Rainforest fragmentation kills big trees

Laurance, William F.;Delamônica, Patricia;Laurance, Susan G.;Vasconcelos, Heraldo L.;Lovejoy, Thomas E.

Abstract

[Extract] In tropical forests, large canopy and emergent trees are crucial sources of fruits, flowers and shelter for animal populations 1,2. They are also reproductively dominant 2 and strongly influence forest structure, composition, gap dynamics, hydrology 2 and carbon storage 3. Here we show that forest fragmentation in central Amazonia is having a disproportionately severe effect on large trees, the loss of which will have major impacts on the rainforest ecosystem.

Journal

Nature

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404

ISBN/ISSN

1476-4687

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Nature Publishing Group

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DOI

10.1038/35009032