Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest: A Shrinking Biodiversity Hotspot

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biodiversity Hotspots

Abstract

The Neotropical Atlantic Forest is one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspot. Originally, the forest extended over 1.5 million km2 along the South American Atlantic coast, covering tropical and subtropical climates across highly heterogeneous relief conditions, which led to outstanding levels of endemism and species richness. Unfortunately, the Atlantic Forest has been historically altered by humans, which has resulted in severe habitat loss and fragmentation. The forest cover is now reduced to around 12% of its original extent, including regenerating areas and degraded forests, which are mostly spread in small fragments. As a result, many species are currently threatened to global extinction, with populations collapsing on local and regional scales. In this chapter, we reviewed the state of the art of Atlantic Forest biodiversity knowledge, pointing out the main achievements obtained by several research groups during the last decades. Additionally, we (1) propose a new sub-division of biogeographical sub-regions into 55 sectors considering 2,650 sub-watersheds, using niche theory and bioclimatic data; (2) describe the original and present distribution of the Atlantic Forest; and (3) relate the forest distribution to elevation and geomorphometric information (aspect and terrain orientation). Forest protection and restoration efforts, and potential ecosystem services are also examined as key topics driving the future of the Atlantic Forest biodiversity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 229.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acosta LE (2008) Distribution of Geraeocormobius sylvarum (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae): range modeling based on bioclimatic variables. J Arachnology 36:574–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altieri MA (2009a) Agroecology, small farms, and food sovereignty. Available via monthly review: http://www.monthlyreview.org/090810altieri.php#fn2b. Last accessed 10 Feb 2010

  • Altieri MA (2009b) The ecological impacts of large-scale agrofuel monoculture production systems in the Americas. Bull Sci Technol Soc 29:236–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alvim R, Nair PKR (1986) Combination of cacao with other plantation crops: an agroforestry system in Southeast Bahia, Brazil. Agroforest Syst 4:3–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barreto L, Ribeiro MC, Veldkamp A, van Eupend M, Kok K, Pontes E (2010) Exploring effective conservation networks based on multi-scale planning unit analysis. A case study of the Balsas sub-basin, Maranhão State, Brazil. Ecol Indic. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.03.001

  • Benayas JMR, Newtom AC, Diaz A, Bullock JM (2009) Enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services by ecological restoration: a meta-analysis. Science 325:1121–1124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brannstrom C (2001) Conservation with development models in Brazil’s agropastoral landscapes. World Dev 29:1345–1359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockington D, Duffy R, Igoe J (2008) Nature unbound. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Câmara IG (2003) Brief history of conservation in the Atlantic forest. In: Galindo-Leal C, Câmara IG (eds) The Atlantic Forest of South America: biodiversity status, threats, and outlook. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 31–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartes JL, Yanosky A (2003) Dynamics of biodiversity loss in the Paraguayan Atlantic Forest: an introduction. In: Galindo-Leal C, Câmara IG (eds) The Atlantic Forest of South America: biodiversity status, threats, and outlook. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 267–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Chebez JC, Hilgert N (2003) Brief history of conservation in the Paraná Forest. In: Galindo-Leal C, Câmara IG (eds) The Atlantic Forest of South America: biodiversity status, threats, and outlook. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 141–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullen L Junior, Fenimore S (2002) Projeto Abraço Verde: a practice-based approach to Brazilian Atlantic Forest conservation. Endangered Species Update 10:45–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullen Junior L, Lima JF, Beltrame TP (2004) Agroforestry buffer zones and stepping stones: tools for the conservation of fragmented landscapes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In: Schroth G, da Fonseca G, Harvey C, Gascon C, Vasconcelos H, Izac AM (eds) Agroforestry and biodiversity conservation in tropical landscapes. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 415–430

    Google Scholar 

  • De Angelo C (2009) El paisaje del Bosque Atlántico del Alto Paraná y sus efectos sobre la distribución y estructura poblacional del jaguar (Panthera onca) y el puma (Puma concolor). Tesis de Doctorado, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, p 252

