Deforestation and Forest Fragmentation in South Ecuador since the 1970s - Losing a Hotspot of Biodiversity

PloS One
María Fernanda Tapia-ArmijosMarcelino de la Cruz

Abstract

Deforestation and fragmentation are major components of global change; both are contributing to the rapid loss of tropical forest area with important implications for ecosystem functioning and biodiversity conservation. The forests of South Ecuador are a biological 'hotspot' due to their high diversity and endemism levels. We examined the deforestation and fragmentation patterns in this area of high conservation value using aerial photographs and Aster satellite scenes. The registered annual deforestation rates of 0.75% (1976-1989) and 2.86% (1989-2008) for two consecutive survey periods, the decreasing mean patch size and the increasing isolation of the forest fragments show that the area is under severe threat. Approximately 46% of South Ecuador's original forest cover had been converted by 2008 into pastures and other anthropogenic land cover types. We found that deforestation is more intense at lower elevations (premontane evergreen forest and shrubland) and that the deforestation front currently moves in upslope direction. Improved awareness of the spatial extent, dynamics and patterns of deforestation and forest fragmentation is urgently needed in biologically diverse areas like South Ecuador.

Associated Datasets

References

Jul 25, 2003·Nature·Barry W BrookPeter K L Ng
Nov 14, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Goncalo FerrazThomas E Lovejoy
Jul 11, 2006·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Todd J HawbakerCharlotte E Gonzalez-Abraham
Jun 9, 2007·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Andrew J Hansen, Ruth DeFries
Sep 15, 2009·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·William F LauranceSusan G W Laurance
May 26, 2010·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Marcelo TabarelliAriadna V Lopes
Nov 12, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Toshinobu ShidaMaxence V Nachury
Oct 1, 1996·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·A YoungT Brown
Oct 7, 2011·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Jedediah BrodieWilliam F Laurance
Jan 11, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Marcia N MacedoYosio E Shimabukuro
Aug 21, 2012·PloS One·Gustavo R CanaleMaria Cecília M Kierulff
Jun 5, 2013·American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy·Russell A SettipaneAlexander G Chiu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 21, 2017·Ecology and Evolution·Justus Precious DeikumahVida Asieduwaa Konadu
Aug 23, 2016·Ecology and Evolution·Carlos Iñiguez-ArmijosLutz Breuer
Jul 21, 2017·Ecology and Evolution·Terefe TolessaMoges Kidane
Dec 20, 2019·Journal of Insect Science·Fernando P GaonaCarlos Iván Espinosa
Aug 15, 2019·Ecology and Evolution·Krzysztof Zawierucha, Daniel H Shain
Apr 3, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Shahzad AliJiahua Zhang
Apr 26, 2019·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Terefe Tolessa Muleta, Moges Kidane Biru
Nov 2, 2021·ZooKeys·Diego Armijos-OjedaCarlos Iván Espinosa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
dissection

Software Mentioned

Aster
IDRISI SELVA
FRAGSTATS
GloVis
ArcGIS

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.