Andrea Premoli - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Andrea Premoli

Research paper thumbnail of Conservation in Austral and Neotropical America: Building Scientific Capacity Equal to the Challenges

Conservation Biology, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Toward Integrated Analysis of Human Impacts on Forest Biodiversity: Lessons from Latin America

Although sustainable forest management (SFM) has been widely adopted as a policy and management g... more Although sustainable forest management (SFM) has been widely adopted as a policy and management goal, high rates of forest loss and degradation are still occurring in many areas. Human activities such as logging, livestock husbandry, crop cultivation, infrastructural development, and use of fire are causing widespread loss of biodiversity, restricting progress toward SFM. In such situations, there is an urgent need for tools that can provide an integrated assessment of human impacts on forest biodiversity and that can support decision making related to forest use. This paper summarizes the experience gained by an international collaborative research effort spanning more than a decade, focusing on the tropical montane forests of Mexico and the temperate rain forests of southern South America, both of which are global conservation priorities. The lessons learned from this research are identified, specifically in relation to developing an integrated modeling framework for achieving SFM. Experience has highlighted a number of challenges that need to be overcome in such areas, including the lack of information regarding ecological processes and species characteristics and a lack of forest inventory data, which hinders model parameterization. Quantitative models are poorly developed for some ecological phenomena, such as edge effects and genetic diversity, limiting model integration. Establishment of participatory approaches to forest management is difficult, as a supportive institutional and policy environment is often lacking. However, experience to date suggests that the modeling toolkit approach suggested by Sturvetant et al. (2008) could be of value in such areas. Suggestions are made regarding desirable elements of such a toolkit to support participatory-research approaches in domains characterized by high uncertainty, including Bayesian Belief Networks, spatial multi-criteria analysis, and scenario planning.

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic variation in the threatened South American conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum (Cupressaceae), detected using RAPD markers

Biological Conservation, 2003

Pilgerodendron uviferum (Cipres de las Guiatecas, Cupressaceae) is a long-lived conifer, endemic ... more Pilgerodendron uviferum (Cipres de las Guiatecas, Cupressaceae) is a long-lived conifer, endemic to southern Chile and Argentina, reaching a southern limit in Tierra del Fuego. Remnant populations are generally fragmented and highly disturbed because of exploitation for timber, grazing and fire. The extent of genetic variation within and between 16 populations of this species, distributed throughout its range, was assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Eight 10-mer primers produced a total of 84 scorable markers, 30 of which (35.7%) were polymorphic. AMOVA indicated that 18.6% of the variation recorded was attributable to differences between populations, a relatively high value compared with other conifers from the region. Pair-wise Phi st comparisons between populations were all significant at P <0.05, with one exception, highlighting a high degree of population differentiation. Values of Shannon's diversity index (S) differed significantly among populations (P=0.002, ANOVA), values ranging from 0.337 to 0.716, suggesting that some populations are currently characterised by very low genetic variability. Current patterns of genetic variation were related to biogeographic history and human impact. The high degree of population differentiation recorded here highlights the need for additional conservation measures for this species, both in terms of incorporating further populations into the protected areas, and the restoration of severely degraded populations, to ensure their continued viability. #

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic variation in Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce), a threatened South American conifer

Molecular Ecology, 1999

Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce, Cupressaceae) is a large and exceptionally long-lived conifer, end... more Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce, Cupressaceae) is a large and exceptionally long-lived conifer, endemic to a restricted area of southern Chile and neighbouring areas of Argentina. As a result of its high economic value, the species has been severely exploited for timber, and remnant populations are fragmented and often highly disturbed. The species is thought to have undergone a major range contraction during the last glaciation. In order to assess the extent of genetic variation using DNA markers within and between populations of this species, samples were obtained from throughout the natural range and analysed for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation. Eight 10-mer and three 15-mer primers were used to produce a total of 54 polymorphic bands. Shannon's diversity estimates were calculated to provide an estimate of the degree of variation within each population. Values varied from 0.343 to 0.636 with only the lowest value differing significantly from the others (Spop= 0.547). This indicated that there is a significant degree of variation within each population, and did not provide evidence for genetic ‘bottleneck’ effects within the species. A pairwise distance measure calculated from the RAPD data was used as an input for principal coordinate (PCO) and amova analyses. The first three principal coordinates of RAPD distances described 8.3, 5.9 and 5.4% of the total variance, respectively, and a degree of clustering of samples according to their geographical origin was detectable. amova analysis indicated that although most of the variation (85.6%) was found within populations, a significant proportion (P < 0.002) was attributable to differences between populations. An upgma dendrogram constructed using ΦST values derived from amova produced a pattern broadly similar to that produced by the PCO, highlighting differences between three main groups of populations within Chile: those from the northern Coastal Range, the southern Coastal Range and Central Depression, and the Andes. Populations from Argentina also emerged as significantly different from those in Chile. These results are interpreted in the context of the postglacial history of the species, and their implications for the development of conservation strategies for Fitzroya are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Conservation in Austral and Neotropical America: Building Scientific Capacity Equal to the Challenges

