Poor management in protected areas is associated with lowered tropical mammal diversity

摘要: Numerous protected areas (PAs) have been created worldwide to safeguard wildlife and other natural resources from anthropogenic threats such as habitat destruction bushmeat hunting. However, conservation efforts in many tropical PAs are still inadequate, revealing deficiencies management effectiveness. It is therefore important quantify how different protection regimes impact within PAs. We investigated the differences between forest mammal communities two ecologically comparable Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania) with contrasting regimes. One a well‐protected national park efficient law enforcement; has suffered decades of inadequate protection, mainly resulting high levels illegal Using camera‐trapping data, we assessed target terms species richness, functional composition (i.e. proportions trophic guilds) species‐specific occurrences, all while accounting for imperfect detection. found striking communities: lower alteration structure reduced occurrence probabilities most disturbance. The difference probability tended be highest larger‐bodied species. Our results show that strictly enforced legal required maintain diverse forests under ever‐increasing threats. While cornerstone conserve biodiversity, future biodiversity them closely tied effectiveness enforcement.