Skip to main content

Carlos A Peres

University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Professor

Followers

560

Following

40

Co-authors

38

Public Views

Born in Belém, Brazil, Carlos Peres was exposed to Amazonian natural history from age six and his father's 5,000-ha landholding in eastern Pará, consisting largely of undisturbed primary forest, became a childhood playground. For the last 30 years he has been studying the disturbance ecology of wildlife communities in Amazonian forests, the population ecology of key tropical forest resource populations, and the biological criteria for designing large nature reserves. He currently co-directs four ecology and conservation research programs in neotropical forests, including the ecology of key timber and non-timber forest resources
Phone: +44 1603 592549
Address: School of Environmental Sciences | University of East Anglia | Norwich NR47TJ UK

less

C. Michael Hall

University of Canterbury/Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Julian D Reynolds

Trinity College Dublin

Madhusudan Katti

NC State University

Duke University

University of East London

Armando Marques-Guedes

UNL - New University of Lisbon

Swansea University

Guilherme Siniciato Terra Garbino

Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Université de Montréal

Alexander Abuladze

Ilia State University

InterestsView All (10)

Uploads

Papers by Carlos A Peres

Vulnerability and Resilience of Tropical Forest Species to Land-Use Change

Conservation Biology, Dec 1, 2009

Anthropogenic drivers of headwater and riparian forest loss and degradation in a highly fragmented southern Amazonian landscape

Land Use Policy, Mar 1, 2018

Thresholds of riparian forest use by terrestrial mammals in a fragmented Amazonian deforestation frontier

Biodiversity and Conservation, May 29, 2018

Species persistence in fragmented landscapes is intimately related to the quality, structure, and... more Species persistence in fragmented landscapes is intimately related to the quality, structure, and context of remaining habitat remnants. Riparian vegetation is legally protected within private landholdings in Brazil, so we quantitatively assessed occupancy patterns of terrestrial mammals in these remnants, examining under which circumstances different species effectively use them. We selected 38 riparian forest patches and five comparable riparian sites within continuous forest, at which we installed four to five cameratraps per site (199 camera-trap stations). Terrestrial mammal assemblages were sampled for 60 days per station during the dry seasons of 2013 and 2014. We modelled species occupancy and detection probabilities within riparian forest remnants, and examined the effects of patch size, habitat quality, and landscape structure on occupancy probabilities. We then scaled-up modelled occupancies to all 1915 riparian patches throughout the study region to identify which remnants retain the greatest potential to work as habitat for terrestrial vertebrates. Of the ten species for which occupancy was modelled, six responded to forest quality (remnant degradation, cattle intrusion, palm aggregations, and understorey density) or structure (remnant width, isolation, length, and area of the patch from which it originates). Patch suitability was lower considering habitat quality than landscape

Site and species contribution to β-diversity in terrestrial mammal communities: Evidence from multiple Neotropical forest sites

Science of The Total Environment, 2021

Setting priority conservation management regions to reverse rapid range decline of a key neotropical forest ungulate

Global Ecology and Conservation, 2021

Mammals are important components of biodiversity that have been drastically and rapidly impacted ... more Mammals are important components of biodiversity that have been drastically and rapidly impacted by climate change, habitat loss, and anthropogenic pressure. Understanding key species distribution to optimize conservation targets is both urgent and necessary to reverse the current biodiversity crisis. Herein, we applied habitat suitability models for a key Neotropical forest ungulate, the white-lipped peccary (WLP Tayassu pecari), to investigate the effects of climate and landscape modifications on its distribution, which has been drastically reduced in Brazil. We used 318 primary records of WLP to derive habitat suitability maps across Brazil. Our models included bioclimatic, topographic, landscape, and human influence predictors in two modelling approaches. Models including all categories of predictors obtained the highest predictive ability and showed prevalence of suitable areas in forested regions of the country, covering 49% of the Brazilian territory. Filtering out small forest fragments (<2050 ha) reduced the suitable area by 5%, with a further reduction of 4% that was caused by deforestation until 2020, therefore until 2020, the species has suffered a reduction of ~60% from its historical range in Brazil. Of the 40% of the Brazilian territory suitable to WLP, only 12% is protected. In the Atlantic Forest, only half of all protected areas have suitable habitat for WLP and even less in Pantanal (44%), Cerrado (14%) and Caatinga (7%). In a second modelling approach, mapping the areas with suitable climate and those with suitable landscapes separately, allowed us to identify four categories of