Conservation Biology, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Toward Integrated Analysis of Human Impacts on Forest Biodiversity: Lessons from Latin America

Although sustainable forest management (SFM) has been widely adopted as a policy and management g... more Although sustainable forest management (SFM) has been widely adopted as a policy and management goal, high rates of forest loss and degradation are still occurring in many areas. Human activities such as logging, livestock husbandry, crop cultivation, infrastructural development, and use of fire are causing widespread loss of biodiversity, restricting progress toward SFM. In such situations, there is an urgent need for tools that can provide an integrated assessment of human impacts on forest biodiversity and that can support decision making related to forest use. This paper summarizes the experience gained by an international collaborative research effort spanning more than a decade, focusing on the tropical montane forests of Mexico and the temperate rain forests of southern South America, both of which are global conservation priorities. The lessons learned from this research are identified, specifically in relation to developing an integrated modeling framework for achieving SFM. Experience has highlighted a number of challenges that need to be overcome in such areas, including the lack of information regarding ecological processes and species characteristics and a lack of forest inventory data, which hinders model parameterization. Quantitative models are poorly developed for some ecological phenomena, such as edge effects and genetic diversity, limiting model integration. Establishment of participatory approaches to forest management is difficult, as a supportive institutional and policy environment is often lacking. However, experience to date suggests that the modeling toolkit approach suggested by Sturvetant et al. (2008) could be of value in such areas. Suggestions are made regarding desirable elements of such a toolkit to support participatory-research approaches in domains characterized by high uncertainty, including Bayesian Belief Networks, spatial multi-criteria analysis, and scenario planning.

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic variation in the threatened South American conifer Pilgerodendron uviferum (Cupressaceae), detected using RAPD markers

Biological Conservation, 2003

Pilgerodendron uviferum (Cipres de las Guiatecas, Cupressaceae) is a long-lived conifer, endemic ... more Pilgerodendron uviferum (Cipres de las Guiatecas, Cupressaceae) is a long-lived conifer, endemic to southern Chile and Argentina, reaching a southern limit in Tierra del Fuego. Remnant populations are generally fragmented and highly disturbed because of exploitation for timber, grazing and fire. The extent of genetic variation within and between 16 populations of this species, distributed throughout its range, was assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Eight 10-mer primers produced a total of 84 scorable markers, 30 of which (35.7%) were polymorphic. AMOVA indicated that 18.6% of the variation recorded was attributable to differences between populations, a relatively high value compared with other conifers from the region. Pair-wise Phi st comparisons between populations were all significant at P <0.05, with one exception, highlighting a high degree of population differentiation. Values of Shannon's diversity index (S) differed significantly among populations (P=0.002, ANOVA), values ranging from 0.337 to 0.716, suggesting that some populations are currently characterised by very low genetic variability. Current patterns of genetic variation were related to biogeographic history and human impact. The high degree of population differentiation recorded here highlights the need for additional conservation measures for this species, both in terms of incorporating further populations into the protected areas, and the restoration of severely degraded populations, to ensure their continued viability. #

Research paper thumbnail of Genetic variation in Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce), a threatened South American conifer

Molecular Ecology, 1999

Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce, Cupressaceae) is a large and exceptionally long-lived conifer, end... more Fitzroya cupressoides (alerce, Cupressaceae) is a large and exceptionally long-lived conifer, endemic to a restricted area of southern Chile and neighbouring areas of Argentina. As a result of its high economic value, the species has been severely exploited for timber, and remnant populations are fragmented and often highly disturbed. The species is thought to have undergone a major range contraction during the last glaciation. In order to assess the extent of genetic variation using DNA markers within and between populations of this species, samples were obtained from throughout the natural range and analysed for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation. Eight 10-mer and three 15-mer primers were used to produce a total of 54 polymorphic bands. Shannon's diversity estimates were calculated to provide an estimate of the degree of variation within each population. Values varied from 0.343 to 0.636 with only the lowest value differing significantly from the others (Spop= 0.547). This indicated that there is a significant degree of variation within each population, and did not provide evidence for genetic ‘bottleneck’ effects within the species. A pairwise distance measure calculated from the RAPD data was used as an input for principal coordinate (PCO) and amova analyses. The first three principal coordinates of RAPD distances described 8.3, 5.9 and 5.4% of the total variance, respectively, and a degree of clustering of samples according to their geographical origin was detectable. amova analysis indicated that although most of the variation (85.6%) was found within populations, a significant proportion (P < 0.002) was attributable to differences between populations. An upgma dendrogram constructed using ΦST values derived from amova produced a pattern broadly similar to that produced by the PCO, highlighting differences between three main groups of populations within Chile: those from the northern Coastal Range, the southern Coastal Range and Central Depression, and the Andes. Populations from Argentina also emerged as significantly different from those in Chile. These results are interpreted in the context of the postglacial history of the species, and their implications for the development of conservation strategies for Fitzroya are discussed.