Habitat fragmentation potentiates biodiversity loss worldwide. Species preservation requires an integrated understanding of wildlife-habitat relationships; however, responses to habitat fragmentation may vary considerably as a function of the species ecological flexibility and the unique attributes of each fragment habitat. In this dissertation, I explore the behavioural and health ecology of an ecologically flexible primate, the ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta), occupying forest fragments in south-central Madagascar that differ in isolation, degree of anthropogenic pressure, and L. catta food resource structure. Anja Special Reserve is a 34 ha rocky-outcrop forest fragment that is highly isolated from other forests containing L. catta. L. catta in this reserve have access to abundant food and water resources year-round due to the introduction of non-native fruit trees and the construction of an artificial lake adjacent the reserve, which support a population density of L. catta (6.6 lemurs/ha) that is higher than at any other site in which the species has been studied. In comparison, the Tsaranoro Valley forest is a 53 ha rocky-outcrop forest fragment that is surrounded by a matrix of grassy savannah and a few anthropogenic crops. While land clearing is pronounced in the valley, a few fragments remain within range for L. catta dispersal. L. catta in this fragment have limited access to introduced or anthropogenic resources and the population density (1.13 lemurs/ha) is one-sixth that at Anja. During the late dry season of 2010 and mid- to late-wet season of 2011, I collected continuous time focal animal data to examine behavioural patterns related to habitat use (ranging, matrix use, terrestriality), activity budgets, and feeding ecology of L. catta in each fragment. In addition, I examined two health parameters, stress and endoparasitism, through the collection of fecal samples from focal individuals. I compared these variables between and within populations to examine the potential impacts of habitat fragmentation on an ecologically adaptable primate. L. catta at Anja depended on smaller home range areas and a focused diet consisting largely of introduced food resources, and correspondingly exhibited lower energy expenditure, while spending more time engaging in rest and social acitivities when compared with the Tsaranoro lemurs. In comparison, L. catta at Tsaranoro occupied large home ranges, traveled greater distances to forage in the matrix habitat surrounding the fragment, and exhibited a more broad-based dietary strategy that contained few introduced or anthropogenic resources. From a health perspective, L. catta at Anja exhibited higher stress levels throughout the study period, while L. catta at Tsaranoro exhibited a greater prevalence of endoparasites, which may be reflective of differences in the social pressures and ranging patterns of L. catta between the two fragments, respectively. These results illustrate differences in the quality of the habitats and the potential fitness consequences that the L. catta populations must cope with, with important implications regarding the long-term suitability of these fragments for sustaining these populations. Such information is integral when assessing the viability of wildlife populations in degraded landscapes and should be a primary consideration for wildlife managers in biodiversity conservation. / Graduate / 0327 / 0329 / denisegabrie@gmail.com

Today traditionally managed wooded hay meadows only exist in small fractions of their former distributions. Because of the fragmentation and degeneration of hay meadows and the fact that pollinating insect diversity and abundance also are declining, pollination services in these habitats requires attention. To examine the pollination services in traditionally managed hay meadows I collected Ranunculus acris (Buttercup) in 20 meadows of varying quality on Gotland and evaluated the mean seed set and mean number of produced seeds per plant. I also collected Filipendula vulgaris (Dropwort) in 18 meadows and evaluated the mean seed set to be able to compare the pollination success of the insect pollinated R. acris with the wind pollinated F. vulgaris. A range of habitat variables were collected in the meadows and in older surveys to examine their relative impact on seed set. I found significantly higher seed set for R. acris in the meadows with higher habitat quality, than in meadows with lower quality. In contrast seed set in F. vulgaris was not related to habitat quality. The population density also seemed to play an important role in fertilization rate for R. acris, through increased seed set in high density areas, while plant height was positively correlated with number of produced seeds. For F. vulgaris seed set was positively correlated with moss cover, and number of seeds per plant was positively correlated with population density. These results suggest that reproductive success among insect pollinated plants are more sensitive to habitat degeneration than among wind pollinated plants. The status of pollination services in traditionally managed wooded hay meadows should be evaluated further.