Co‐declining mammal–dung beetle faunas throughout the Atlantic Forest biome of South America

Ecography, 2019

The millennial–scale evolutionary relationships between mammals and dung beetles have been eroded... more The millennial–scale evolutionary relationships between mammals and dung beetles have been eroded due to several drivers of contemporary biodiversity loss. Although some evidence of co‐decline has been shown for mammals and dung beetles at some Neotropical sites, a biome‐scale analysis for the entire Atlantic Forest of South America would strengthen our understanding of how relictual sets of mammal species can affect dung beetle co‐occurrences and co‐declines. We therefore collated hundreds of assemblages of both dung beetles and medium‐ to large‐bodied mammals throughout the world's longest tropical forest latitudinal gradient to examine to what extent mammal assemblages may exert a positive influence on dung beetle species composition and functional assembly, and whether this relationship is scale dependent. We also collated several climatic and other environmental variables to examine the degree to which they shape mammal–dung beetle relationships. The relationships between l...

Creation of forest edges has a global impact on forest vertebrates

Nature, 2017

The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems

Journal of Mammalogy, 2019

The diverse functional roles of over 6,000 species of extant mammals that range in body size acro... more The diverse functional roles of over 6,000 species of extant mammals that range in body size across eight orders of magnitude, from blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) to tiny Etruscan shrews (Suncus etruscus), contribute to shaping Earth's ecosystems. Large mammalian herbivores (e.g., African elephants [Loxodonta africana], American bison [Bison bison], hippopotamuses [Hippopotamus amphibius]) and carnivores (e.g., wolves [Canis lupus], pumas [Puma concolor], sea otters [Enhydra lutris]) often have significant effects on primary producers in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems through nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the exertion of bottom-up and top-down processes. Small mammals, like bats, are important pollinators, dispersers of fruits, and consumers of arthropods, and others, especially rodents and primates, are important predators and dispersers of seeds. Many of these mammal-mediated processes occur simultaneously in the same ecosystem, and have significant effects on community structure of primary producers that in turn alter communities of other vertebrates and invertebrates. Many mammals also are ecosystem engineers (e.g., elephants, American beavers [Castor canadensis], porcupines [Erithezon dorsatum], prairie dogs [Cynomys spp.]) that create, significantly modify, or destroy habitat, and by doing so, they alter ecosystem structure and function and increase habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity. The extensive influence mammals have on ecosystems results in important services that contribute to human wellbeing, such as pollination, insect pest control, and bioturbation of soils. The rapid declines in abundance of many mammal populations and the associated increase in extinction risk raise conservation concerns for mammals. To maintain mammalian diversity and the critical ecosystem processes they provide, scientists need to mobilize concern for their status and strive for more effective and comprehensive conservation action. We provide insights and synthesis on the ecological role of mammals and highlight key research questions and future directions for their conservation. Los diversos roles funcionales de las más de 6,000 especies de mamíferos existentes-que varían en peso corporal de hasta eight órdenes de magnitud entre si, desde las ballenas azules (Balaenoptera musculus) hasta las diminutas musarañas etruscas (Suncus etruscus) desempeñan un papel importante en la formación de los ecosistemas del planeta. Los grandes mamíferos herbívoros (elefantes [Loxodonta africana], bisontes [Bison bison], hipopótamos [Hippopotamus amphibius]) y carnívoros (lobos [Canis lupus], pumas [Puma concolor], nutrias marinas [Enhydra lutris]) a menudo tienen efectos significantes en los productores primarios de los ecosistemas terrestres, acuáticos

Wish you were here: How defaunated is the Atlantic Forest biome of its medium- to large-bodied mammal fauna?

