Dataset Information

Conserving tropical tree diversity and forest structure: the value of small rainforest patches in moderately-managed landscapes.

ABSTRACT: Rainforests are undergoing severe deforestation and fragmentation worldwide. A huge amount of small forest patches are being created, but their value in conserving biodiversity and forest structure is still controversial. Here, we demonstrate that in a species-rich and moderately-managed Mexican tropical landscape small rainforest patches (<100 ha) can be highly valuable for the conservation of tree diversity and forest structure. These patches showed diverse communities of native plants, including endangered species, and a new record for the country. Although the number of logged trees increased in smaller patches, patch size was a poor indicator of basal area, stem density, number of species, genera and families, and community evenness. Cumulative species-area curves indicated that all patches had a similar contribution to the regional species diversity. This idea also was supported by the fact that patches strongly differed in floristic composition (high ?-diversity), independently of patch size. Thus, in agreement with the land-sharing approach, our findings support that small forest patches in moderately-managed landscapes should be included in conservation initiatives to maintain landscape heterogeneity, species diversity, and ecosystem services.

SUBMITTER: Hernandez-Ruedas MA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4047051 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Conserving tropical tree diversity and forest structure: the value of small rainforest patches in moderately-managed landscapes.

Hernández-Ruedas Manuel A MA Arroyo-Rodríguez Víctor V Meave Jorge A JA Martínez-Ramos Miguel M Ibarra-Manríquez Guillermo G Martínez Esteban E Jamangapé Gilberto G Melo Felipe P L FP Santos Bráulio A BA

PloS one 20140605 6

Rainforests are undergoing severe deforestation and fragmentation worldwide. A huge amount of small forest patches are being created, but their value in conserving biodiversity and forest structure is still controversial. Here, we demonstrate that in a species-rich and moderately-managed Mexican tropical landscape small rainforest patches (<100 ha) can be highly valuable for the conservation of tree diversity and forest structure. These patches showed diverse communities of native plants, includ ...[more]

PMID: 24901954

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Dataset Information

Conserving tropical tree diversity and forest structure: the value of small rainforest patches in moderately-managed landscapes.

Publications

Conserving tropical tree diversity and forest structure: the value of small rainforest patches in moderately-managed landscapes.

Similar Datasets

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