Landscape modification resulting in habitat loss, fragmentation and intensification of land use is a serious threat to the earth’s biological diversity and the primary cause of the current extinction crisis. Recent research suggests the human-modified area of the landscape (that is not ‘traditional’ habitat for native species but potentially once was), or the ‘matrix’ (as it is hereafter called) has a major influence on wildlife persistence in modified landscapes. However, the matrix is a poorly studied and inadequately understood element of a modified landscape. There are at least two reasons for this. Firstly, the predominance of island biogeography and metapopulation theories in ecological thinking ensured that the matrix has historically been ignored in ecological research. Secondly, it is difficult to analyse matrix effects without confounding effects of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and other aspects of landscape modification. As landscapes are modified attributes of the matrix co-vary with attributes of patches and landscapes, entangling their relative impacts on wildlife. Thus to investigate the independent influence of the matrix on mammals I selected 19 study landscapes by rigorous criteria to control for all potentially confounding patch and landscape attributes such as remnant forest patch size, shape, vegetation type, condition and position in the landscape, presence of any large (potential ‘source’) native forest patches within the landscape unit, as well as matrix land use composition and history. A study landscape was defined as the area within a 500 m radius of a remnant forest patch edge. Landscapes were selected along a gradient of rural-suburban residential development spanning the broadest achievable range of what I call ‘matrix development intensity’. This gradient was quantified by a novel weighted road-length metric that considered multiple road attributes to give significance to the ecological impact of different roads. Mammals and their habitat were sampled in three landscape elements within each landscape: remnant patch core, remnant patch edge and matrix to allow a landscape level inference. Mammals were sampled by a combination of Elliott traps, wire cage traps, hair funnels, scats and direct sightings. Thirty environmental variables were measured including habitat structure and disturbance and a full floristic survey was conducted. The matrix intensity gradient was characterised by increased anthropogenic disturbance such as increased housing density, closer proximity of sample sites to houses and higher human disturbance across the landscape mosaic, including in the core of remnant patches. However, matrix intensity was not the greatest source of overall variation in structural and floristic habitat attributes. Therefore the confounding of matrix effects with effects of remnant forest patch habitat attributes were successfully ruled out. Management actions of individual landholders can shape habitat attributes essential to mammals across the landscape mosaic. Mammal response to matrix intensity was species specific. Several native species declined in abundance, others were more resilient to moderate levels of matrix intensity, one species increased in abundance, and at least one species appeared unaffected by matrix intensity. Native species richness peaked at moderate levels, while exotic species richness and feral predators increased with matrix intensity and were negatively correlated with native species. Species response to matrix intensity appeared related to their use of edge or matrix habitat. However, an ability to use the matrix per se may not translate into an ability to persist in a landscape where development substantially reduces the habitat or movement value of the matrix. Seven a priori models of various remnant patch habitat, landscape and matrix influences on terrestrial mammal species richness were tested. Matrix attributes were the most important determinants of species richness. Matrix development intensity had a strong negative effect while matrix vegetation structural complexity had a strong positive effect on mammal species richness. Distance to the nearest remnant forest habitat was relatively unimportant. I hypothesised that thresholds of matrix intensity would exist where native species decline in abundance and exotic and native synanthropic species increase to dominate the mammal community. Thresholds were found for abundance of all native terrestrial species combined, macropod abundance and exotic rodent abundance. However, threshold models were only better than linear or cubic models for exotic rodent abundance. Matrix development intensity has a pervasive impact across the whole landscape mosaic that results in a complex range of environmental changes that individually and collectively impact the mammal community. Drawing on all results, I present a conceptual model of the overall impact of matrix development intensity on mammal community integrity. I conclude that a structurally complex matrix within a human-modified landscape can provide supplementary habitat resources and increase the probability of successful species movement across the landscape. Research needs to incorporate empirical data of specific matrix effects into models and theory of species distribution and abundance in human-modified landscapes. This can help guide application of management actions and landscape planning principles across different landscapes. Planning authorities and land managers need to explicitly acknowledge the importance of the matrix and the numerous factors that could be manipulated, such as retention or restoration of a structural vegetation layer that can assist mammal movement across the matrix, for greater landscape-wide conservation outcomes.

