Essa dissertação de mestrado objetivou avaliar a importância dos corredores ripários para a fauna em uma paisagem fragmentada de Mata Atlântica. Em quatro sistemas compostos por fragmento - corredor fragmento avaliamos tanto a assembléia de pequenos mamíferos (capitulo 2) como a qualidade do habitat através da estrutura da vegetação e da disponibilidade de recurso alimentar para a fauna (capitulo 3). No capitulo 2 comparamos a assembléia de pequenos mamíferos entre áreas abertas do entorno, corredores ripários, bordas e interiores de fragmentos. Verificou-se uma forte segregação na distribuição das espécies entre áreas abertas da matriz e os habitats florestados. Todas as espécies endêmicas só foram capturadas nos habitats florestais, enquanto que a matriz de áreas abertas abrigou uma assembléia de pequenos mamíferos composta exclusivamente por espécies não endêmicas ao bioma Mata Atlântica e apenas duas espécies não-endêmicas ocuparam todos os habitats. Observou-se ainda, que as flutuações temporais na abundância das espécies não diferiram entre habitats, ou seja, as diferenças que encontramos na distribuição das espécies não dependeram da sessão de captura. Além disso, a riqueza e abundância das espécies endêmicas foram maiores nos ambientes florestais em comparação a matriz aberta, enquanto que a abundância das espécies não-endêmicas foi maior na matriz comparada aos interiores de fragmentos. As duas espécies endêmicas mais abundantes na área de estudo ocorreram apenas nos habitats florestais, e a abundância das duas foi menor nas bordas do que nos interiores e, em um caso, também do que nos corredores. Por outro lado, a abundância de uma das três espécies não-endêmicas mais comuns foi maior nas bordas do que nos interiores. Assim concluímos os corredores ripários funcionam como elemento conector para a fauna endêmica de pequenos mamíferos da Mata Atlântica, amenizando os efeitos deletérios da fragmentação. No capitulo 3, ao avaliar a qualidade do habitat entre os corredores ripários, e bordas e interiores de fragmentos secundários, observamos que a oferta de recursos alimentares (artrópodes e frutos) para a fauna, assim como a estrutura da vegetação, em termos da estratificação da densidade da folhagem, não variou entre os diferentes tipos de habitat florestal. Nesse sentido, nossos resultados sugerem que, ao contrário do observado em florestas tropicais primárias, em florestas tropicais secundárias não há um efeito de borda claro sobre a qualidade do habitat em termos de estrutura da vegetação ou disponibilidade de alimento para a fauna nem mesmo em estruturas lineares como os corredores. Os resultados apresentados nos dois capítulos evidenciam a importância da manutenção dos corredores ripários para a conservação, em paisagens fragmentadas de Mata Atlântica, da fauna de um dos grupos mais diversificados de mamíferos. / This master thesis aimed to evaluate the importance of riparian corridors for the fauna in an Atlantic Forest fragmented landscape. In four systems composed by fragment corridor fragment, we evaluate both the small mammal assemblage (chapter 2) and the habitat quality measured through the vegetation structure and food resources availability for the fauna (chapter 3). In chapter 2 we compared small mammal assemblages among open areas of the surrounding matrix, riparian corridors, edges and interiors of forest fragments. We verified a strong segregation in species distribution between the open matrix and the forested habitats. Endemic species were captured only in forested habitats, while the open areas of the matrix harbored a small mammals assemblage composed exclusively by species non-endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome, and only two non-endemic species occupied all habitat types. We also observed that temporal fluctuations in species abundance did not differ among habitats, that is, observed differences in species distribution were not dependent on capture session. Moreover, richness and abundance of endemic species were higher in forested habitats than in the open areas of matrix, while the abundance of nonendemic species was higher in the matrix than in the interior of forest fragments. The two most abundant endemic species occurred only in forested habitats and their abundance was lower at edges compared to forest interiors and, for one of them, also compared to riparian corridors. On the other hand, the abundance of one of the three most common non-endemic species was higher at edges than in interiors. We conclude that riparian corridors function as a connector element for the endemic small mammals of the Atlantic Forest, minimizing the deleterious effects of habitat fragmentation. In chapter 3, through the evaluation of habitat quality in riparian corridors, edges and interiors of second-growth fragments, we observed that food resource availability (arthropods and fruits) for the fauna, as well as the vegetation structure, measured as foliage vertical stratification, did not differ among the three forested habitats. Thus, our results suggest that, contrary to the observed in primary tropical forests, there is no clear edge effects on vegetation structure or on food resources availability for the fauna in secondary forest fragments even in linear habitats such as corridors. The results reported in these two chapters highlight the importance of the maintenance of riparian corridors for the conservation, in fragmented landscapes of the Atlantic Forest, of one of the most diverse group of mammals.

