Perspectives in Ornithology: Effects of Disturbance or Loss of Tropical Rainforest on Birds
EXTENSIVE TROPICAL DEFORESTATION is a major threat to bird biodiversity. Approximately 50% of the area originally covered by tropical forests has now been cleared, and much of what remains is being rapidly degraded (Wright 2005). This habitat loss is the primary cause of species endangerment and local extinctions (e.g., Brash 1987, Castelletta et al. 2000, Trainor 2007). Given that 70% of the world's threatened bird species occur in lowland and montane tropical forests (BirdLife International 2008), deforestation remains a major threat. It has been predicted that most of the currently threatened bird species could disappear by the end of this century if the present rate of deforestation continues (Pimm et al. 2006). Although species disappearance is an expected consequence of outright habitat loss, much remains to be learned about the extinction process and how forest disturbance contributes to the decline of tropical birds. Here, we briefly highlight overall patterns of endangerment and extinction of bird species and discuss possible mechanisms (e.g., predation) and consequences (e.g., breakdown of ecosystem processes) of the loss of tropical forest species. We summarize current knowledge on the effects of deforestation and its associated drivers (e.g., fragmentation, agriculture) on forest birds. We end by identifying the conservation implications of the patterns we have highlighted and potential core areas for future research.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford (EUA): Oxford University Press,
2008
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| Subjects: | DEFORESTACION, |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1525/auk.2008.1708 |
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| Summary: | EXTENSIVE TROPICAL DEFORESTATION is a major threat to bird biodiversity. Approximately 50% of the area originally covered by tropical forests has now been cleared, and much of what remains is being rapidly degraded (Wright 2005). This habitat loss is the primary cause of species endangerment and local extinctions (e.g., Brash 1987, Castelletta et al. 2000, Trainor 2007). Given that 70% of the world's threatened bird species occur in lowland and montane tropical forests (BirdLife International 2008), deforestation remains a major threat. It has been predicted that most of the currently threatened bird species could disappear by the end of this century if the present rate of deforestation continues (Pimm et al. 2006). Although species disappearance is an expected consequence of outright habitat loss, much remains to be learned about the extinction process and how forest disturbance contributes to the decline of tropical birds. Here, we briefly highlight overall patterns of endangerment and extinction of bird species and discuss possible mechanisms (e.g., predation) and consequences (e.g., breakdown of ecosystem processes) of the loss of tropical forest species. We summarize current knowledge on the effects of deforestation and its associated drivers (e.g., fragmentation, agriculture) on forest birds. We end by identifying the conservation implications of the patterns we have highlighted and potential core areas for future research.
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