Landscape modification resulting in habitat loss, fragmentation and intensification of land use is a serious threat to the earth’s biological diversity and the primary cause of the current extinction crisis. Recent research suggests the human-modified area of the landscape (that is not ‘traditional’ habitat for native species but potentially once was), or the ‘matrix’ (as it is hereafter called) has a major influence on wildlife persistence in modified landscapes. However, the matrix is a poorly studied and inadequately understood element of a modified landscape. There are at least two reasons for this. Firstly, the predominance of island biogeography and metapopulation theories in ecological thinking ensured that the matrix has historically been ignored in ecological research. Secondly, it is difficult to analyse matrix effects without confounding effects of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and other aspects of landscape modification. As landscapes are modified attributes of the matrix co-vary with attributes of patches and landscapes, entangling their relative impacts on wildlife. Thus to investigate the independent influence of the matrix on mammals I selected 19 study landscapes by rigorous criteria to control for all potentially confounding patch and landscape attributes such as remnant forest patch size, shape, vegetation type, condition and position in the landscape, presence of any large (potential ‘source’) native forest patches within the landscape unit, as well as matrix land use composition and history. A study landscape was defined as the area within a 500 m radius of a remnant forest patch edge. Landscapes were selected along a gradient of rural-suburban residential development spanning the broadest achievable range of what I call ‘matrix development intensity’. This gradient was quantified by a novel weighted road-length metric that considered multiple road attributes to give significance to the ecological impact of different roads. Mammals and their habitat were sampled in three landscape elements within each landscape: remnant patch core, remnant patch edge and matrix to allow a landscape level inference. Mammals were sampled by a combination of Elliott traps, wire cage traps, hair funnels, scats and direct sightings. Thirty environmental variables were measured including habitat structure and disturbance and a full floristic survey was conducted. The matrix intensity gradient was characterised by increased anthropogenic disturbance such as increased housing density, closer proximity of sample sites to houses and higher human disturbance across the landscape mosaic, including in the core of remnant patches. However, matrix intensity was not the greatest source of overall variation in structural and floristic habitat attributes. Therefore the confounding of matrix effects with effects of remnant forest patch habitat attributes were successfully ruled out. Management actions of individual landholders can shape habitat attributes essential to mammals across the landscape mosaic. Mammal response to matrix intensity was species specific. Several native species declined in abundance, others were more resilient to moderate levels of matrix intensity, one species increased in abundance, and at least one species appeared unaffected by matrix intensity. Native species richness peaked at moderate levels, while exotic species richness and feral predators increased with matrix intensity and were negatively correlated with native species. Species response to matrix intensity appeared related to their use of edge or matrix habitat. However, an ability to use the matrix per se may not translate into an ability to persist in a landscape where development substantially reduces the habitat or movement value of the matrix. Seven a priori models of various remnant patch habitat, landscape and matrix influences on terrestrial mammal species richness were tested. Matrix attributes were the most important determinants of species richness. Matrix development intensity had a strong negative effect while matrix vegetation structural complexity had a strong positive effect on mammal species richness. Distance to the nearest remnant forest habitat was relatively unimportant. I hypothesised that thresholds of matrix intensity would exist where native species decline in abundance and exotic and native synanthropic species increase to dominate the mammal community. Thresholds were found for abundance of all native terrestrial species combined, macropod abundance and exotic rodent abundance. However, threshold models were only better than linear or cubic models for exotic rodent abundance. Matrix development intensity has a pervasive impact across the whole landscape mosaic that results in a complex range of environmental changes that individually and collectively impact the mammal community. Drawing on all results, I present a conceptual model of the overall impact of matrix development intensity on mammal community integrity. I conclude that a structurally complex matrix within a human-modified landscape can provide supplementary habitat resources and increase the probability of successful species movement across the landscape. Research needs to incorporate empirical data of specific matrix effects into models and theory of species distribution and abundance in human-modified landscapes. This can help guide application of management actions and landscape planning principles across different landscapes. Planning authorities and land managers need to explicitly acknowledge the importance of the matrix and the numerous factors that could be manipulated, such as retention or restoration of a structural vegetation layer that can assist mammal movement across the matrix, for greater landscape-wide conservation outcomes.

