Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/15531
Title: Quantifying invertebrate-mediated herbivory across an anthropogenic disturbance gradient in amazonian forests
Other Titles: Quantificando herbivoria mediada por invertebrados ao longo de um gradiente de perturbação antropogênica em florestas amazônicas
Authors: Barlow, Bernard Josiah
Barlow, Bernard Josiah
Louzada, Júlio Neil Cassa
Rossetti, Maria Rosa
Keywords: Biodiversity
Leaf damage
Herbivory
Biodiversidade
Perturbação florestal
Herbivoria
Issue Date: 16-Oct-2017
Publisher: Universidade Federal de Lavras
Citation: BARRETO, J. R. Quantifying invertebrate-mediated herbivory across an anthropogenic disturbance gradient in amazonian forests. 2017. 49 p. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ecologia Aplicada)-Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, 2017.
Abstract: Disturbance is a generalized threat to biodiversity, indirectly impacting ecological interactions with possible far-reaching consequences for tropical forests. Herbivory is a key ecological interaction being an interesting field to explore specially in human-altered tropical rainforests, with the potential to unravel critical consequences for both herbivores and forest ecosystems. We demonstrated in a large-scale study that, despite current rates of disturbance and negative effects on diversity, these impacts not necessarily extend to ecological interactions. We found these Amazonian forests herbivory levels to be dominated by chewing and the other two forms of invertebrate–mediated herbivory surveyed (mining and galling) followed both with relatively very low incidence dominated herbivory levels. No overall changes in herbivory levels along disturbance in Amazonian forests surveyed, with a weak link between herbivory and environmental disturbance variables. Tropical forest landscapes are suffering unprecedented rates of disturbance and we found evidences slight effect of light pressures of disturbance, we claim implications for conservation policies to focus on maintenance of functionality of ecological processes outcomes such as herbivory and encouraging monitoring of these. Herbivory not only seem to be functionally resistant to disturbance, but also play critical role on forest regeneration, contributing in several ways to forest resilience as a whole. Our results bring insights for tropical forest functioning since drivers of environmental change that affect biodiversity are likely to result on long-term ecosystem impacts.
URI: http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/15531
Appears in Collections:Botânica Aplicada - Mestrado (Dissertações)



Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.