PloS one, 2018

Mammals represent the largest-bodied elements of the world's surviving megafauna and provide ... more Mammals represent the largest-bodied elements of the world's surviving megafauna and provide several key ecosystems services, yet their populations are often under steep decline throughout the tropics. Anthropogenic defaunation is one the most important contemporary threats to modern mammal faunas. Although the Atlantic Forest biome of South America shows several clear signs of defaunation, the extent to which this biome has lost its mammal fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we collate and analyze a comprehensive body of secondary data to quantitatively assess the spatial patterns of defaunation of all medium- to large-bodied Atlantic Forest mammals which were then classed by morpho-ecological traits. We used a Defaunation Index, which was scaled-up to the entire biome using kriging interpolation, to examine the integrity of site-specific mammal faunas. We further use environmental and socioeconomic predictors to explain the drivers of defaunation. Our results show high leve...

Do Community-Managed Forests Work? A Biodiversity Perspective

Land, 2017

Forest patch isolation drives local extinctions of Amazonian orchid bees in a 26 years old archipelago

Biological Conservation, 2017

Major hydroelectric dams are among key emergent agents of habitat loss and fragmentation in lowla... more Major hydroelectric dams are among key emergent agents of habitat loss and fragmentation in lowland tropical forests. Orchid bees (Apidae, Euglossini) are one of the most important groups of specialized pollinators of flowering plants in Neotropical forests. Here, we investigate how an entire assemblage of orchid bees responded to the effects of forest habitat loss, isolation and forest canopy degradation induced by a hydroelectric reservoir of Central Brazilian Amazonia. Built in 1986, the Balbina Dam resulted in a vast archipelagic landscape containing 3,546 primary forest islands of varying sizes and isolation, surrounded by 3,129-km 2 of freshwater. Using scent traps, we sampled 34 islands, 14 open-water matrix sites, and three mainland continuous forests, yielding 2,870 male orchid bees representing 25 species. Local orchid bee species richness was affected by forest patch area but particularly by site isolation. Distance to forest edges, either within forest areas or into the open-water matrix, was the most important predictor of species richness and composition. Variation in matrix dispersal of individual species to increasingly isolated sites was a key determinant of community structure. Given the patterns of patch persistence and matrix movements of orchid bees in increasingly fragmented forest landscapes, we outline how forest bees respond to the landscape alteration induced by major hydroelectric dams. These results should be considered in environmental impact studies prior to the approval of new dams.

Gap‐crossing movements predict species occupancy in Amazonian forest fragments

Oikos, 2009

In fragmented landscapes, species persistence within isolated habitat patches is governed by a my... more In fragmented landscapes, species persistence within isolated habitat patches is governed by a myriad of species life‐history, habitat patch and landscape characteristics. We investigated the inter‐specific variation in non‐forest gap‐crossing abilities of an entire tropical forest‐dependent avifauna. We then related this measure of dispersal ability to species life‐history characteristics and occupancy data from 31 variable‐sized forest patches sampled within the same fragmented forest landscape. A total of 5436 gap‐crossing movements of 231 forest‐dependent bird species were observed across ten linear forest gaps of varying widths, adjacent to large areas of undisturbed forest. Species persistence in isolated fragments was strongly linked to gap‐crossing ability. The most capable gap‐crossers were medium to large‐bodied species in the large insectivore, frugivore and granivore guilds, matching the most prevalent subset of species in small forest patches. However, some competent ga...

Determinants of livelihood strategy variation in two extractive reserves in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests

Environmental Conservation, 2011

SUMMARYExtractive reserves account for a significant proportion of the remaining intact forest wi... more SUMMARYExtractive reserves account for a significant proportion of the remaining intact forest within Brazilian Amazonia. Managers of extractive reserves need to understand the livelihood strategies adopted by rural Amazonians in order to implement projects that benefit the livelihoods of local residents whilst maintaining forest integrity. Whilst resident populations are often descended from immigrant rubber-tappers, dynamic economic and social conditions have led to a recent diversification of land-use practices. This two-year study in two large contiguous extractive reserves encompassing both unflooded (terra firme) and seasonally flooded (várzea) forest, shows the degree to which local livelihood strategies of different settlements are heterogeneous. Extractive offtake of forest products and fish catches and agricultural activities, together with income from sales, for 82 households in 10 communities were quantified in detail by means of weekly surveys. The survey data were comb...