Human land-use has a profound influence on wildlife populations; habitat loss can directly decrease population size and carrying capacity, and isolation of the remaining populations can increase their extinction probability. Landscape ecology as a discipline has worked towards creating general rules for the way species respond to landscape change. These rules include, for example, estimates of thresholds at which populations respond more severely to landscape level variables, or general theories as to which species will be more susceptible to landscape change. The demand for these generalisations is driven by the need for inexpensive, rapid and effective methods to manage problems caused by landscape change. The question as to whether general rules are accurate or useful solicits mixed responses from scientists and conservation managers. The most cited reason for this mixed response is the empirical inconsistencies in the way species respond to landscape change. In this thesis I suggest that general rules must be tested in an a priori fashion to directly assess their utility and assist in their translation from theory to practical tool. My primary aim is to test general rules in landscape ecology through creating a priori models; these models are based on ecological theories and existing species and landscape information. My secondary aim is to enhance the understanding of landscape level habitat fragmentation problems for birds in South East Queensland, Australia. I address these aims within four main data chapters as summarised below, where Chapter 1 is a broad introduction to the topic. Chapter 2 asks the question: can general rules and threshold theory be used to predict bird species patch occupancy in a fragmented landscape? I create a simple decision tree model based on threshold theories in landscape ecology, and use this to predict presence or absence of 17 forest bird species in a largely agricultural landscape. This decision tree is broadly based on theoretical patch area and connectivity threshold estimates, and incorporates basic species specific information (such as habitat suitability and mobility). I test this model using a presence/absence survey data set. The process of assessing for which species the model did not work is revealing: I show that the accuracy of ‘present’ predictions is somewhat compromised for habitat specialist species and ‘absent’ predictions are compromised for generalist species. Through creating the ‘optimal’ decision tree models for these species I show that these inaccuracies are likely to arise from vegetation mapping problems, including the lack of a ‘habitat quality’ measure. The study therefore highlights the need for high quality vegetation maps to carry out effective planning. For the majority of species I achieve reasonable predictive success. This study provides hope that general rules have some predictive ability in landscape ecology, and highlights the value of testing models to assess why, and for which species general rules may or may not work. In Chapter 3, I assess the utility of basic ecological principles for predicting the relative value of vegetation patches for specific bird species, focusing on a highly altered urban landscape. I create a model based on the mechanisms expected to be driving species abundance within urban landscapes where most sensitive bird species are likely to be already lost. The model states that a bird species will be more abundance in areas where the vegetation structure matches a species foraging height requirements; however, this effect will be moderated by the landscape context of the patch. From this model I create an index to quantify and rank the predicted value of patches for 30 species of interest in unmanaged and revegetated urban sites, in Brisbane city, Australia. I test the model using bird abundance data, and show that it achieved a reasonable level of predictive accuracy. The model presented within this study is significant as it has relatively low complexity and limited data requirements, yet provides a means to assess how altering the landscape context and vegetation structure within a patch may enhance the abundance of bird species of interest. With further development, the relative simplicity of the model should make it easy to use for land managers. In Chapter 4 I aim to examine how landscape features influence spatial genetic relatedness patterns at a fine, within-population scale on bird species with different life-history traits. I argue that individual level movement characteristics (particularly dispersal routes) in a variable landscape will drive these spatial genetic patterns; thus I create an a priori model based on this theory to make more specific quantifiable predictions of relatedness patterns. I use animal movement theory to deduce these movement characteristics (particularly the strength of avoidance of habitat boundaries) for species with different life-history traits, and apply the model for two closely related passerine bird species which co-occur within South East Queensland (the yellow-throated scrubwren, Sericornis citreogularis, a habitat specialist; and the white-browed scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis, a