Quantitative Analysis of Forest Fragmentation in the Atlantic Forest Reveals More Threatened Bird Species than the Current Red List

摘要: Habitat loss and attendant fragmentation threaten the existence of many species. Conserving these species requires a straightforward objective method that quantifies how factors affect their survival. Therefore, we compared variety metrics assess habitat in bird ranges, using geographical ranges 127 forest endemic passerine birds inhabiting Atlantic Forest Brazil. A common, non-biological metric — cumulative area size-ranked fragments within range was misleading, as least threatened had most fragmentation. Instead, recommend modified version metapopulation capacity. The links detailed spatial information on fragment sizes configuration to birds’ abilities occupy disperse across large areas (100,000+ km2). In Forest, capacities were largely bimodal, species’ either low capacity (high risk extinction) or high (very small extinction). This pattern persisted taxonomically ecologically homogenous groups, indicating it is driven by patterns not differences ecology. Worryingly, found IUCN considers some 28 58 cluster be threatened. We propose assessing effect will separate more clearly into distinct categories than does simple assessment remaining habitat.