Perils in Parks or Parks in Peril? Reconciling Conservation in Amazonian Reserves with and without Use

Conservation Biology, 2001

Hunting and Plant Community Dynamics in Tropical Forests: A Synthesis and Future Directions

Biotropica, 2007

How pristine are tropical forests? An ecological perspective on the pre-Columbian human footprint in Amazonia and implications for contemporary conservation

Biological Conservation, 2012

Amazonian countryside habitats provide limited avian conservation value

Biodiversity and Conservation, 2011

Avian life‐history determinants of local extinction risk in a hyper‐fragmented neotropical forest landscape

Animal Conservation, 2008

The fact that species vary in their vulnerability to extinction is well documented, but the reaso... more The fact that species vary in their vulnerability to extinction is well documented, but the reasons for these differences remain poorly understood. Why should some species/families/guilds decline rapidly with increasing anthropogenic disturbance, while others either tolerate or proliferate in disturbed habitats? We investigated the bird species composition in 31 primary forest patches of varying size in a region of the Amazonian ‘Arc of Deforestation’ and assessed which species life‐history traits predisposed individual species to extinction. Medium‐sized non‐flocking canopy frugivores/ominvores of low primary forest dependence were least likely to go extinct in small patches, while small‐bodied flock‐following primary‐forest‐dependent terrestrial insectivores were most fragmentation sensitive. We found highly idiosyncratic relationships between the minimum size of forest patches occupied by different species and their territory size requirements estimated based on other Amazonian s...

Patch‐scale biodiversity retention in fragmented landscapes: Reconciling the habitat amount hypothesis with the island biogeography theory

Journal of Biogeography, Jan 30, 2019

Avian extinctions induced by the oldest Amazonian hydropower mega dam: evidence from museum collections and sighting data spanning 172 years

PeerJ

Hydroelectric dams represent an emergent threat to lowland tropical forest biodiversity. Despite ... more Hydroelectric dams represent an emergent threat to lowland tropical forest biodiversity. Despite the large number of operational, under-construction, and planned hydroelectric dams, their long-term effects on biodiversity loss are still poorly documented. Here, we investigate avian extinctions resulting from the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Reservoir (THR), the oldest Amazonian mega dam, which impounded the Tocantins River in 1984. Our avian inventory—based on several sampling methods (mist-netting, point-counts, boat census and qualitative surveys) during 280 days of fieldwork from 2005 to 2007—was combined with an exhaustive search of museum vouchers and digital online databases of citizen science from the lower Tocantins River to identify long-term trends in species persistence and extinction in the THR influence area. The regional avifauna was comprised of 479 species, 404 of which were recorded during our fieldwork. Based on recent and historical records spanning 172 years, we found e...

Vulnerability and Resilience of Tropical Forest Species to Land-Use Change

Conservation Biology, Dec 1, 2009

Anthropogenic drivers of headwater and riparian forest loss and degradation in a highly fragmented southern Amazonian landscape

Land Use Policy, Mar 1, 2018

Thresholds of riparian forest use by terrestrial mammals in a fragmented Amazonian deforestation frontier

Biodiversity and Conservation, May 29, 2018

Species persistence in fragmented landscapes is intimately related to the quality, structure, and... more Species persistence in fragmented landscapes is intimately related to the quality, structure, and context of remaining habitat remnants. Riparian vegetation is legally protected within private landholdings in Brazil, so we quantitatively assessed occupancy patterns of terrestrial mammals in these remnants, examining under which circumstances different species effectively use them. We selected 38 riparian forest patches and five comparable riparian sites within continuous forest, at which we installed four to five cameratraps per site (199 camera-trap stations). Terrestrial mammal assemblages were sampled for 60 days per station during the dry seasons of 2013 and 2014. We modelled species occupancy and detection probabilities within riparian forest remnants, and examined the effects of patch size, habitat quality, and landscape structure on occupancy probabilities. We then scaled-up modelled occupancies to all 1915 riparian patches throughout the study region to identify which remnants retain the greatest potential to work as habitat for terrestrial vertebrates. Of the ten species for which occupancy was modelled, six responded to forest quality (remnant degradation, cattle intrusion, palm aggregations, and understorey density) or structure (remnant width, isolation, length, and area of the patch from which it originates). Patch suitability was lower considering habitat quality than landscape

