Abstract
Many species survive in specialized habitats. When these habitats are destroyed or fragmented the threat of extinction looms. In this paper, we use percolation theory to consider how an environment may fragment. We then develop a stochastic, spatially explicit, individual-based model to consider the effect of habitat fragmentation on a keystone species (the army ant Eciton burchelli) in a neotropical rainforest. The results suggest that species may become extinct even in huge reserves before their habitat is fully fragmented; this has important implications for conservation. We show that sustainable forest-harvesting strategies may not be as successful as is currently thought. We also suggest that habitat corridors, once thought of as the saviour for fragmented environments, may have a detrimental effect on population persistence.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1921-1925 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
Volume | 265 |
Issue number | 1409 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 22 Oct 1998 |
Keywords
- Conservation
- Extinction
- Habitat corridors
- Habitat fragmentation
- Percolation theory
- Tropical rainforest
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)