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixo M, Metzger JP (2009) Are corridors, fragment size and forest structure important for the conservation of leaf-litter lizards in a fragmented landscape? Oryx 43:435–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixo M, Metzger JP, Morgante JS, Zamudio KR (2009) Habitat fragmentation reduces genetic diversity and connectivity among toad populations in the Brazilian Atlantic Coastal Forest. Biol Conserv 142:1560–1569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durães R, Loiselle BA (2004) Inter-scale relationship between species richness and environmental heterogeneity: a study case with antbirds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Ornitología Neotropical 15(Suppl):127–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Durigan G, Siqueira MF, Franco GADC (2007) Threats to the Cerrado remnants of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Sci Agricola 64:355–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairbanks DHK, Reyers B, Van Jaarsveld AS (2001) Species and environment representation: selecting reserves for the retention of avian diversity in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Biol Conserv 98:365–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez M, Cole D, Heyer WR, Reichle S, Sa RO (2009) Predicting Leptodactylus (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae) distributions: broad-ranging versus patchily distributed species using a presence-only environmental niche modeling technique. S Am J Herpetology 4:103–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca CR, Ganade G, Baldissera R, Becker CG, Boelter CR, Brescovit AD, Campos LM, Fleck T, Fonseca VS, Hartz SM, Joner F, Käffer MI, Leal-Zanchet AM, Marcelli MP, Mesquita AS, Mondin CA, Paz CP, Petry MV, Piovezan FN, Putzke J, Stranz A, Vergara M, Vieira EM (2009) Towards an ecologically sustainable forestry in the Atlantic Forest. Biol Conserv 142:1209–1219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fortin MJ, Dale MRT (2005) Spatial analysis: a guide for ecologists. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Franco FS, Couto L, de Carvalho AF, Jucksch I, Fernandes Filho EI, Silva E, Meira Neto JA (2002) Quantificação de erosão em sistemas agroflorestais e convencionais na zona da mata de Minas Gerais. Revista Árvore 26:751–760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franzen M, Mulder MB (2007) Ecological, economic and social perspectives on cocoa production worldwide. Biodivers Conserv 16:3835–3849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freitas SR, Hawbaker TJ, Metzger JP (2010) Effects of roads, topography, and land use on forest cover dynamics in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. For Ecol Manage 259:410–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galindo-Leal C, Câmara IG (2003) Atlantic forest hotspot status: an overview. In: Galindo-Leal C, Câmara IG (eds) The Atlantic Forest of South America: biodiversity status, threats, and outlook. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 3–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner TA, Barlow J, Chazdon R, Ewers RM, Harvey CA, Peres CA, Sodhi NS (2009) Prospects for tropical forest biodiversity in a human-modified world. Ecol Lett 12:561–582

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gascon C, Lovejoy TE, Bierregaard RO, Malcolm JR, Stouffer PC, Vasconcelos H, Laurance WF, Zimmerman B, Tocher M, Borges S (1999) Matrix habitat and species persistence in tropical forest remnants. Biol Conserv 91:223–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grinnell J (1917) Field tests of theories concerning distributional control. Am Nat 51:115–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guisan A, Thuiller W (2005) Predicting species distribution: offering more than simple habitat models. Ecol Lett 8:993–1009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guisan A, Zimmermann NE (2000) Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology. Ecol Modell 135:147–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey CA, Tucker NIJ, Estrada A (2004) Live fences, isolated trees, and windbreaks: tools for conserving biodiversity in fragmented tropical landscapes. In: Schroth G, da Fonseca GAB, Harvey CA, Gascon C, Vasconcelos HL, Izac AMN (eds) Agroforestry and biodiversity conservation in tropical landscapes. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 261–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Hengl T, Evans IS (2009) Mathematical and digital models of land surface. In: Hengl T, Reuter HI (eds) Geomorphometry – concepts, software, applications – developments in soil science, vol 33. Elsevier, Hungary, pp 31–63

