Anthropogenic Disturbance Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) is proposed as a method to assess floristic integrity in Illinois. For the application of FQA, each taxon in the Illinois vascular flora was assigned an integer from 0 to 10 termed a coefficient of... more

Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) is proposed as a method to assess floristic integrity in Illinois. For the application of FQA, each taxon in the Illinois vascular flora was assigned an integer from 0 to 10 termed a coefficient of conservatism (C). Two basic ecological tenets that the coefficients represent are that plant species differ in their tolerance to disturbance and

The alarming rate of deforestation in Madagascar is driving some endemic primates to extinction. Surprisingly, anthropogenic habitat disturbance is not always deleterious. The effect of disturbance on lemur abundance may be related to... more

The alarming rate of deforestation in Madagascar is driving some endemic primates to extinction. Surprisingly, anthropogenic habitat disturbance is not always deleterious. The effect of disturbance on lemur abundance may be related to diet, with frugivorous species more prone to population declines than folivores or insectivores. To test the effects of disturbance on lemur abundance and group size, we surveyed 2 sites within contiguous forest at Ranomafana National Park, 1 lightly disturbed primary forest (Vato) and 1 heavily logged forest (Tala). We quantified forest structure variables along 6 survey routes and conducted 68 diurnal and 42 nocturnal lemur surveys. Canopy closure, canopy height, and understory visibility were greater in Vato than in Tala. We encountered 2 frugivorous lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons, Varecia variegata) and 1 folivore (Avahi peyrierasi) significantly more frequently in Vato than in Tala, whereas the opposite was true for the insectivorous Microcebus rufus. Rates did not differ statistically for 1 frugivore (Eulemur rubriventer) and 2 folivores (Propithecus edwardsi, Hapalemur griseus). Comparisons across the 6 survey routes suggest that the abundance was heterogeneous within as well as between sites. Neither group size nor composition differed between sites. Encounter rates for Varecia variegata were positively related to canopy closure, and encounter rates for Avahi peyrierasi were positively related to canopy height. Encounter rates for Microcebus rufus were negatively related to canopy closure, height, and understory visibility. Similar to other studies, the results suggest that some lemurs, including folivores, may cope with anthropogenic disturbance better than others, including some frugivores. Lemur abundance is heterogeneous, though, even on small spatial scales.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are often advocated by ecologists as a method of conserving valuable fish stocks while ensuring the integrity of ecological processes in the face of increasing anthropogenic disturbance. In the Turks and... more

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are often advocated by ecologists as a method of conserving valuable fish stocks while ensuring the integrity of ecological processes in the face of increasing anthropogenic disturbance. In the Turks and Caicos Islands there is little evidence that current MPAs are ecologically beneficial but there are indications that boundary changes may enhance queen conch and finfish production. Implementing boundary changes usually requires political will and, hence, quantifiable economic ...

All around us today there is a clear evidence proof suggesting an observable influence by human on biogeochemical cycles which are likely to cause serious consequences for humanity. Activities of human affect the biogeochemical cycles,... more

All around us today there is a clear evidence proof suggesting an
observable influence by human on biogeochemical cycles which are likely to cause serious consequences for humanity. Activities of human affect the biogeochemical cycles, both directly as well as indirectly. If scholars were able to make clear the degree of how specific human actions are affecting the biogeochemical cycles, they (researchers) would be able to come up with ideas on how to better position toward suggesting strategies aimed at mitigating against disturbances that are worst. This paper aims at exploring how human activities affect the balance of biogeochemical cycles in relation to the Carbon, Nitrogen and Hydrologic Cycles. A literature analysis attempts to use a diversity of search engines such as Scopus, Researchgate, PubMed, Google Scholar, Summon, Hinari, CAB Abstract, OARE Abstract, Academia, Dimension, Mendeley, SSRN search strategy toward retrieving research publications, “grey literature” as well as expert reports from working group. This paper reviews some of the work done on this topic as well as locate the converging results of interest in all the studies as well as proffered solutions toward this menace with the purpose of forestalling future occurrence. Due to the actions of numerous human activities, the characteristics/features of several components of biogeochemical cycles are experiencing changes which are most likely led to long-term changes. It is essential to forecast the magnitude as well as degree of these changes so that the needed ameliorative actions could be
originated well in time

Dietary investigations of sympatric felids are means for understanding how closely related species deal with food resources in a potentially competitive scenario. The diets of the oncilla Leopardus tigrinus, the jaguarundi Puma... more