Site and species contribution to β-diversity in terrestrial mammal communities: Evidence from multiple Neotropical forest sites

Science of The Total Environment, 2021

Setting priority conservation management regions to reverse rapid range decline of a key neotropical forest ungulate

Global Ecology and Conservation, 2021

Mammals are important components of biodiversity that have been drastically and rapidly impacted ... more Mammals are important components of biodiversity that have been drastically and rapidly impacted by climate change, habitat loss, and anthropogenic pressure. Understanding key species distribution to optimize conservation targets is both urgent and necessary to reverse the current biodiversity crisis. Herein, we applied habitat suitability models for a key Neotropical forest ungulate, the white-lipped peccary (WLP Tayassu pecari), to investigate the effects of climate and landscape modifications on its distribution, which has been drastically reduced in Brazil. We used 318 primary records of WLP to derive habitat suitability maps across Brazil. Our models included bioclimatic, topographic, landscape, and human influence predictors in two modelling approaches. Models including all categories of predictors obtained the highest predictive ability and showed prevalence of suitable areas in forested regions of the country, covering 49% of the Brazilian territory. Filtering out small forest fragments (<2050 ha) reduced the suitable area by 5%, with a further reduction of 4% that was caused by deforestation until 2020, therefore until 2020, the species has suffered a reduction of ~60% from its historical range in Brazil. Of the 40% of the Brazilian territory suitable to WLP, only 12% is protected. In the Atlantic Forest, only half of all protected areas have suitable habitat for WLP and even less in Pantanal (44%), Cerrado (14%) and Caatinga (7%). In a second modelling approach, mapping the areas with suitable climate and those with suitable landscapes separately, allowed us to identify four categories of

Co‐declining mammal–dung beetle faunas throughout the Atlantic Forest biome of South America

Ecography, 2019

The millennial–scale evolutionary relationships between mammals and dung beetles have been eroded... more The millennial–scale evolutionary relationships between mammals and dung beetles have been eroded due to several drivers of contemporary biodiversity loss. Although some evidence of co‐decline has been shown for mammals and dung beetles at some Neotropical sites, a biome‐scale analysis for the entire Atlantic Forest of South America would strengthen our understanding of how relictual sets of mammal species can affect dung beetle co‐occurrences and co‐declines. We therefore collated hundreds of assemblages of both dung beetles and medium‐ to large‐bodied mammals throughout the world's longest tropical forest latitudinal gradient to examine to what extent mammal assemblages may exert a positive influence on dung beetle species composition and functional assembly, and whether this relationship is scale dependent. We also collated several climatic and other environmental variables to examine the degree to which they shape mammal–dung beetle relationships. The relationships between l...

Creation of forest edges has a global impact on forest vertebrates

Nature, 2017

The functional roles of mammals in ecosystems

Journal of Mammalogy, 2019

The diverse functional roles of over 6,000 species of extant mammals that range in body size acro... more The diverse functional roles of over 6,000 species of extant mammals that range in body size across eight orders of magnitude, from blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) to tiny Etruscan shrews (Suncus etruscus), contribute to shaping Earth's ecosystems. Large mammalian herbivores (e.g., African elephants [Loxodonta africana], American bison [Bison bison], hippopotamuses [Hippopotamus amphibius]) and carnivores (e.g., wolves [Canis lupus], pumas [Puma concolor], sea otters [Enhydra lutris]) often have significant effects on primary producers in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems through nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the exertion of bottom-up and top-down processes. Small mammals, like bats, are important pollinators, dispersers of fruits, and consumers of arthropods, and others, especially rodents and primates, are important predators and dispersers of seeds. Many of these mammal-mediated processes occur simultaneously in the same ecosystem, and have significant effects on community structure of primary producers that in turn alter communities of other vertebrates and invertebrates. Many mammals also are ecosystem engineers (e.g., elephants, American beavers [Castor canadensis], porcupines [Erithezon dorsatum], prairie dogs [Cynomys spp.]) that create, significantly modify, or destroy habitat, and by doing so, they alter ecosystem structure and function and increase habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity. The extensive influence mammals have on ecosystems results in important services that contribute to human wellbeing, such as pollination, insect pest control, and bioturbation of soils. The rapid declines in abundance of many mammal populations and the associated increase in extinction risk raise conservation concerns for mammals. To maintain mammalian diversity and the critical ecosystem processes they provide, scientists need to mobilize concern for their status and strive for more effective and comprehensive conservation action. We provide insights and synthesis on the ecological role of mammals and highlight key research questions and future directions for their conservation. Los diversos roles funcionales de las más de 6,000 especies de mamíferos existentes-que varían en peso corporal de hasta eight órdenes de magnitud entre si, desde las ballenas azules (Balaenoptera musculus) hasta las diminutas musarañas etruscas (Suncus etruscus) desempeñan un papel importante en la formación de los ecosistemas del planeta. Los grandes mamíferos herbívoros (elefantes [Loxodonta africana], bisontes [Bison bison], hipopótamos [Hippopotamus amphibius]) y carnívoros (lobos [Canis lupus], pumas [Puma concolor], nutrias marinas [Enhydra lutris]) a menudo tienen efectos significantes en los productores primarios de los ecosistemas terrestres, acuáticos

