Document Type

Dissertation - University Access Only

Award Date

2012

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department / School

Biology and Microbiology

First Advisor

Mark A. Cochrane

Abstract

Tropical forests are among the most threatened environments on Earth. As in many other tropical environments, the Brazilian Amazon has faced alarming rates of deforestation and habitat degradation, usually coupled with the growth and development of human populations. Forest wildfires are an increasing threat in this biome as human activities are causing a rapid and destructive change in the fire regime. This dissertation comprises an evaluation of the impacts of forest fires on biodiversity of dung beetles and other groups in the Brazilian Amazon. First, I present a study on sampling methodology and seasonality in burned forests in the southern Amazon. Results indicate that both seasonality and fire disturbance have a strong impact on dung beetle communities. Second, I present a study detailing the impact of fire disturbance on species of different body size and total biomass of dung beetles at four distinct field sites. Biomass was more negatively affected than abundance and larger species were more negatively affected than smaller species. Finally, I test diversity congruence between dung beetles, ants, birds and vegetation. Results show high congruence and surrogacy power at regional scales, but much less at local scales. This dissertation presents novel results describing patterns of change in biodiversity due to fire disturbance in the Brazilian Amazon. Most of the underlying processes causing biodiversity loss and the true consequences to the ecosystems are largely unknown, and the immense complexity and heterogeneity of tropical biomes is a clear call for more detailed studies on these patterns.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Forest fires -- Amazon River Region 
Forest fires -- Brazil 
Dung beetles -- Effect of fires on -- Amazon River Region Dung beetles -- Effect of fires on -- Brazil 
Forest degradation -- Amazon River Region 
Forest degradation -- Brazil 
Biodiversity

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright