Critical ecological thresholds for conservation of tropical rainforest in Human Modified Landscapes

摘要: Abstract In the tropics, human modified landscapes (HMLs) emerge as potential areas where important levels of biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and services can be conserved. Yet, it is unknown which landscape structures may enable this goal. We studied how tree diversity (SD), aboveground biomass (AGB) carbon storage (ACS) change across a gradient forest-to-agriculture conversion process (0 to ~100%). addressed following questions: i) How SD, AGB ACS with composition configuration, advances? ii) Do such changes depend on spatial scale landscapes, iii) Are there thresholds forest habitat loss after collapse? iv) If so, what explains response? Changes in composition, but not explained ABG, variability deforestation gradient. Percentage cover was best predictor variation, independently scale. SD declined convexly, showing critical collapse threshold, advanced. decreased exponentially 50% reduction at ~30% loss. Elimination several rare species high contributions exponential decrease ACS. accord previous studies targeted other assemblages trees variables that maintaining >40% for conservation. broaden estimation by alerting functions (e.g., AGB) ACS) reduce faster way than biodiversity. This exemplifies different attributes are affected differentially deforestation, adding strong challenge conservation HML.