BIOFRAG - a new database for analyzing BIOdiversity responses to forest FRAGmentation

Pfeifer, Marion, Lefebvre, Veronique, Gardner, Toby A., Arroyo-Rodriguez, Victor, Baeten, Lander, Banks-Leite, Cristina, Barlow, Jos, Betts, Matthew G., Brunet, Joerg, Cerezo, Alexis, and others. (2014) BIOFRAG - a new database for analyzing BIOdiversity responses to forest FRAGmentation. Ecology and Evolution, 4 (9). pp. 1524-1537. ISSN 2045-7758. (doi:10.1002/ece3.1036) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:46435)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1036

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation studies have produced complex results that are challenging to synthesize. Inconsistencies among studies may result from variation in the choice of landscape metrics and response variables, which is often compounded by a lack of key statistical or methodological information. Collating primary datasets on biodiversity responses to fragmentation in a consistent and flexible database permits simple data retrieval for subsequent analyses. We present a relational database that links such field data to taxonomic nomenclature, spatial and temporal plot attributes, and environmental characteristics. Field assessments include measurements of the response(s) (e.g., presence, abundance, ground cover) of one or more species linked to plots in fragments within a partially forested landscape. The database currently holds 9830 unique species recorded in plots of 58 unique landscapes in six of eight realms: mammals 315, birds 1286, herptiles 460, insects 4521, spiders 204, other arthropods 85, gastropods 70, annelids 8, platyhelminthes 4, Onychophora 2, vascular plants 2112, nonvascular plants and lichens 320, and fungi 449. Three landscapes were sampled as long-term time series (>10 years). Seven hundred and eleven species are found in two or more landscapes. Consolidating the substantial amount of primary data available on biodiversity responses to fragmentation in the context of land-use change and natural disturbances is an essential part of understanding the effects of increasing anthropogenic pressures on land. The consistent format of this database facilitates testing of generalizations concerning biologic responses to fragmentation across diverse systems and taxa. It also allows the re-examination of existing datasets with alternative landscape metrics and robust statistical methods, for example, helping to address pseudo-replication problems. The database can thus help researchers in producing broad syntheses of the effects of land use. The database is dynamic and inclusive, and contributions from individual and large-scale data-collection efforts are welcome.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1002/ece3.1036
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User:	Matthew Struebig
Date Deposited:	15 Nov 2015 12:44 UTC
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2024 10:29 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/46435 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Struebig, Matthew J..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2058-8502
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Depositors only (login required):

Altmetric

Download Statistics

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.