habitat generalist). I test these models using data on pairwise genetic distances between individuals of each species. The key outcome of this study is that the genetic data supports my predictions that individual level movement characteristics are a mechanistic driver of within-population spatial genetic patterns. For the habitat specialist bird species, the genetic data supported a model which incorporated a strong avoidance response to habitat boundaries and for the generalist species no response to habitat boundaries. This study takes a novel approach to an individual-based genetics study, making specific quantifiable predictions of how a species may be impacted by different landscape features. This research could have significant implications for conservation management, particularly for understanding and managing population responses to a changing landscape, and the early stages of fragmentation. In Chapter 5 I address the question of whether urban revegetation is more successful if it is used to extend the area of existing vegetation, or enhance connectivity in the landscape. This study is novel; for instead of assessing the factors influencing the extinction of a species in a patch, I assess the factors influencing colonisation. Using bird survey data, I use hierarchical partitioning and model selection approaches to determine the relative effect of connectivity and patch area on bird species richness and abundance in revegetated patches. The key finding was that connectivity provided better model fit for bird species richness, and total patch area and connectivity was better for mean bird abundance. My results suggest that the conservation goals of revegetation efforts, particularly in an urban landscape, must be considered when planning a revegetation program. Using revegetation to increase patch area may be the most effective approach for ensuring species persistence over time (i.e. abundance). However, to attract more species into an area enhancing the total area connected in the landscape may be a better approach. In this thesis I explicitly test general rules and theories in landscape ecology within a priori predictive models. Through their generality, the models I develop are potentially suitable for application in other ecosystems. The process of synthesising these models in a simple form, and testing them in a real landscape was revealing. I was able to examine where some general rules do not work, and also where they may not apply or need adjusting. I strived to create models that are easy to use and understand, particularly within Chapters 2 and 4, by trading off simplicity and accuracy. The models produce accurate results to the point that they are arguably valuable tools for landscape managers. This is achieved without compromising their accessibility, and so the research has the potential to transcend the gap between science and real world utility.

A conversão generalizada de florestas maduras em pequenos fragmentos florestais nos trópicos, aliada a crescente pressão para aumento da produção de alimentos, nas próximas décadas, é esperado que ocorra a conversão de 1 bilhão de hectares de habitats naturais em áreas agrícolas. Deste modo, os ecólogos deparam-se com o desafio de examinarem as respostas dos organismos aos distúrbios antrópicos e o papel de paisagens antropizadas como repositórios de biodiversidade. Nesta tese, nós examinamos o efeito da fragmentação florestal na estrutura e composição de comunidades arbóreas em três formações florestais, sazonais e não-sazonais no sul do Brasil (Floresta Ombrófila Densa - FOD, Floresta Ombrófila Mista - FOM e Floresta Estacional Decidual - FED). Para este fim, utilizamos dois conjuntos de dados. No primeiro, amostramos as comunidades arbóreas em 10 parcelas de 0,1 ha em florestas contínuas (na unidade de conservação de maior extensão de floresta contínua presente em cada formação florestal, no sul do Brasil) e em 10 fragmentos florestais adjacentes na região. Enquanto no segundo, as comunidades arbóreas foram amostradas em 389 parcelas de 0,4 ha cada, de variados tamanhos (entre 26° e 29° S e 48° e 53° O; dados Inventário Florístico Florestal de Santa Catarina). Neste conjunto de dados também examinamos a influência das métricas da paisagem (área florestal, forma e isolamento) e de variáveis climáticas (precipitação, temperatura e sazonalidade) na estrutura e composição das comunidades arbóreas. Em ambas as amostragens, todas as árvores com DAP ≥ 10 cm em cada parcela foram medidas, identificadas ao nível de espécies e caracterizadas em categorias funcionais descrevendo sua estratégia de regeneração, estratificação vertical, modo de dispersão de sementes, tamanho das sementes e densidade de madeira. As parcelas de FOD apresentaram a maior riqueza de espécies, seguida pela FOM e FED. A maioria dos atributos das comunidades apresentou diferenças significativas entre os tipos florestais, as principais diferenças compreenderam: riqueza de espécies, densidade de troncos, proporção de espécies e troncos de pioneiras, proporção de espécies de sub-bosque e espécies dispersas por vertebrados. As formações florestais apresentaram marcadas diferenças nas respostas às variáveis da