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Rainforest fragmentation kills big trees

Author

Listed:
  • William F. Laurance

    (Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA)
    Smithsonian Institution)

  • Patricia Delamônica

    (Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA))

  • Susan G. Laurance

    (Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA))

  • Heraldo L. Vasconcelos

    (Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA))

  • Thomas E. Lovejoy

    (Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA)
    Smithsonian Institution)

Abstract

In tropical forests, large canopy and emergent trees are crucial sources of fruits, flowers and shelter for animal populations1,2. They are also reproductively dominant2 and strongly influence forest structure, composition, gap dynamics, hydrology2 and carbon storage3. Here we show that forest fragmentation in central Amazonia is having a disproportionately severe effect on large trees, the loss of which will have major impacts on the rainforest ecosystem.

Suggested Citation

  • William F. Laurance & Patricia Delamônica & Susan G. Laurance & Heraldo L. Vasconcelos & Thomas E. Lovejoy, 2000. "Rainforest fragmentation kills big trees," Nature, Nature, vol. 404(6780), pages 836-836, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:404:y:2000:i:6780:d:10.1038_35009032
    DOI: 10.1038/35009032
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Goldman, Rebecca L. & Thompson, Barton H. & Daily, Gretchen C., 2007. "Institutional incentives for managing the landscape: Inducing cooperation for the production of ecosystem services," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 333-343, December.
    2. Pütz, S. & Groeneveld, J. & Alves, L.F. & Metzger, J.P. & Huth, A., 2011. "Fragmentation drives tropical forest fragments to early successional states: A modelling study for Brazilian Atlantic forests," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(12), pages 1986-1997.
    3. Groeneveld, J. & Alves, L.F. & Bernacci, L.C. & Catharino, E.L.M. & Knogge, C. & Metzger, J.P. & Pütz, S. & Huth, A., 2009. "The impact of fragmentation and density regulation on forest succession in the Atlantic rain forest," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(19), pages 2450-2459.
    4. Bhattacharjee, Arnab & Aravena, Claudia & Castillo, Natalia & Ehrlich, Marco & Taou, Nadia & Wagner, Thomas, 2022. "Agroforestry Programs in the Colombian Amazon: Selection, Treatment and Exposure Effects on Deforestation," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 537, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    5. Gregory Smith & Brett Day & Amy Binner, 2019. "Multiple-Purchaser Payments for Ecosystem Services: An Exploration Using Spatial Simulation Modelling," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 74(1), pages 421-447, September.
    6. Marco Campera & Michela Balestri & Megan Phelps & Fiona Besnard & Julie Mauguiere & Faniry Rakotoarimanana & Vincent Nijman & K. A. I. Nekaris & Giuseppe Donati, 2022. "Depth of Edge Influence in a Madagascar Lowland Rainforest and Its Effects on Lemurs’ Abundance," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    7. David B Clark & Antonio Ferraz & Deborah A Clark & James R Kellner & Susan G Letcher & Sassan Saatchi, 2019. "Diversity, distribution and dynamics of large trees across an old-growth lowland tropical rain forest landscape," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-23, November.
    8. Matheus Henrique Nunes & Marcel Caritá Vaz & José Luís Campana Camargo & William F. Laurance & Ana Andrade & Alberto Vicentini & Susan Laurance & Pasi Raumonen & Toby Jackson & Gabriela Zuquim & Jin W, 2023. "Edge effects on tree architecture exacerbate biomass loss of fragmented Amazonian forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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