Essa dissertação de mestrado objetivou avaliar a importância dos corredores ripários para a fauna em uma paisagem fragmentada de Mata Atlântica. Em quatro sistemas compostos por fragmento - corredor fragmento avaliamos tanto a assembléia de pequenos mamíferos (capitulo 2) como a qualidade do habitat através da estrutura da vegetação e da disponibilidade de recurso alimentar para a fauna (capitulo 3). No capitulo 2 comparamos a assembléia de pequenos mamíferos entre áreas abertas do entorno, corredores ripários, bordas e interiores de fragmentos. Verificou-se uma forte segregação na distribuição das espécies entre áreas abertas da matriz e os habitats florestados. Todas as espécies endêmicas só foram capturadas nos habitats florestais, enquanto que a matriz de áreas abertas abrigou uma assembléia de pequenos mamíferos composta exclusivamente por espécies não endêmicas ao bioma Mata Atlântica e apenas duas espécies não-endêmicas ocuparam todos os habitats. Observou-se ainda, que as flutuações temporais na abundância das espécies não diferiram entre habitats, ou seja, as diferenças que encontramos na distribuição das espécies não dependeram da sessão de captura. Além disso, a riqueza e abundância das espécies endêmicas foram maiores nos ambientes florestais em comparação a matriz aberta, enquanto que a abundância das espécies não-endêmicas foi maior na matriz comparada aos interiores de fragmentos. As duas espécies endêmicas mais abundantes na área de estudo ocorreram apenas nos habitats florestais, e a abundância das duas foi menor nas bordas do que nos interiores e, em um caso, também do que nos corredores. Por outro lado, a abundância de uma das três espécies não-endêmicas mais comuns foi maior nas bordas do que nos interiores. Assim concluímos os corredores ripários funcionam como elemento conector para a fauna endêmica de pequenos mamíferos da Mata Atlântica, amenizando os efeitos deletérios da fragmentação. No capitulo 3, ao avaliar a qualidade do habitat entre os corredores ripários, e bordas e interiores de fragmentos secundários, observamos que a oferta de recursos alimentares (artrópodes e frutos) para a fauna, assim como a estrutura da vegetação, em termos da estratificação da densidade da folhagem, não variou entre os diferentes tipos de habitat florestal. Nesse sentido, nossos resultados sugerem que, ao contrário do observado em florestas tropicais primárias, em florestas tropicais secundárias não há um efeito de borda claro sobre a qualidade do habitat em termos de estrutura da vegetação ou disponibilidade de alimento para a fauna nem mesmo em estruturas lineares como os corredores. Os resultados apresentados nos dois capítulos evidenciam a importância da manutenção dos corredores ripários para a conservação, em paisagens fragmentadas de Mata Atlântica, da fauna de um dos grupos mais diversificados de mamíferos. / This master thesis aimed to evaluate the importance of riparian corridors for the fauna in an Atlantic Forest fragmented landscape. In four systems composed by fragment corridor fragment, we evaluate both the small mammal assemblage (chapter 2) and the habitat quality measured through the vegetation structure and food resources availability for the fauna (chapter 3). In chapter 2 we compared small mammal assemblages among open areas of the surrounding matrix, riparian corridors, edges and interiors of forest fragments. We verified a strong segregation in species distribution between the open matrix and the forested habitats. Endemic species were captured only in forested habitats, while the open areas of the matrix harbored a small mammals assemblage composed exclusively by species non-endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome, and only two non-endemic species occupied all habitat types. We also observed that temporal fluctuations in species abundance did not differ among habitats, that is, observed differences in species distribution were not dependent on capture session. Moreover, richness and abundance of endemic species were higher in forested habitats than in the open areas of matrix, while the abundance of nonendemic species was higher in the matrix than in the interior of forest fragments. The two most abundant endemic species occurred only in forested habitats and their abundance was lower at edges compared to forest interiors and, for one of them, also compared to riparian corridors. On the other hand, the abundance