Effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, Chile
Abstract Background Micromammals play an important role in mediterranean ecosystems. The “megadrought” in the sclerophyll forest has caused a “browning” that implies, among other things, the reduction of canopy cover. The effects of forest browning on the taxonomic and functional diversity of microm...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Revista Chilena de Historia Natural |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-025-00138-y |
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| author | Susan Fletcher Carlos Sarmiento Gisela C. Stotz Verónica Quirici |
| author_facet | Susan Fletcher Carlos Sarmiento Gisela C. Stotz Verónica Quirici |
| author_sort | Susan Fletcher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Micromammals play an important role in mediterranean ecosystems. The “megadrought” in the sclerophyll forest has caused a “browning” that implies, among other things, the reduction of canopy cover. The effects of forest browning on the taxonomic and functional diversity of micromammals were evaluated. Methods Forests with high and low disturbance degree were characterized based on the level of browning and canopy cover. To study the community of micromammals in these forests, the Capture-Mark-Recapture method was used with Sherman traps. Community indices such as Shannon–Wiener and Pielou were calculated. The Coefficient of Variation was used to study functional diversity for each trait separately. Multivariate measures FRic, FEve and FDiv were used to determine multidimensional diversity. Results We observed differences in species composition and in richness, diversity, and cover variables between forest types. However, micromammal communities were similar in taxonomic and functional diversity in highly and slightly disturbed forests. Discussion The micromammal community appears to show some resistance to forest changes due to disturbance, which could be related to their generalist diet and high dispersal capacity. The presence of the genus Rattus could entail a decrease in native rodent diversity and could have a greater effect than the disturbance of the forest due to drought. These results are an invitation to conduct long-term studies to better understand the potential vulnerability of the different micromammal species to disturbed sclerophyll forests affected by drought. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-552c79432ce541e49d167c7ab6a92554 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0717-6317 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Chilena de Historia Natural |
| spelling | doaj-art-552c79432ce541e49d167c7ab6a925542025-02-02T12:47:11ZengBMCRevista Chilena de Historia Natural0717-63172025-01-0198111010.1186/s40693-025-00138-yEffect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, ChileSusan Fletcher0Carlos Sarmiento1Gisela C. Stotz2Verónica Quirici3Magister en Recursos Naturales, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés BelloMuseo Rural de Pirque. Programa NeobiodiversityCentro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés BelloCentro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad, Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés BelloAbstract Background Micromammals play an important role in mediterranean ecosystems. The “megadrought” in the sclerophyll forest has caused a “browning” that implies, among other things, the reduction of canopy cover. The effects of forest browning on the taxonomic and functional diversity of micromammals were evaluated. Methods Forests with high and low disturbance degree were characterized based on the level of browning and canopy cover. To study the community of micromammals in these forests, the Capture-Mark-Recapture method was used with Sherman traps. Community indices such as Shannon–Wiener and Pielou were calculated. The Coefficient of Variation was used to study functional diversity for each trait separately. Multivariate measures FRic, FEve and FDiv were used to determine multidimensional diversity. Results We observed differences in species composition and in richness, diversity, and cover variables between forest types. However, micromammal communities were similar in taxonomic and functional diversity in highly and slightly disturbed forests. Discussion The micromammal community appears to show some resistance to forest changes due to disturbance, which could be related to their generalist diet and high dispersal capacity. The presence of the genus Rattus could entail a decrease in native rodent diversity and could have a greater effect than the disturbance of the forest due to drought. These results are an invitation to conduct long-term studies to better understand the potential vulnerability of the different micromammal species to disturbed sclerophyll forests affected by drought.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-025-00138-yBrowningFunctional DiversityMediterranean ForestTaxonomic Diversity |
| spellingShingle | Susan Fletcher Carlos Sarmiento Gisela C. Stotz Verónica Quirici Effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, Chile Revista Chilena de Historia Natural Browning Functional Diversity Mediterranean Forest Taxonomic Diversity |
| title | Effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| title_full | Effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| title_fullStr | Effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| title_short | Effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the Río Clarillo National Park, Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| title_sort | effect of drought disturbance in a sclerophyll forest on the micromammal community in the rio clarillo national park metropolitan region chile |
| topic | Browning Functional Diversity Mediterranean Forest Taxonomic Diversity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-025-00138-y |
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