Tropical forest degradation and recovery in fragmented landscapes — Simulating changes in tree community, forest hydrology and carbon balance

Paula, Mateus Dantas de; Groeneveld, Jürgen; Huth, Andreas

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2015.03.004

Cited by 63 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…In anthropogenic landscapes surrounded by a harsh matrix, we assume that there is a sharp decrease in biomass in the first years after forest fragmentation, due to the mortality of large shade‐tolerant trees (Figure e). The duration of this biomass‐decay period is context dependent (Figures , e), and it could range between 4 and 80 years (Dantas de Paula, Groeneveld, & Huth, ; Laurance et al., ; Pütz et al., ). After the stabilization of shade‐tolerant species mortality, biomass can be increased by the proliferation of pioneers and lianas, but insufficiently to compensate for the period of sharp biomass decrease (Figure e).…”

Section: Landscape‐level Effects On Biomass Loss—a Conceptual Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The duration of this biomass-decay period is context dependent (Figures 1, 2e), and it could range between 4 and 80 years (Dantas de Paula, Groeneveld, & Huth, 2015;Laurance et al, 1997;P€ utz et al, 2014). After the stabilization of shade-tolerant species mortality, biomass can be increased by the proliferation of pioneers and lianas, but insufficiently to compensate for the period of sharp biomass decrease (Figure 2e).…”

Section: Temporal Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Landscape‐level effects on aboveground biomass of tropical forests: A conceptual framework

Melito

Metzger

Oliveira

2017

Global Change Biology

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Despite the general recognition that fragmentation can reduce forest biomass through edge effects, a systematic review of the literature does not reveal a clear role of edges in modulating biomass loss. Additionally, the edge effects appear to be constrained by matrix type, suggesting that landscape composition has an influence on biomass stocks. The lack of empirical evidence of pervasive edge-related biomass losses across tropical forests highlights the necessity for a general framework linking landscape structure with aboveground biomass. Here, we propose a conceptual model in which landscape composition and configuration mediate the magnitude of edge effects and seed-flux among forest patches, which ultimately has an influence on biomass. Our model hypothesizes that a rapid reduction of biomass can occur below a threshold of forest cover loss. Just below this threshold, we predict that changes in landscape configuration can strongly influence the patch's isolation, thus enhancing biomass loss. Moreover, we expect a synergism between landscape composition and patch attributes, where matrix type mediates the effects of edges on species decline, particularly for shade-tolerant species. To test our conceptual framework, we propose a sampling protocol where the effects of edges, forest amount, forest isolation, fragment size, and matrix type on biomass stocks can be assessed both collectively and individually. The proposed model unifies the combined effects of landscape and patch structure on biomass into a single framework, providing a new set of main drivers of biomass loss in human-modified landscapes. We argue that carbon trading agendas (e.g., REDD+) and carbon-conservation initiatives must go beyond the effects of forest loss and edges on biomass, considering the whole set of effects on biomass related to changes in landscape composition and configuration.

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Section: Landscape‐level Effects On Biomass Loss—a Conceptual Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Temporal Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape‐level effects on aboveground biomass of tropical forests: A conceptual framework

Melito

Metzger

Oliveira

2017

Global Change Biology

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“…To address these knowledge gaps forest models are a useful tool to upscale local empirical observations (Fischer et al 2016). One of these forest models, FORMIND, has a 20 year long history of successful representation of forest dynamics (Fischer et al 2016) also under several disturbance scenarios including logging (Huth andDitzer 2001, Huth et al 2004), climate change (Fischer et al 2014, Hiltner et al 2016, landslides (Dislich and Huth 2012), and fragmentation (Groeneveld et al 2009, Pütz et al 2011, Dantas de Paula et al 2015. With regards to defaunation, two recent studies using statistical models have related defaunation to biomass loss in fragmented forests, by substituting large seeded trees for others from the community, and estimating future carbon stocks (Bello et al 2015, Peres et al 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defaunation impacts on seed survival and its effect on the biomass of future tropical forests

