022

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Due to the increasing human impact on natural resources, we assessed the harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFP) to verify demographic changes in populations of native palm trees. Euterpe edulis is native to the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, characterized by high deforestation and fragmentation. This palm is also targeted for palm heart and fruit harvesting. The threats posed by such factors motivated this study, as they might lead to a decrease in natural populations. The viability of sustainably harvesting the species in small fragmented areas is unknown. We performed simulations for palm heart and fruit harvesting in three small populations (entitled: SH, AJ, and ES) sampled in a 1-year interval (2010–2011) to verify whether these practices were sustainable. Different harvesting scenarios were simulated: (1) no harvesting; (2) harvesting of palm heart of reproductive individuals; (3) harvesting of palm heart of large individuals (diameter at ground level > 65 mm, including reproductive or not). and (4) fruit harvesting. Each scenario was simulated at different harvesting intensities (percentage of individuals or fruits harvested). Integral projection models were used to calculate two demographic parameters, namely, population growth rate (λ) and elasticity. In the no harvesting scenario, the populations had λ > 1 (SH = 1.0655, AJ = 1.0184, and ES = 1.0862). Palm heart harvesting proved to be sustainable in both scenarios, but at a higher intensity in scenario (2) (SH = 83%, AJ = 14%, and ES = 35%) than in scenario (3) (SH = 17%, AJ = 4%, and ES = 16%). Fruit harvesting was sustainable at any intensity for all three populations. As the survival of large individuals has a high impact on λ, palm heart harvesting was in most cases sustainable only at low intensities. In contrast, as fecundity and seedling survival have a low impact on λ, fruit harvesting still proved sustainable at high intensities. Although the populations are tolerant to harvesting to some degree, it must be conducted carefully. As populations are fragile due to the current condition of reduced population size, the removal of palms at any rate can affect population persistence and generate possible cascade effects on the forest.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%