Recent studies suggest that habitat amount is the main determinant of species richness, whereas habitat fragmentation has weak and mostly positive effects. Here, we challenge these ideas using a multi-taxa database including 2230 estimates of forest-dependent species richness from 1097 sampling...

Recent studies suggest that habitat amount is the main determinant of species richness, whereas habitat fragmentation has weak and mostly positive effects. Here, we challenge these ideas using a multi-taxa database including 2230 estimates of forest-dependent species richness from 1097 sampling sites across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. We used a structural equation modeling approach, accounting not only for direct effects of habitat loss, but also for its indirect effects (via habitat fragmentation), on the richness of forest-dependent species. We reveal that in addition to the effects of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation has negative impacts on animal species richness at intermediate (30–60%) levels of habitat amount, and on richness of plants at high (>60%) levels of habitat amount, both of which are mediated by edge effects. Based on these results, we argue that dismissing habitat fragmentation as a powerful force driving species extinction in tropical forest landscapes is premature and unsafe

FUNDAÇÃO CARLOS CHAGAS FILHO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO - FAPERJ

E-26/202.174/2015; E-26/202.144/2015

FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DA BAHIA - FAPESB

BOL1661/2011; 8952/2014; 462/2012; Bol 0104/09

FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAIS - FAPEMIG

COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES

88881.118819/2016-01; 1615640; 88881.064976/2014-01; 001

FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP

2013/50718-5; 2004/04820-3; 2008/01866-3; 2008/03724-1; 97/07075-1; 2005/00405-4; 2006/04878-7; 2008/03500-6; 2011/06782-5; 2011/04046-0; 2010/05343-5; 2014/14925-9; 2014/09300-0; 2014/10192-7; 2011/19767-4; 2013/22679-5. 05/56555-4; 1999/09635-0

CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ

305470/2013-2; 550077/2010-3; 465610/2014-5; 563216/2010-7; 304242/2009-8; 307221/2012-1; 310901/2015-4; 308992/2013-0; 473529/2007-6; 302574/2010-7; 304598/2011-9; 405693/2013-3; 561897/2010-7; 308503/2014-7; 146790/2010-3; 479203/2010-5; 309030/2013-7; 304598/2011-9; 303897/2016-3; 142205/2010-9;...

305470/2013-2; 550077/2010-3; 465610/2014-5; 563216/2010-7; 304242/2009-8; 307221/2012-1; 310901/2015-4; 308992/2013-0; 473529/2007-6; 302574/2010-7; 304598/2011-9; 405693/2013-3; 561897/2010-7; 308503/2014-7; 146790/2010-3; 479203/2010-5; 309030/2013-7; 304598/2011-9; 303897/2016-3; 142205/2010-9; 304817/2015-5; 308205/2014-6; 690144/01-6

Aberto