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Defaunation of Large-Bodied Frugivores Reduces Carbon Storage in a Tropical Forest of Southeast AsiaBackgroundTropical forests are vital for carbon storage, but recent studies suggest that defaunation—the loss of large-bodied seed dispersers due to hunting and habitat fragmentation—can significantly impact this function. While previous research has shown reductions in above-ground carbon storage due to defaunation in South America and Africa, its effects on Southeast Asian forests remain debated. Some scientists argue that the dominance of wind-dispersed Dipterocarpaceae trees in the region buffers against carbon losses from defaunation. This study examines the extent to which defaunation influences carbon storage in a tropical forest in Thailand, where large frugivores such as primates, hornbills, and terrestrial mammals still persist. Available with subscription or purchase |
Drivers and spatial patterns of avian defaunation in tropical forestsBackgroundTropical forests harbor an immense diversity of bird species, but hunting and wildlife trade are driving widespread declines in bird populations. Unlike habitat loss, hunting often occurs in seemingly intact forests, making its impact more difficult to detect. Birds are harvested for both subsistence (food) and commercial purposes (pet trade), but the spatial extent and drivers of avian defaunation remain poorly understood. This study aims to assess the factors influencing bird population declines and map defaunation patterns across tropical forests. Open access copy available |
Using Janzen–Connell to predict the consequences of defaunation and other disturbances of tropical forestsBackgroundThe Janzen–Connell (J–C) model describes how seed dispersal and mortality shape tropical forest diversity. According to the model, seeds that fall close to their parent trees suffer high mortality due to host-specific predators, pathogens, and herbivores. In contrast, seeds dispersed farther away have a better chance of survival. Defaunation, particularly the loss of large-bodied seed dispersers, disrupts this balance by reducing seed dispersal distances. This study applies the J–C model to predict how defaunation and other disturbances affect tree recruitment and forest composition. Available with subscription or purchase |
Cascading effects of contemporaneous defaunation on tropical forest communitiesBackgroundDefaunation, caused by hunting and habitat fragmentation, is a major threat to biodiversity in tropical forests. It disproportionately affects large-bodied vertebrates, which play key roles as seed dispersers, seed predators, and herbivores. The loss of these animals can have cascading effects on plant populations, altering species composition, seed dispersal, and plant recruitment. This study reviews empirical evidence from 42 studies to understand how defaunation influences plant-animal interactions, plant demography, and overall community diversity. Available with subscription or purchase |
Defaunation affects carbon storage in tropical forestsBackgroundTropical forests play a critical role in global carbon storage, holding approximately 40% of the Earth's terrestrial carbon. While deforestation, logging, and climate change are well-documented threats to these forests, the impact of defaunation (the loss of large frugivorous animals due to hunting and habitat loss) has been largely overlooked. Many large-seeded hardwood trees rely on large vertebrates for seed dispersal, and their decline could significantly affect forest composition and carbon storage. Open access copy available |
The social and ecological costs of reforestation. Territorialization and industrialization of land use accompany forest transitions in Southeast AsiaBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Active restoration of post-mining forest benefits the activity density, but not the diversity of spider communities across the seasons in GhanaBACKGROUND:Open access copy available |
Institutional Design of Forest Landscape Restoration in Central Togo: Informing Policy-making through Q Methodology AnalysisBACKGROUND:Open access copy available |
Prospects for integration of carbon and biodiversity credits: an Australian case study reviewBACKGROUND:Open access copy available |
A forest of dreams: Ontological multiplicity and the fantasies of environmental government in the PhilippinesBackgroundThe southwestern Philippines' Palawan Island has seen an expansion of conservation enclosures coinciding with Indigenous rights recognition. The Palawan people, traditionally swidden agriculturalists, hunters, fishers, and traders, are now a minority in southern municipalities due to migration and socioeconomic changes. Aiming to reconcile conservation with Indigenous territorial rights, the Philippine government has policies that often expect Indigenous values to align with bureaucratically managed conservation areas, like the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL). Open access copy available |