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hijmans RJ, Cameron SE, Parra JL, Jones PG, Jarvis AJ (2005) Very high resolution interpolated climate surfaces for global land areas. Int J Climatol 25:1965–1978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang CQ, Kim S, Altstatt A, Townshend JRG, Davis P, Song K, Tucker CJ, Rodas O, Yanosky A, Clay R, Musinsky J (2007) Rapid loss of Paraguay’s Atlantic Forest and the status of protected areas: a landsat assessment. Remote Sens Environ 106:460–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang CQ, Kim S, Song K, Townshend JRG, Davis P, Altstatt A, Rodas O, Yanosky A, Clay R, Tucker CJ, Musinsky J (2009) Assessment of Paraguay’s forest cover change using landsat observations. Glob Planet Change 67:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson GE (1957) Concluding remarks. Cold Spring Harbor Symposium. Quant Biol 22:415–427

    Google Scholar 

  • IBGE (2006). Censo Agropecuário. Available via DIALOG: http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/agropecuaria/censoagro/2006/agropecuario.pdf. Last access 20 Feb 2010

  • Jose S (2009) Agroforestry for ecosystem services and environmental benefits: an overview. Agroforest Syst 76:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kappelle M, Uffelen JGV, Cleef AM (1995) Altitudinal zonation of montane Quercus forests along two transects in Chirripó National Park, Costa Rica. Vegetatio 119:119–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimmel TM, Nascimento LM, Piechowski D, Sampaio EVSB, Rodal MJN, Gottsberger G (2010) Pollination and seed dispersal modes of woody species of 12-year-old secondary forest in the Atlantic Forest region of Pernambuco, NE Brazil. Flora Morphol Distrib Funct Ecol Plants 205:540–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lapola DM, Schaldach R, Alcamo J, Bondeau A, Koch J, Koelking C, Priess JA (2010) Indirect land-use changes can overcome carbon savings from biofuels in Brazil. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:3388–3393

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laurance WF (2009) Conserving the hottest of the hotspots. Biol Conserv 142:1137–1137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laurance WF, Cochrane MA, Bergen S, Fearnside PM, Delamônica P, Barber C, D’Angelo S, Fernandes R (2001) The future of the Brazilian Amazon. Science 19:438–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laurance WF, Nascimento HEAM, Laurance SGW, Andrade A, Ewers RM, Harms KE, Luizão RC, Ribeiro JELS (2007) Habitat fragmentation, variable edge effects, and the landscape-divergence hypothesis. PLoS ONE 2:e1017

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lees AC, Peres CA (2008) Conservation value of remnant riparian forest corridors of varying quality for Amazonian birds and mammals. Conserv Biol 22:439–449

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindenmayer DB, Franklin JF, Fischer J (2006) General management principles and a checklist of strategies to guide forest biodiversity conservation. Biol Conserv 131:433–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindenmayer D, Hobbs RJ, Montague-Drake R, Alexandra J, Bennett A, Burgman M, Cale P, Calhoun A, Cramer V, Cullen P, Driscoll D, Fahrig L, Fischer J, Franklin J, Haila Y, Hunter M, Gibbons P, Lake S, Luck G, MacGregor C, McIntyre S, Mac Nally R, Manning A, Miller J, Mooney H, Noss R, Possingham H, Saunders D, Schmiegelow F, Scott M, Simberloff D, Sisk T, Tabor G, Walker B, Wiens J, Woinarski J, Zavaleta E (2008) A checklist for ecological management of landscape for conservation. Ecol Lett 11:78–91

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loiselle BA, Graham CH, Goerck JM, Ribeiro MC (2010) Assessing the impact of deforestation and climate change on the range size and environmental niche of bird species in the Atlantic forests, Brazil. J Biogeogr 37:1288–1301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu D, Mausel P, Brondizio E, Moran E (2002) Above-ground biomass estimation of successional and mature forests using TM images in the Amazon Basin. In: Richardson D, van Oosteron P (ed) Advances in spatial data handling: 10th international symposium on spatial data handling, Springer, pp 183–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcelino VR, Haddad CFB, Alexandrino J (2009) Geographic distribution and morphological variation of striped and nonstriped populations of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest treefrog Hypsiboas bischoffi (Anura:Hylidae). J Herpetol 43:351–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martensen AC (2008) Conservação de aves de sub-bosque em paisagens fragmentadas: importância da cobertura e da configuração do habitat. Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade de São Paulo, pp 160