paisagem e do fragmento. Devido ao fato de possuírem uma flora mais diversificada de espécies tolerantes ao estresse e de demandantes de luz, com uma reduzida riqueza/abundância de espécies de floresta madura tolerantes à sombra, ambas, FED e FOM, são intrinsecamente mais resilientes a distúrbios antrópicos contemporâneos, incluindo efeitos de borda induzidos pela fragmentação, em termos de erosão de espécies e mudanças funcionais. Nós sugerimos que essas diferenças intrínsecas nas respostas às mudanças na estrutura da paisagem entre as formações florestais deveriam guiar distintas estratégias de conservação. / The widespread conversion of old-growth tropical forests into small forest fragments, and mounting pressure to increase food production in the next decades is expected to expand natural habitat replacement with farmland by perhaps 1 billion ha; challenging applied ecologists to examine organismal response to human disturbance and the role played by anthropogenic landscapes as biodiversity repositories. At the present study, we examined the effects of forest fragmentation on the structure and composition of tree assemblages within three seasonal and aseasonal forest types of southern Brazil, including evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests. We used two datasets, in the first, we sampled tree assemblages in each forest type within 10 plots of 0.1 ha in both continuous forests (in the largest continuous protected forest areas within each forest type) and 10 adjacent forest fragments. While in the second dataset, trees assemblages were sampled in 389 plots of 0.4 ha forest fragments off all sizes (between 26° and 29° S and 48° and 53° W; data of Floristic and Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina). Using this second dataset, we also examined the influences of landscape metrics (forest area, shape and isolation) and climatic variables (precipitation, temperature and seasonality) on the structure and composition of tree assemblages. In both datasets, all trees with DBH ≥ 10 cm within each plot were measured, identified to species level, and assigned to trait categories describing their regeneration strategy, vertical stratification, seed-dispersal mode, seed size and wood density. Evergreen forest plots exhibited the highest species richness, followed by Araucaria and deciduous forests. Most tree assemblages attributes showed significant differences among forest types, the major differences comprised: species richness, stem density, the proportion of pioneer species and stems, and the proportion of understorey and vertebrate-dispersed species. The forest types demonstrate markedly divergent responses to patch and landscape variables. By supporting a more diversified light-demanding and stress-tolerant flora with reduced richness/abundance of shade-tolerant, old-growth species, both deciduous and Araucaria forests, the tree assemblages are more intrinsically resilient to contemporary humandisturbances, including fragmentation-induced edge effects, in terms of species erosion and functional shifts. We suggest that these intrinsic differences in responses to changes in landscape structure between forest types should guide conservation strategies.

A biodiversidade dos rios brasileiros encontra-se sob severa ameaça, em razão da fragmentação e perda de hábitat que os barramentos representam. Até o presente, os aproveitamentos hidrelétricos têm seu licenciamento ambiental condicionado a análises de impacto locais, sem avaliação dos impactos cumulativos de múltiplas barragens em uma bacia hidrográfica, com relação à conservação da diversidade da ictiofauna. Estudos anteriores para subsídio de licenciamento de múltiplas barragens na bacia Taquari-Antas (RS) propuseram cenários alternativos de conservação (número e posição de barragens), quando ainda não havia métricas de conectividade dendrítica desenvolvidas. Entre os problemas identificados naqueles estudos figuram a quantificação dos efeitos cumulativos das barreiras sobre a conectividade da bacia, o estabelecimento de áreas prioritárias para conservação e a influência do número e da posição das barreiras na conservação da biodiversidade aquática em uma bacia. Avaliamos a aplicação de conectividade para mensuração de impactos cumulativos de fragmentação de bacias hidrográficas através de índices de conectividade dendrítica recentemente propostos. Propomos um método genérico e replicável para analisar quantitativamente os efeitos de sucessivos barramentos em relação à conectividade dos hábitats aquáticos em processos de migração e dispersão de peixes em bacias hidrográficas. Utilizamos simulações de cenários de múltiplos barramentos para a avaliação. Propomos também uma sistematização para a simulação de múltiplos barramentos. Além disso, hierarquizamos áreas para conservação por conectividade, aplicamos as novas métricas de conectividade a estudos anteriores e demonstramos casos de cenários de alta conectividade com outras implicações na conservação. Discutimos o amadurecimento do método para aplicação em licenciamento ambiental e planejamento de conservação, bem como limitações atuais e perspectivas para trabalhos futuros. / Biodiversity of Brazilian rivers is