Conference Agenda

Despite theoretical recognition of the importance of plant-frugivore interactions for successful forest regeneration, there are surprisingly few empirical studies of the role of these networks in forest restoration. Across the world, old-growth forests are rapidly disappearing while at the same time forest recovery is increasing secondary forests, which may have the potential to mitigate loss of biodiversity. Using the Atlantic Forests of Brazil as a case study, we quantify the extent to which landscape connectivity affects restoration outcomes in terms of functional plant-frugivore relationships in forest fragments. We studied interactions between frugivores, seeds and fruits in 12 fragments of varying age and connectivity using camera traps on the ground and in the tree canopies, and focal observations. We found that fragment age did not affect seed dispersal networks while forest cover, and thus fragment connectivity, was highly correlated to several network metrics. With increasing forest cover the networks’ stability and complexity significantly increased. This has implications for restoration efforts since natural regeneration alone might not lead to plant-frugivore interactions recovering, especially not in isolated fragments. More attention should be paid to connecting forest fragments in order to restore seed dispersal processes and thus forest functions.

Ecosystems fragmentation is one of biggest threats for populations and ecosystems functioning. Due to settlements development, connectivity between natural vegetation patches decreases, and proportion of edge zone increases. Edge zones characterize by different resources availability and allow for entering of species with different ecological requirements. That way we may expect that fragmentation will make ecosystems more vulnerable to invasion of alien plant species, providing more source populations at the edges of natural vegetation patches. Especially, linear open structures (e.g. roads), connecting invaded and non-invaded sites, might increase risks of invasion. On the other hand, invasion requires constant supply of alien species propagules, therefore cutting their migration routes can limit their spread. As biological invasions are strongly context dependent here I propose conceptual framework for assessment whether fragmentation and connectivity can favor or inhibit plants invasions. Expected effects of fragmentation on invasion rate can depend on species traits, introduction history, and recipient communities. Moreover, assessment of potential fragmentation effects requires also predictions of habitat suitability under changing climate, which can modify future spread of assessed species. In this talk I propose conceptual framework for future studies and examples of facilitation and inhibition of plant invasions related to habitat fragmentation.

Forestry and land-use change are leading causes of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation worldwide, and in boreal forest. To become biodiversity positive by 2030, extensive change is needed to current forest management policy. In such policy, landscape perspectives are often missing. Thus, we conducted a systematic review asking: To what extent does surrounding landscape explain stand-level occurrence of conservation-relevant species in fragmented boreal and hemi-boreal forest? We screened 17 587 abstracts, and identified 172 relevant studies relating stand level presence, abundance, species richness, and/or composition of conservation relevant species to landscape fragmentation. Conservation relevant was defined as threatened, red listed, rare, or area sensitive; old growth forest or dead wood dependent; an indicator, keystone, umbrella, or flagship species. Our meta-analyses showed that both presence and abundance was significantly higher in less fragmented landscapes. Particularly, when fragmentation was measured as distance to surrounding habitat for presence, and as habitat amount for abundance. This suggests that, to promote viability of conservation relevant species, policy must ensure a high enough amount of habitat within a short enough distance. These results emphasize the negative effects of the practice of clear-felling and associated landscape transformation that has been the norm for the last century.

Tropical forests face severe degradation, impacting biodiversity, climate, and society. To address this, we advocate restoring these ecosystems. But how do we prioritize limited restoration resources? And how can we effectively market restoration interventions to landowners and decision makers? Our approach uses linear discriminant analysis (LDA) modelling and centres on mammals as connectivity indicators to inform the spatial prioritization of restoration efforts.

Using camera traps and LDA, we spatially predict the distribution of key large-bodied disperse mammal species within a highly fragmented oil palm/forest landscape in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. This study provides vital baseline data to inform the restoration process, helping us understand how species are responding to these disturbances and assessing the potential for natural regeneration within the study site. Furthermore, these insights provide critical information for stakeholders on where to focus active restoration efforts to improve landscape connectivity, whilst bridging key knowledge gaps on how mammals respond to oil palm, human disturbance, and landcover.

Crucially, by identifying areas where natural regeneration may be plausible, we provide an appealing restoration pathway to landowners with limited resources for forest restoration, minimizing the need for costly or inappropriate interventions such as tree planting or intensive management.