In the shadows: wildlife behaviour in tree plantations

Tick‐tock… says the moon and the sun: Daily activity patterns of mid‐large‐sized mammals in grassland‐dominated landscapes afforested withEucalyptus

“…Diurnality was rare in these landscapes; the only species with a fully diurnal pattern, D. septemcinctus , was found almost exclusively in the grassland‐dominated landscape (TPC ≤ 10%). This could be interpreted as a homogenization of temporal wildlife behaviour (Iglesias‐Carrasco et al, 2022), losing diurnal species. Due to habitat loss by the agricultural expansion, this grassland‐specialist armadillo, is probably the most endangered Uruguayan mammal by grassland afforestation (Brazeiro et al, 2018; Cravino & Brazeiro, 2021).…”

“…While open habitats (grasslands and wooded savannas) may provide high‐quality forage (Godvik et al, 2009; Hebblewhite et al, 2008), covered habitats (forests and tree plantations) may represent protection from predators (Fardell et al, 2021). But not only wild preys avoid predation, for carnivores and other hunting target animals, but also humans are perceived as a predation risk to be considered too (Carreira et al, 2020; Gaynor et al, 2019, 2021; Iglesias‐Carrasco et al, 2022; Mendes et al, 2020; Richter et al, 2020; Stafford et al, 2017). This ‘landscape of fear’ is dynamic rather than constant (Dammhahn et al, 2022; Palmer et al, 2022), and it seems to be pushing some species to become increasingly nocturnal (Bennie et al, 2014; Gaynor et al, 2019; Iglesias‐Carrasco et al, 2022), to be more frequent in cover areas to reduce encounters with humans (Gaynor et al, 2018; Little et al, 2016; Richter et al, 2020) or in open areas during the new moon (Gilbert & Boutin, 1991; Kotler et al, 1991; Morrison, 1978; Saldaña‐Vázquez & Munguía‐Rosas, 2013), or even avoid places and times where they are more likely to be pursued (Carter et al, 2012; Iglesias‐Carrasco et al, 2022; Pardo et al, 2021; Tucker et al, 2018).…”

“…But indirect effects are also possible, by behavioural alterations in those species capable of inhabiting these novel ecosystems. These types of indirect effects of human‐driven disturbances are less seen (Frey et al, 2017; Iglesias‐Carrasco et al, 2022). The conversion of natural grasslands into crops and tree plantations has reached high levels in temperate South America, especially in the Río de la Plata Grasslands (Baldi & Paruelo, 2008; Gautreau, 2014; Gorosábel et al, 2020; Jobbágy et al, 2006; Leidinger et al, 2017; Veldman et al, 2015).…”

“…food and roosting sites). Besides, human presence increases (Cravino et al, 2023; Iglesias‐Carrasco et al, 2022). These alterations could induce behavioural adjustments in mammals, with either detrimental or beneficial impacts on species survival and reproduction.…”

Global effects of forest modification on herpetofauna communities

“…The observed loss of diversity and the changes in community composition in forests transformed into plantations could be the result of a variety of changes in the forests. For example, plantations can lead to the structural simplification of the environment, the results of which are contraction of available niches, altered microclimate (e.g., more ground shade), and changes in the chemical environment due to the release of exotic leachates (Iglesias‐Carrasco, Wong, et al., 2022 ). All these alterations can affect amphibian and lizard behavior and physiology (Iglesias‐Carrasco, Cabido, et al., 2022 ) and lead to losses in species and functional diversity (Tews et al., 2004 ), which might in turn cascade into effects that prompt the ultimate collapse of the community (Dakos & Bascompte, 2014 ; Dunne & Williams, 2009 ).…”