Impacts of landscape-scale forest loss and a dry event on the demographic structure of the endangered palm Euterpe edulis Mart. in the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Forest loss is one of the most serious threats to biodiversity in the tropics and mainly occurs due to the conversion of native forests by the expansion of human activities. In addition, regional climate change is likely to adversely affect the remaining biota. These disturbances may have direct or indirect consequences on the demographic structure of plant species in human-modified landscapes. To test this hypothesis, and thus look for management practices aimed at enhancing the population viability, we used the palm species Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) to assess the demographic structure of five ontogenetic stages prior (2014) and after (2017) a prolonged drought event (2015) that occurred in the northeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. We also investigated the influence of landscape forest cover on the ontogenetic demographic structure, given that forest remnants were embedded within landscapes ranging from 6 to 97% of forest amount. We revealed that forest cover was a key predictor explaining the abundance patterns of E. edulis, with all ontogenetic stages (except seedlings, immature, and adults) exhibiting lower abundance in forest remnants surrounded by lower amount of native forests. Conversely, the regional drought event unaffected the demographic structure of this palm species, which may suggest that populations of E. edulis were able to cope with an isolated, though severe, drought event. The impacts of forest loss on E. edulis demographic structure, particularly on juveniles, raises a concern about the future persistence of E. edulis populations, since the early stages represent the adult generation in the near future. Management measures, including species reintroduction, forest restoration, environmental education programmes and the enforcement of environmental laws must be encouraged to safeguard E. edulis populations in the Atlantic Forest.

The Harvesting of the Endangered Palm <i>Euterpe edulis</i> in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: The Case of Linear Canopy Openings

“…Thus, lower density at the edges is a pattern that involves many ecological aspects, of E. edulis mortality by human pressures, such as the direct damage by harvesting or indirect damage through edge effects, pollution, loose of pollinators, fertilizers, pathogen infestation, and pesticides. Also, other studies carried out in the Atlantic Forest have shown that the forest structure that surrounds the palm populations (Leal et al, 2022) and direct damage caused by primates, especially in edge areas (Portela & Dirzo, 2020), can negatively influence the recruitment of this palm species.…”

“…While these linear canopy openings may appear less harmful, especially when compared to fire-prone sites, agricultural fields (Prieto et al, 2014) and forest islands (Benchimol & Peres, 2015), they also can facilitate human impacts such as the entry of hunters and collectors. On the other hand, E. edulis has been managed for many centuries and the human intervention can be also positive through restoration, management (Leal et al, 2022) and fruit harvesting.…”