of one of the three most common non-endemic species was higher at edges than in interiors. We conclude that riparian corridors function as a connector element for the endemic small mammals of the Atlantic Forest, minimizing the deleterious effects of habitat fragmentation. In chapter 3, through the evaluation of habitat quality in riparian corridors, edges and interiors of second-growth fragments, we observed that food resource availability (arthropods and fruits) for the fauna, as well as the vegetation structure, measured as foliage vertical stratification, did not differ among the three forested habitats. Thus, our results suggest that, contrary to the observed in primary tropical forests, there is no clear edge effects on vegetation structure or on food resources availability for the fauna in secondary forest fragments even in linear habitats such as corridors. The results reported in these two chapters highlight the importance of the maintenance of riparian corridors for the conservation, in fragmented landscapes of the Atlantic Forest, of one of the most diverse group of mammals.

A riparian ecosystem is the area between the aquatic and terrestrial setting of a stream, and serves as a corridor and habitat for birds. Several riparian ecosystems are located in urban environments, and three main riparian corridors are located in Potchefstroom. They are the Mooi River, Wasgoed Spruit, and Spitskop Spruit, which encompass a wide range of different vegetation types and anthropogenic factors. Therefore, different habitat types for birds occur along the riparian corridors of Potchefstroom. Factors such as food and water availability, nesting sites, competition, predation, learning, presence of other species, and those species that are able to adapt to environmental changes influence the avian diversity and communities along riparian corridors. The hypothesis is that bird variables along the riparian corridors in Potchefstroom are affected by vegetation, anthropogenic, and seasonal influences. To investigate these affects, two secondary objectives were formulated. The first was to characterise riparian avian habitats (CAHs) according to vegetation and anthropogenic factors, and the second was to identify temporal and spatial changes in avian variables. The three streams were divided into 79 consecutive transects, each 300 m long. The study area consisted of: 17 transects along Spitskop Spruit, 12 along Wasgoed Spruit and 50 along the Mooi River. Bird observations were conducted monthly from June 2006 to June 2007. Birds that were observed with a perpendicular distance ≤ 30 meters towards the streams were included in the results. The bird species that were observed were also classified into different nesting and feeding guilds. Environmental data recorded included: vegetation structure (estimated cover percentages and height classes of trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs, sedges, and reeds), anthropogenic structures (estimated cover percentages of roads, footpaths, bridges, electrical pylons, houses, and drainage pipes), and the presence of informal settlers along each transect (the mean number of people and the space they occupy). Vegetation was monitored in summer– (February 2007 until April 2007) and winter months (June 2007 until August 2007). The anthropogenic structures and the presence of informal settlers (anthropogenic factors) were monitored simultaneously with the bird counts. Transect-time profiles were drawn for the four parameters, which differed on spatial and time scales. Multivariate analyses included non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), cluster analysis, and indicator species analysis. Cluster analyses and NMS bi-plots were used to define characterised avian habitats (CAHs). Two types of CAHs were characterised: Summer CAHs (summer vegetation and anthropogenic factors) and Anthropogenically CAHs (Anthropogenic factors alone). Bird species were then ordinated with the summer and anthropogenically CAHs on NMS successional vector graphs. The successional vectors illustrate the avian community trajectories of the different CAHs. Indicator species analyses were performed to describe associations between the bird species and the summer and anthropogenically CAHs. The summer and anthropogenic CAHs that were characterised had different avian community trajectories and different species were associated with these CAHs. Different levels in avian diversity appeared among these CAHs, and convergence and divergence in communities appeared among these CAHs. Birds also selected their habitats according to feeding and nesting behaviours. Consequently, it can be deduced that environmental factors such as vegetation structures and anthropogenic factors, as well as seasonality, had an effect on the distribution of birds along the riparian corridors of Potchefstroom. / Thesis (Master of Environmental Sciences)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