Dietary investigations of sympatric felids are means for understanding how closely related species deal with food resources in a potentially competitive scenario. The diets of the oncilla Leopardus tigrinus, the jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi and the ocelot Leopardus pardalis were studied through the analysis of scats in Araucaria Pine Forest with Natural Grasslands of southern Brazil. Small mammals comprised the bulk of the diets of the three felids, followed by birds and reptiles. The smallest food-niche overlap index was 0.84, indicating that these felids shared an important portion of their food resources. Inter-species differences were detected in the consumption of the most frequent rodent prey; L. tigrinus was the only species that consumed all the most frequent rodent prey differently from the rate expected from their abundances. Although these findings suggest competitive interactions, with the oncilla being the most subordinate species, further experimental investigations are necessary to elucidate more precisely how these syntopic felids coexist. The effects of sample size and its influences on the evaluation of the diets of the felids, especially of the ocelot, are discussed. We compare our data to a previous study in the same area, to account for the possible influences of biased sampling and uneven distribution of food resources on the diet of the ocelot. The opportunistic feeding behavior and the abundance of their primary prey (cricetid rodents) seem to allow these small cats to be resilient despite severe anthropogenic disturbance in the study area. We further suggest guidelines for future studies in the study region, in order to understand the dynamics of mammalian carnivores demography.

We review resilience to natural and anthropogenic disturbance of palm populations and communities in tropical America. Response of palms to disturbance depends on their morphological traits, their reproductive strategies and the impacts... more

We review resilience to natural and anthropogenic disturbance of palm populations and communities in tropical America. Response of palms to disturbance depends on their morphological traits, their reproductive strategies and the impacts of these traits and strategies on phenology and gene flow. Human impact induces changes in genetic structure, increasing endogamy and genetic drift in fragmented populations. Forest fragmentation and harvest of palm organs are well documented whereas effects of intermediate disturbance like selective logging, hunting or fire remain poorly known. We recommend emphasis on long-term experiments and on the use of mechanistic approaches in future research to facilitate integration of available data into a theoretical ecological framework.

A detailed analysis of the location and composition of Iberian vegetation types during the whole Pleistocene and Holocene periods shows a complex patched landscape with persistence of different types of ecosystems, even during glacial... more

A detailed analysis of the location and composition of Iberian vegetation types during the whole Pleistocene and Holocene periods shows a complex patched landscape with persistence of different types of ecosystems, even during glacial times. In addition, recent, high-resolution palaeoecological records are changing the traditional picture of post-glacial vegetation succession in the Iberian Peninsula. The main available charcoal and pollen sequences include, coniferous and deciduous forest, steppes, shrublands, savannahs and glacial refugia during the Pleistocene for Meso-thermophytes (phytodiversity reservoirs), in different proportions. This panorama suggests an environmental complexity that relates biotic responses to climate changes forced by Milankovitch cycles, suborbital forcings and by the latitudinal and physiographic particularities of the Iberian Peninsula. Thus, many factors are critical in the course of vegetational developments and strong regional differences are obser...

Distribution patterns of mangrove pollen taxa in recent surface sediments of the lagoon system of Cispatá are compared with geomorphological and vegetational patterns. The pollen spectra of 51 samples show the floral composition and... more

Distribution patterns of mangrove pollen taxa in recent surface sediments of the lagoon system of Cispatá are compared with geomorphological and vegetational patterns. The pollen spectra of 51 samples show the floral composition and structure of mangrove stands in three main geomorphic units in the study area. The oldest mangrove stands, with the highest tree mean diameter at breast height

Land snails are cornerstone organisms that contribute to properly functioning ecosystems. However, habitat loss and destruction have led to these organisms being one of the most imperiled groups on the planet. Due to their relatively... more

Land snails are cornerstone organisms that contribute to properly functioning ecosystems. However, habitat loss and destruction have led to these organisms being one of the most imperiled groups on the planet. Due to their relatively sedentary nature, land snails can be susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance and habitat fragmentation. Because of this, old-growth forests have the potential for being premiere habitat for these organisms, and snails have the potential to be good indicators of old-growth habitats. This study compared land snail species diversity and community composition in old-growth and second-growth forests in the Inner Bluegrass, Cumberland Plateau, and Pine Mountain ecoregions of Kentucky. Study areas were selected in central and eastern Kentucky based on disturbance histories. Within each study area, data regarding species diversity, richness, and abundance between disturbance classes was collected and analyzed using a random effects analysis of variance as well...