    Google Scholar 

  • Martensen AC, Pimentel RG, Metzger JP (2008) Relative effects of fragment size and connectivity on bird community in the Atlantic Rain Forest: implications for conservation. Biol Conserv 141:2184–2192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeely JA, Schroth G (2006) Agroforestry and biodiversity conservation-traditional practices, present dynamics, and lessons for the future. Biodivers Conserv 15:549–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeely JA, Mittermeier RA, Brooks TM, Boltz F, Ash N (2009) The wealth of nature: ecosystem services, biodiversity and human well-being. CEMEX, Arlington

    Google Scholar 

  • Mello TF (2009) Estrutura da vegetação, cobertura florestal e preferências de uso da paisagem associadas a vertentes: as quase-florestas de São Luiz do Paraitinga (SP). Master’s Dissertation, University of São Paulo, Brazil, pp 87

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzger JP, Martensen AC, Dixo M, Bernacci LC, Ribeiro MC, Teixeira AMG, Pardini R (2009) Time-lag in biological responses to landscape changes in a highly dynamic Atlantic forest region. Biol Conserv 142:1166–1177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittermeier RA, Gill PR, Hoffmann M, Pilgrim J, Brooks J, Mittermeier CJ, Lamourux J, Fonseca GAB (2005) Hotspots revisited: earth’s biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial ecoregions. CEMEX, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller P (1973) Dispersal Centers of Terrestrial Vertebrates in the Neotropical Realm: a study in the evolution of the Neotropical biota and its native landscape. Dr. W. Junk, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray-Smith C, Brummitt NA, Oliveira-Filho AT, Bachman S, Moat J, Lughadha EMN, Lucas EJ (2009) Plant diversity hotspots in the Atlantic Coastal Forests of Brazil. Conserv Biol 23:151–163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nassar AM, Rudorff BFT, Antoniazzi LB, Aguiar DA, Bacchi MRP, Adami M (2008) Prospects of the sugar cane expansion in Brazil: impacts on direct and indirect land use changes. In: Zuurbier P, Van de Vooren J (eds) Sugarcane ethanol: contribution to climate change mitigation and the environment. Wageningen Academic, The Netherlands, pp 63–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Olaya V (2009) Basic land-surface parameters. In: Hengl T, Reuter HI (eds) Geomorphometry – concepts, software, applications – developments in soil science, vol 33. Elsevier, Hungary, pp 141–169

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira Filho FJB, Metzger JP (2006) Thresholds in landscape structure for three common deforestation patterns in the Brazilian Amazon. Landscape Ecol 21:1061–1073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardini R, Faria D, Accacio GM, Laps RR, Mariano E, Paciencia MLB, Dixo M, Baumgarten J (2009) The challenge of maintaining Atlantic forest biodiversity: a multi-taxa conservation assessment of an agro-forestry mosaic in southern Bahia. Biol Conserv 142:1178–1190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfastetter O (1987) Classificação de bacias hidrográficas: método de Otto Pfastetter, pp 16

    Google Scholar 

  • Prance GT (1982) Forest refuges: evidence from woody angiosperms. In: Prance GT (ed) Biological diversification in the tropics. Columbia University Press, New York, pp 137–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez J, Jarvis A (2008) High resolution statistically downscaled future climate surfaces. International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, CIAT. Available via DIALOG: http://gisweb.ciat.cgiar.org/GCMPage. Last access 28 Feb 2010