Wish you were here: How defaunated is the Atlantic Forest biome of its medium- to large-bodied mammal fauna?

PloS one, 2018

Mammals represent the largest-bodied elements of the world's surviving megafauna and provide ... more Mammals represent the largest-bodied elements of the world's surviving megafauna and provide several key ecosystems services, yet their populations are often under steep decline throughout the tropics. Anthropogenic defaunation is one the most important contemporary threats to modern mammal faunas. Although the Atlantic Forest biome of South America shows several clear signs of defaunation, the extent to which this biome has lost its mammal fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we collate and analyze a comprehensive body of secondary data to quantitatively assess the spatial patterns of defaunation of all medium- to large-bodied Atlantic Forest mammals which were then classed by morpho-ecological traits. We used a Defaunation Index, which was scaled-up to the entire biome using kriging interpolation, to examine the integrity of site-specific mammal faunas. We further use environmental and socioeconomic predictors to explain the drivers of defaunation. Our results show high leve...

Do Community-Managed Forests Work? A Biodiversity Perspective

Land, 2017

Forest patch isolation drives local extinctions of Amazonian orchid bees in a 26 years old archipelago

Biological Conservation, 2017

Major hydroelectric dams are among key emergent agents of habitat loss and fragmentation in lowla... more Major hydroelectric dams are among key emergent agents of habitat loss and fragmentation in lowland tropical forests. Orchid bees (Apidae, Euglossini) are one of the most important groups of specialized pollinators of flowering plants in Neotropical forests. Here, we investigate how an entire assemblage of orchid bees responded to the effects of forest habitat loss, isolation and forest canopy degradation induced by a hydroelectric reservoir of Central Brazilian Amazonia. Built in 1986, the Balbina Dam resulted in a vast archipelagic landscape containing 3,546 primary forest islands of varying sizes and isolation, surrounded by 3,129-km 2 of freshwater. Using scent traps, we sampled 34 islands, 14 open-water matrix sites, and three mainland continuous forests, yielding 2,870 male orchid bees representing 25 species. Local orchid bee species richness was affected by forest patch area but particularly by site isolation. Distance to forest edges, either within forest areas or into the open-water matrix, was the most important predictor of species richness and composition. Variation in matrix dispersal of individual species to increasingly isolated sites was a key determinant of community structure. Given the patterns of patch persistence and matrix movements of orchid bees in increasingly fragmented forest landscapes, we outline how forest bees respond to the landscape alteration induced by major hydroelectric dams. These results should be considered in environmental impact studies prior to the approval of new dams.