A riparian ecosystem is the area between the aquatic and terrestrial setting of a stream, and serves as a corridor and habitat for birds. Several riparian ecosystems are located in urban environments, and three main riparian corridors are located in Potchefstroom. They are the Mooi River, Wasgoed Spruit, and Spitskop Spruit, which encompass a wide range of different vegetation types and anthropogenic factors. Therefore, different habitat types for birds occur along the riparian corridors of Potchefstroom. Factors such as food and water availability, nesting sites, competition, predation, learning, presence of other species, and those species that are able to adapt to environmental changes influence the avian diversity and communities along riparian corridors. The hypothesis is that bird variables along the riparian corridors in Potchefstroom are affected by vegetation, anthropogenic, and seasonal influences. To investigate these affects, two secondary objectives were formulated. The first was to characterise riparian avian habitats (CAHs) according to vegetation and anthropogenic factors, and the second was to identify temporal and spatial changes in avian variables. The three streams were divided into 79 consecutive transects, each 300 m long. The study area consisted of: 17 transects along Spitskop Spruit, 12 along Wasgoed Spruit and 50 along the Mooi River. Bird observations were conducted monthly from June 2006 to June 2007. Birds that were observed with a perpendicular distance ≤ 30 meters towards the streams were included in the results. The bird species that were observed were also classified into different nesting and feeding guilds. Environmental data recorded included: vegetation structure (estimated cover percentages and height classes of trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs, sedges, and reeds), anthropogenic structures (estimated cover percentages of roads, footpaths, bridges, electrical pylons, houses, and drainage pipes), and the presence of informal settlers along each transect (the mean number of people and the space they occupy). Vegetation was monitored in summer– (February 2007 until April 2007) and winter months (June 2007 until August 2007). The anthropogenic structures and the presence of informal settlers (anthropogenic factors) were monitored simultaneously with the bird counts. Transect-time profiles were drawn for the four parameters, which differed on spatial and time scales. Multivariate analyses included non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), cluster analysis, and indicator species analysis. Cluster analyses and NMS bi-plots were used to define characterised avian habitats (CAHs). Two types of CAHs were characterised: Summer CAHs (summer vegetation and anthropogenic factors) and Anthropogenically CAHs (Anthropogenic factors alone). Bird species were then ordinated with the summer and anthropogenically CAHs on NMS successional vector graphs. The successional vectors illustrate the avian community trajectories of the different CAHs. Indicator species analyses were performed to describe associations between the bird species and the summer and anthropogenically CAHs. The summer and anthropogenic CAHs that were characterised had different avian community trajectories and different species were associated with these CAHs. Different levels in avian diversity appeared among these CAHs, and convergence and divergence in communities appeared among these CAHs. Birds also selected their habitats according to feeding and nesting behaviours. Consequently, it can be deduced that environmental factors such as vegetation structures and anthropogenic factors, as well as seasonality, had an effect on the distribution of birds along the riparian corridors of Potchefstroom. / Thesis (Master of Environmental Sciences)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013