  • Ranta P, Blom T, Niemelä J, Joensuu E, Siitonen M (1998) The fragmented Atlantic rain forest of Brazil: size, shape and distribution of forest fragments. Biodivers Conserv 7:385–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • REBRAFE (2007) Manual Agroflorestal para a Mata Atlântica. APOSTILA 1 – Introdução Geral, Classificação e Breve Caracterização de SAFs e Práticas Agroflorestais, pp 1–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro MC, Metzger JP, Martensen AC, Ponzoni FJ, Hirota MM (2009) The Brazilian Atlantic Forest: how much is left, and how is the remaining forest distributed? Implications for conservation. Biol Conserv 142:1141–1153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues A, Andelman SJ, Bakarr MI, Boitani L, Brooks TM, Cowling RM, Fishpool LDC, Fonseca GAB, Gaston KJ, Hoffmann M, Long JS, Marquet PA, Pilgrim JD, Pressey RL, Schipper J, Sechrest W, Stuart SN, Underhill LG, Waller RW, Watts MEJ, Yan X (2004) Effectiveness of the global protected area network in representing species diversity. Nature 428:640–643

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues RR, Lima RAF, Gandolfi S, Nave AG (2009) On the restoration of high diversity forests: 30 years of experience in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Biol Conserv 142:1242–1251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roque FO, Siqueira T, Bini LM, Ribeiro MC, Tambosi LR, Ciocheti G, Trivino-Strixino S (2010) Untangling associations between chironomid taxa in Neotropical streams using local and landscape filters. Freshw Biol 55:847–865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudorff BFT, Sugawara LM (2007) Mapeamento da cana-de-açúcar na Região Centro-Sul via imagens de satélites. Informe Agropecuário 28:79–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Sá CFC (2006) Estrutura e diversidade de angiospermas no centro de diversidade vegetal de Cabo Frio. Doctoral Thesis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarano FR (2002) Structure, function and floristic relationships of plant communities in stressful habitats marginal to the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Ann Bot 90:517–524

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scarano FR (2009) Plant communities at the periphery of the Atlantic rain forest: rare-species bias and its risks for conservation. Biol Conserv 142:1201–1208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schroth G, Harvey CA (2007) Biodiversity conservation in cocoa production landscapes: an overview. Biodivers Conserv 16:2237–2244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schroth G, Harvey C, Vincent G (2004) Complex agroforests: their structure, diversity, and potential role in landscape conservation. In: Schroth G, da Fonseca GAB, Harvey CA, Gascon C, Vasconcelos HL, Izac AMN (eds) Agroforestry and biodiversity conservation in tropical landscapes. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 227–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Seabloom EW, Dobson A, Stoms DM (2002) Extinction rates under nonrandom patterns of habitat loss. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:11229–11234

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2002) Global strategy for plant conservation. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. CBD, UMEP, Botanical Gardens Conservation International, Montreal

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva MAM (2008) Agronegócio: a reinvenção da colônia. In: Silva MAM, Alves F, Pereira JC (eds) Agrocombustíveis Solução? CCJ, São Paulo

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva ACBL (2010) Influência da área e da heterogeneidade de habitat na diversidade vegetal de Floresta Atlântica. Ph.D. thesis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, pp 153

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva RV da (2003) Estimativa de largura de faixa vegetativa para zonas ripárias: uma revisão. I Seminário de Hidrologia Florestal: Zonas Ripárias – Alfredo Wagner/SC, pp 74–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva JMC, Casteleti CH (2003) Status of the biodiversity of the Atlantic forest of Brazil. In: Galindo-Leal C, Câmara IG (eds) The Atlantic Forest of South America: biodiversity status, threats, and outlook. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 43–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva JMC, de Sousa MC, Castelletti CHM (2004) Areas of endemism for passerine birds in the Atlantic forest, South America. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 13:85–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva WGS, Metzger JP, Simões S, Simonetti C (2007) Relief influence on the spatial distribution of the Atlantic Forest cover at the Ibiúna Plateau, SP. Braz J Biol 67:403–411