Paula

Groeneveld

Fischer

et al. 2018

Oikos

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Large animal species, which provide important ecological functions such as dispersal of seeds or top–down control of seed predators, are very vulnerable in fragmented forests, being unable to survive in small fragments, and facing increasing hunting pressure. The loss of large animals affects two main ecological processes crucial for the tree reproductive cycle: seed dispersal of large seeds (e.g. provided by tapirs) and control of seed predator population (e.g. provided by large cats). The changes in both processes are expected to increase seed mortality since seeds are not dispersed away from conspecifics (causing increased pre‐dispersal mortality due to negative density dependent effects) and/or face increased predation after a dispersal event (post‐dispersal mortality). Although an extensive body of empirical knowledge exists on seed predation, the link between seed loss and adult tree community composition and structure is not well established, as well as the temporal scale seed changes affect adults. Using an individual‐based forest model (FORMIND), we evaluate the long‐term consequences of increased pre and post‐dispersal seed mortality on the future forest biomass retention of a Brazilian northeastern Atlantic forest. Our results show that forest biomass is significantly affected after 80–93% pre‐dispersal loss of large seeds, or post‐dispersal predation densities of 20–25 predators per parent tree. Large‐seeded tree species are at increased risk of local extinction causing up to 26.2% loss of forest biomass when both pre and post‐dispersal processes are combined. However, these changes can last up to 100 years after the occurrence of defaunation. In summary we conclude that large animal loss has the potential to reduce future forest biomass and tree species‐richness by impacting seed survival, and should be considered in the planning of biodiversity friendly landscapes as well as in calculations of the global carbon budget.

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“…The declaration of PAs has increased globally because of increased environmental sensitivity [1]; to counter the threats of climate change [2]; land use changes [3]; deforestation [4]; the risk of flooding [5]; the risk of forest fires [6]; habitat fragmentation [7]; the propagation of invasive species [8]; urban pressure [9]; and recreational use [10]. based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Land Use-Cover Changes and Modelling Change Scenarios in Two Mountain Spanish National Parks

et al. 2017

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Land Use-Cover Changes (LUCCs) are one of the main problems for the preservation of biodiversity. Protected Areas (PAs) do not escape this threat. Some processes, such as intensive recreational use, forest fires or the expansion of artificial areas taking place inside and around them in response to their appeal, question their environmental sustainability and their efficiency. In this paper, we analyze the LUCCs that took place between 1990 and 2006 in two National Parks (NPs) belonging to the Spanish network and in their surroundings: Ordesa and Monte Perdido (Ordesa NP) and Sierra de Guadarrama (Guadarrama NP). We also simulate land use changes between 2006 and 2030 by means of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), taking into account two scenarios: trend and green. Finally, we perform a multi-temporal analysis of natural habitat fragmentation in each NP. The results show that the NPs analyzed are well-preserved and have seen hardly any significant LUCCs inside them. However, Socioeconomic Influence Zones (SIZs) and buffers are subject to different dynamics. In the SIZ and buffer of the Ordesa NP, there has been an expansion of built-up areas (annual rate of change = +1.19) around small urban hubs and ski resorts. There has also been a gradual recovery of natural areas, which had been interrupted by forest fires. The invasion of sub-alpine grasslands by shrubs is clear (+2735 ha). The SIZ and buffer of the Guadarrama NP are subject to urban sprawl in forest areas and to the construction of road infrastructures (+5549 ha and an annual rate of change = +1.20). Industrial area has multiplied by 3.3 in 20 years. The consequences are an increase in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), greater risk of forest fires and greater fragmentation of natural habitats (+0.04 in SIZ). In the change scenarios, if conditions change as expected, the specific threats facing each NP can be expected to increase. There are substantial differences between the scenarios depending on whether or not incentives are accepted and legal restrictions are respected.

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Tropical forest degradation and recovery in fragmented landscapes — Simulating changes in tree community, forest hydrology and carbon balance

Cited by 63 publications

References 56 publications

Landscape‐level effects on aboveground biomass of tropical forests: A conceptual framework

Landscape‐level effects on aboveground biomass of tropical forests: A conceptual framework

Defaunation impacts on seed survival and its effect on the biomass of future tropical forests

Assessing Land Use-Cover Changes and Modelling Change Scenarios in Two Mountain Spanish National Parks

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