nowadays seriously threatened due to fragmentation and habitat loss that impoundments represent. Up to now, hydroelectric power plants have their environmental licensing processes conditioned to local impact analysis, with no evaluation of cumulative impacts of multiple dams in a watershed landscape on the conservation of the integrity of ichthyofauna. Former studies for supporting environmental licensing processes of multiple hydroelectric dams in the Taquaria-Antas basin (RS, Brasil) proposed alternative conservation scenarios (number and position of barriers), in a time when there were no dendritic connectivity metrics developed. Among the problems identified at that time, we point quantification of cumulative effects of multiple barriers on the drainage connectivity, detecting prioritary areas for conservation and detecting the influence of the number and position of the barriers in the catchment for best conservation of aquatic biodiversity. We evaluated the application of connectivity for quantifying the impacts of fragmentation in hydrographic basins through recently proposed indexes. We proposed a replicable and generic method for quantifying the effects of successive impoundments in relation to aquatic habitat connectivity in ecological processes of migration and dispersal of fishes in hydrographic basins. We used multiple barriers scenarios simulation in order to perform the assessments. We also propose a way of systematizing multiple barriers simulations. Moreover, we rank areas for conservation by connectivity, apply the new connectivity metrics on former studies and demonstrate cases of high connectivity scenarios with other implications on conservation. We discuss maturing the method for application on environmental licensing and conservation planning as well as current limitations and perspectives for future studies.

Rodovias podem fragmentar populações por dois mecanismos, mortalidade e evitamento. Como espécies que evitam rodovias são raramente atropeladas por veículos e, então, não são detectadas em monitoramentos de fauna atropelada, outras abordagens são necessárias para identificar se eles estão sendo afetados. Ctenomys minutus (tuco-tuco) é um roedor subterrâneo que habita campos arenosos nas margens de rodovias e são raramente registrados em monitoramentos de fauna atropelada. Buscamos identificar se as rodovias são uma barreira para o fluxo gênico de tuco-tuco baseado em nove loci de microssatélite. Coletamos amostras de tecido epitelial de indivíduos de quatro populações: duas com a presença (Weber e Amaral) e, como controle, duas com a ausência de rodovia (Maribo I e Maribo II). Mensuramos diversidade genética, diferenciação genética (estatística F) e acessamos estrutura genética (agrupamento bayesiano). Não observamos redução na variabilidade genética e encontramos um baixo nível de isolamento entre Weber e Amaral e um isolamento ainda menor entre Maribo I e Maribo II. O método bayesiano separou os indivíduos em dois grupos, onde Maribo I e Maribo II são um grupo consistente e Weber e Amaral possuem fracas diferenciações. Os resultados nos indicam que um efeito de barreira entre as populações separadas pela rodovia está em processo e que é necessário mais tempo para observarmos de forma mais clara o isolamento. São necessários mais estudos genéticos e comportamentais para certificar este padrão. Sob aspectos práticos, seria adequado monitorar as populações afetadas e, eventualmente, aplicar alguma medida de mitigação na estrada pra proporcionar conectividade. Por fim, a abordagem genética se mostrou muito interessante para avaliar este impacto. / Roads can fragment populations by two mechanisms, mortality and avoidance behavior. Since species that avoid roads are rarely killed by vehicles and thus cannot be detected in roadkill surveys, other approaches are necessary to identify whether they are affected. Ctenomys minutus (tuco-tuco) is a subterranean rodent who inhabits sand fields including at the margins of roads, however is rarely recorded on roadkill surveys. We aimed to identify if roads are a barrier to the gene flow of tuco-tuco based on nine microsatellite loci. We collected tissue samples from individuals of four populations: a pair with the presence (Weber and Amaral) and, as control, a pair with absence of a road (Maribo I and Maribo II). We measured the genetic diversity, the genetic differentiation (F-statistics), and assessed the genetic structure (Bayesian clustering). We observed no reduction in genetic variability and a low isolation level in pairwise comparison of Weber and Amaral, which was even lower between Maribo I and Maribo II. The Bayesian method separated individuals into 2 clusters, where Maribo I and Maribo II are one consistent cluster and Weber and Amaral present weak differentiations. The results indicate that a barrier effect between populations separated by roads is in process. More genetic and behavioral studies are needed to confirm this pattern. Under practical aspects, it would be appropriate to monitor the affected populations and possibly apply some mitigation measure on the road to provide connectivity. Finally, genetic approach proved very interesting to evaluate this impact.