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silva WGS, Metzger JP, Bernacci LC, Catharino ELM, Durigan G, Simões S (2008) Relief influence on tree species richness in secondary forest fragments of Atlantic Forest, SE, Brazil. Acta Bot Brasilica 22:589–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silvano RAM, Udvardy S, Ceronic M, Farley J (2005) An ecological integrity assessment of a Brazilian Atlantic Forest watershed based on surveys of stream health and local farmers’ perceptions: implications for management. Ecol Econ 53:369–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siqueira MF, Durigan G, de Marco Jr P, Peterson AT (2009) Something from nothing: using landscape similarity and ecological niche modeling to find rare plant species. J Nat Conserv 17:25–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabarelli M, Pinto LP, Silva JMC, Hirota M, Bede L (2005) Challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Conserv Biol 19:695–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabarelli M, Aguiar AV, Ribeiro MC, Metzger JP, Peres CA (2010) Prospects for biodiversity conservation in the Atlantic Forest: lessons from aging human-modified landscapes. Biol Conserv. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2010.02.005

  • Teixeira AMG, Soares-Filho BS, Freitas SR, Metzger JP (2009) Modeling landscape dynamics in an Atlantic Rainforest region: implications for conservation. For Ecol Manage 257:1219–1230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres NM, Marco P Jr, Diniz-Filho JAF, Silveira L (2008) Jaguar distribution in Brazil: past, present and future. CAT News 4:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Trindade MB, Lins-e-Silva ACB, Silva HP, Figueira SB, Schessl M (2008) Fragmentation of the Atlantic Rainforest in the northern coastal region of Pernambuco, Brazil: recent changes and implications for conservation. Bioremediation Biodivers Bioavailability 2:5–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Uezu A, Metzger JP, Beyer DD (2008) Can agroforest woodlots work as stepping stones for birds in the Atlantic forest region? Biol Conserv 17:1907–1922

    Google Scholar 

  • Vieira DLM, Holl KD, Peneireiro FM (2009) Agro-successional restoration as a strategy to facilitate tropical forest recovery. Restor Ecol 117:451–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Humboldt A, Bonpland A (1807) Essai sur la Géographie des Plantes. Levrault, Schoell et Compagnie, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner HH, Fortin MJ (2005) Spatial analysis of landscape: concepts and statistics. Ecology 86:1975–1987

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams PH, Margules CR, Wilbert DW (2002) Data requirements and data sources for biodiversity priority area selection. J Biosci 27:327–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zurita GA, Rey N, Varela DM, Villagra M, Bellocq MI (2006) Conversion of the Atlantic Forest into native and exotic tree plantations: effects on bird communities from the local and regional perspectives. For Ecol Manage 235:164–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Milton Cezar Ribeiro

    Present address: Laboratório de Ecologia Espacial e Conservacçã – LEEC, Departamento de Ecologia, UNESP – Rio Claro., Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, Brasil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, travessa 14, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Milton Cezar Ribeiro, Alexandre Camargo Martensen & Jean Paul Metzger

  2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G, Canada

    Milton Cezar Ribeiro & Marie-Josee Fortin

  3. Taki Ambiental, Estrada da Lagoa 3606, 18315-000, Ribeirão Grande, 45, SP, Brazil

    Milton Cezar Ribeiro & Alexandre Camargo Martensen

  4. Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil

    Marcelo Tabarelli

  5. Conservation International, Rua Barão de Oliveira Castro 29 Jardim Botânico, 22460-280, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Fábio Scarano

Authors
  1. Milton Cezar Ribeiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexandre Camargo Martensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jean Paul Metzger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marcelo Tabarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fábio Scarano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Marie-Josee Fortin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Milton Cezar Ribeiro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Mammal Collection, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, Vienna, 1010, Austria

    Frank E. Zachos

  2. Naturelle, Luxembourg, Musée National de Histoire, rue Münster 25, Luxembourg, 2106, Luxembourg

    Jan Christian Habel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ribeiro, M.C., Martensen, A.C., Metzger, J.P., Tabarelli, M., Scarano, F., Fortin, MJ. (2011). The Brazilian Atlantic Forest: A Shrinking Biodiversity Hotspot. In: Zachos, F., Habel, J. (eds) Biodiversity Hotspots. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20992-5_21

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation