Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions?
Around the world, land-use change caused by human-activity threatens biodiversity, which often results in forest loss and fragmentation, and the loss of forest biodiversity. Forest loss and fragmentation resulting from plantations can have a substantial impact on bird communities because plantations...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005705 |
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| author | Kazuma Yasuda Daiki Kato Shoji Naoe Tatsuya Amano Tetsuro Yoshikawa Kahoko Tochigi Shinsuke Koike |
| author_facet | Kazuma Yasuda Daiki Kato Shoji Naoe Tatsuya Amano Tetsuro Yoshikawa Kahoko Tochigi Shinsuke Koike |
| author_sort | Kazuma Yasuda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Around the world, land-use change caused by human-activity threatens biodiversity, which often results in forest loss and fragmentation, and the loss of forest biodiversity. Forest loss and fragmentation resulting from plantations can have a substantial impact on bird communities because plantations are essentially less suitable environments for bird communities than natural forests. Woodpeckers inhabiting large trees are particularly susceptible to forest loss and fragmentation. They play a critical role in the ecosystem, as they not only create tree cavities, but might also contribute to the number of tree falls. Their functions are indispensable and cannot be substituted by those of other species. A decline in woodpecker numbers due to forest loss and fragmentation is likely to change forest ecosystems in various ways. This study examined whether the fragmentation and loss of natural forests has resulted in a decline in the woodpecker population, resulting in reduced number of tree cavities, and consequently, a reduced number of tree falls. The results of this study indicate that the number of fallen trees was positively related to the number of woodpeckers through the number of tree cavities they created. In addition, forest loss, not forest fragmentation, was related to decrease in woodpecker abundance, leading to negative cascading effects on the number of tree cavities and fallen trees. Forest loss changed the woodpecker community structure by affecting the woodpecker guilds differently. Conserving large broad-leaved forests could contribute to the conservation of specific woodpecker species and their roles in the ecosystem. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f1c9d2743eeb4dc4ae72ec32ae39992c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-f1c9d2743eeb4dc4ae72ec32ae39992c2025-01-23T05:26:55ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-01-0157e03366Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions?Kazuma Yasuda0Daiki Kato1Shoji Naoe2Tatsuya Amano3Tetsuro Yoshikawa4Kahoko Tochigi5Shinsuke Koike6Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu 183-8509, Japan; Corresponding author.Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu 183-8509, JapanTohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Shimokuriyagawa, Morioka, Iwate 020-0123, JapanInstitute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, AustraliaGraduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, JapanResearch Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8904, JapanInstitute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, JapanAround the world, land-use change caused by human-activity threatens biodiversity, which often results in forest loss and fragmentation, and the loss of forest biodiversity. Forest loss and fragmentation resulting from plantations can have a substantial impact on bird communities because plantations are essentially less suitable environments for bird communities than natural forests. Woodpeckers inhabiting large trees are particularly susceptible to forest loss and fragmentation. They play a critical role in the ecosystem, as they not only create tree cavities, but might also contribute to the number of tree falls. Their functions are indispensable and cannot be substituted by those of other species. A decline in woodpecker numbers due to forest loss and fragmentation is likely to change forest ecosystems in various ways. This study examined whether the fragmentation and loss of natural forests has resulted in a decline in the woodpecker population, resulting in reduced number of tree cavities, and consequently, a reduced number of tree falls. The results of this study indicate that the number of fallen trees was positively related to the number of woodpeckers through the number of tree cavities they created. In addition, forest loss, not forest fragmentation, was related to decrease in woodpecker abundance, leading to negative cascading effects on the number of tree cavities and fallen trees. Forest loss changed the woodpecker community structure by affecting the woodpecker guilds differently. Conserving large broad-leaved forests could contribute to the conservation of specific woodpecker species and their roles in the ecosystem.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005705Ecosystem functionForest fragmentationHabitat lossTreefallTree cavityWoodpecker |
| spellingShingle | Kazuma Yasuda Daiki Kato Shoji Naoe Tatsuya Amano Tetsuro Yoshikawa Kahoko Tochigi Shinsuke Koike Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions? Global Ecology and Conservation Ecosystem function Forest fragmentation Habitat loss Treefall Tree cavity Woodpecker |
| title | Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions? |
| title_full | Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions? |
| title_fullStr | Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions? |
| title_short | Does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker-associated ecosystem functions? |
| title_sort | does forest loss and fragmentation reduce woodpecker associated ecosystem functions |
| topic | Ecosystem function Forest fragmentation Habitat loss Treefall Tree cavity Woodpecker |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005705 |
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