In this thesis, I have first reviewed biodiversity status and its conservation in Nepal, which indicates the need of linking the gaps between research and conservation of rare and endangered flora and fauna. Using three mountain ungulates as model species (barking deer - Muntiacus muntjak, Himalayan goral - Naemorhedus goral and Himalayan serow - Capricornis thar), I have investigated effects of human disturbances on wildlife distribution in the human-dominated landscapes of western Nepal, spanning from the subtropical Bardia National Park to the mountainous Shey Phoksundo National Park. I have developed habitat suitability maps for these three ungulate species and recommended a conservation priority area for their conservation. A special emphasis was placed on the study of the distribution of Himalayan serow using different factors related to habitat fragmentation, hunting and patch characteristics and connectivity of forest in midhills landscape of Nepal. Finally, wildlife hunting pattern in the region was investigated in order to explore wildlife conservation issues from the social perspective.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-11-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:23:51Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 traficante_c_dr_botfca.pdf: 2025820 bytes, checksum: a678a7a5b0b06a9cb1230d857dc909ae (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O presente trabalho descreveu uma metodologia para o projeto de redes ecológicas na escala territorial, como instrumento de planejamento territorial e urbano que, sob o paradigma da sustentabilidade, pode representar um meio para atenuar o fenômeno da fragmentação dos habitats naturais. Com esta finalidade a metodologia foi aplicada ao triângulo constituído pelos municípios de Agudos – Bauru – Piratininga no estado de São Paulo, Brasil, para dar suporte aos trabalhos de elaboração do Plano Diretor Participativo do Município de Agudos. A caracterização da área foi desenvolvida para evidenciar as reais potencialidades do território, em termos de idoneidade das áreas com maior propensão a hospedar os corredores verdes da rede ecológica. A idoneidade foi determinada através de uma análise multicriterial utilizando o método da Combinação Linear dos Pesos (WLC). Um conjunto de informações ambientais e físicas sobre a área de estudo foi extraído das análises pedológicas, desenvolvidas para a determinação da capacidade de uso. Estas informações foram reinterpretadas e complementadas por dados relativos à conservação da biodiversidade e à preservação do sistema verde e avaliadas com o método WLC. Com base no mapa de idoneidade, foram individualizados os traçados ideais, segundo uma lógica de menor custo, para a instauração de uma série de corredores verdes, que pudessem cumprir a função de conexão entre os pontos nodais da rede ecológica. Os pontos nodais foram escolhidos de modo a privilegiar as áreas verdes que contenham áreas nucleares e o eixo fluvial do Rio Batalha, principal rio da região. Sugeriu-se uma avaliação dos resultados segundo os princípios da ecologia da paisagem, confrontando os cenários projetuais de redes ecológicas (paisagens modificadas – PM) com o cenário zero (isto é, como a paisagem atual – PA)... / This work described a methodology to design ecological networks for a territorial scale, as an instrument for territorial and urban planning. Under the sustainability paradigm, it represented a means to mitigate the phenomenon of habitat fragmentation. Therefore, the methodology was applied to the triangle of the municipalities of Agudos – Bauru – Piratininga, in San Paolo State, Brazil, in order to support the ongoing work for the Participatory Plan for the municipality of Agudos. The area characterization was carried out highlighting the real capabilities of the territory in terms of suitability for the implantation of green corridors for ecological networks. Suitability analysis is determined by a multicriteria evaluation with weighted linear combination method (WLC). A set of environmental and physical information about the study area was derived from pedology investigations developed during the land use capability stage. This information were reconsidered and completed to take into account the biodiversity conservation issue and the green system preservation issue, and later evaluated by the WLC method. Over the suitability map, the best paths for the ecological network were identified through a least cost method in order to interconnect the nodal point of the network, that means, ecological valuable patches with core area and fluvial strips near Batalha River, the most important river in the region. The assessment of the ecological network proposals is based on the landscape ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)