Gap‐crossing movements predict species occupancy in Amazonian forest fragments

Oikos, 2009

In fragmented landscapes, species persistence within isolated habitat patches is governed by a my... more In fragmented landscapes, species persistence within isolated habitat patches is governed by a myriad of species life‐history, habitat patch and landscape characteristics. We investigated the inter‐specific variation in non‐forest gap‐crossing abilities of an entire tropical forest‐dependent avifauna. We then related this measure of dispersal ability to species life‐history characteristics and occupancy data from 31 variable‐sized forest patches sampled within the same fragmented forest landscape. A total of 5436 gap‐crossing movements of 231 forest‐dependent bird species were observed across ten linear forest gaps of varying widths, adjacent to large areas of undisturbed forest. Species persistence in isolated fragments was strongly linked to gap‐crossing ability. The most capable gap‐crossers were medium to large‐bodied species in the large insectivore, frugivore and granivore guilds, matching the most prevalent subset of species in small forest patches. However, some competent ga...

Determinants of livelihood strategy variation in two extractive reserves in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests

Environmental Conservation, 2011

SUMMARYExtractive reserves account for a significant proportion of the remaining intact forest wi... more SUMMARYExtractive reserves account for a significant proportion of the remaining intact forest within Brazilian Amazonia. Managers of extractive reserves need to understand the livelihood strategies adopted by rural Amazonians in order to implement projects that benefit the livelihoods of local residents whilst maintaining forest integrity. Whilst resident populations are often descended from immigrant rubber-tappers, dynamic economic and social conditions have led to a recent diversification of land-use practices. This two-year study in two large contiguous extractive reserves encompassing both unflooded (terra firme) and seasonally flooded (várzea) forest, shows the degree to which local livelihood strategies of different settlements are heterogeneous. Extractive offtake of forest products and fish catches and agricultural activities, together with income from sales, for 82 households in 10 communities were quantified in detail by means of weekly surveys. The survey data were comb...

Perils in Parks or Parks in Peril? Reconciling Conservation in Amazonian Reserves with and without Use

Conservation Biology, 2001

Hunting and Plant Community Dynamics in Tropical Forests: A Synthesis and Future Directions

Biotropica, 2007

How pristine are tropical forests? An ecological perspective on the pre-Columbian human footprint in Amazonia and implications for contemporary conservation

Biological Conservation, 2012

Amazonian countryside habitats provide limited avian conservation value

Biodiversity and Conservation, 2011

Avian life‐history determinants of local extinction risk in a hyper‐fragmented neotropical forest landscape

Animal Conservation, 2008

The fact that species vary in their vulnerability to extinction is well documented, but the reaso... more The fact that species vary in their vulnerability to extinction is well documented, but the reasons for these differences remain poorly understood. Why should some species/families/guilds decline rapidly with increasing anthropogenic disturbance, while others either tolerate or proliferate in disturbed habitats? We investigated the bird species composition in 31 primary forest patches of varying size in a region of the Amazonian ‘Arc of Deforestation’ and assessed which species life‐history traits predisposed individual species to extinction. Medium‐sized non‐flocking canopy frugivores/ominvores of low primary forest dependence were least likely to go extinct in small patches, while small‐bodied flock‐following primary‐forest‐dependent terrestrial insectivores were most fragmentation sensitive. We found highly idiosyncratic relationships between the minimum size of forest patches occupied by different species and their territory size requirements estimated based on other Amazonian s...

Patch‐scale biodiversity retention in fragmented landscapes: Reconciling the habitat amount hypothesis with the island biogeography theory

Journal of Biogeography, Jan 30, 2019

Avian extinctions induced by the oldest Amazonian hydropower mega dam: evidence from museum collections and sighting data spanning 172 years

PeerJ

Hydroelectric dams represent an emergent threat to lowland tropical forest biodiversity. Despite ... more Hydroelectric dams represent an emergent threat to lowland tropical forest biodiversity. Despite the large number of operational, under-construction, and planned hydroelectric dams, their long-term effects on biodiversity loss are still poorly documented. Here, we investigate avian extinctions resulting from the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Reservoir (THR), the oldest Amazonian mega dam, which impounded the Tocantins River in 1984. Our avian inventory—based on several sampling methods (mist-netting, point-counts, boat census and qualitative surveys) during 280 days of fieldwork from 2005 to 2007—was combined with an exhaustive search of museum vouchers and digital online databases of citizen science from the lower Tocantins River to identify long-term trends in species persistence and extinction in the THR influence area. The regional avifauna was comprised of 479 species, 404 of which were recorded during our fieldwork. Based on recent and historical records spanning 172 years, we found e...