Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Thresholds in landscape structure for three common deforestation patterns in the Brazilian Amazon

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Landscape Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although abrupt changes (i.e. thresholds) have been precisely defined in simulated landscapes, such changes in the structure of real landscapes are not well understood. We tested for threshold occurrence in three common deforestation patterns in the Brazilian Amazon: small properties regularly distributed along roads (fishbone), irregularly distributed small properties (independent settlements), and large properties. We analyzed differences between real deforestation patterns, and tested the capacity of simulated landscape with different aggregation degrees to predict threshold occurrence. Three 8×8 km sites (replicates) with more than 90% of forest in 1984 and less than 30% in 1998 were selected/simulated for each deforestation pattern. Thresholds were observed for fishbone and large property patterns, especially when considering the connectivity index, although threshold incidences were more frequently observed in simulated landscapes. The capacity of simulated landscapes to predict the exact threshold point in real landscapes was limited, even when considering highly aggregate simulations. However, the general trend in landscape structural changes was similar in real and simulated landscapes. Thresholds occurred at the beginning of the deforestation for mean patch size and at an intermediate stage, corresponding to the percolation threshold, for connectivity, isolation and fragmentation. Threshold behavior for connectivity index might suggest that the survival of strictly forest species will sharply decrease when the proportion of forest reach values <0.60, indicating that conservation efforts should be done to maintain forest cover above this limit. Significant differences observed among the real deforestation patterns, especially in patch isolation and number of fragments, can have significant consequences for conservation. The independent settlement pattern is, without a doubt, the least favorable of them, resulting in a higher level of fragmentation, whereas the large property and fishbone patterns may be less detrimental if connectivity among the remnant forest patches is preserved.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • D.S. Alves (2002) ArticleTitleSpace-time dynamics of deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia Intl J. Remote Sens. 23 2903–2908 Occurrence Handle10.1080/01431160110096791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H. Andrén (1994) ArticleTitleEffect of habitat fragmentation on birds and mammals in landscapes with different proportions of suitable habitat: a review Oikos 71 355–366

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Andrén (1996) ArticleTitlePopulation responses to habitat fragmentation: statistical power and the random sample hypothesis Oikos 76 235–242

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Bascompte R.V. Solé (1996) ArticleTitleHabitat fragmentation and extinction thresholds in spatially explicit models J. Anim. Ecol. 65 465–473 Occurrence Handle10.2307/5781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.Z. Baskent (1999) ArticleTitleControlling spatial structure of forested landscapes: a case study towards landscape management Landscape Ecol. 14 83–97 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1008071307848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Batistella S. Robeson E. Moran (2003) ArticleTitleSettlement design, forest fragmentation, and landscape structure in RondôniaAmazônia Photogram. Eng. Remote Sens. 69 805–812

    Google Scholar 

  • G.P. Boswell N.F. Britton N.R. Franks (1998) ArticleTitleHabitat fragmentation, percolation theory and the conservation of a keystone species Proc. Roy. Soc. Lon. Ser. B Biol. Sci. 265 1921–1925 Occurrence Handle10.1098/rspb.1998.0521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T.V. Burkey (1989) ArticleTitleExtinction in nature reserves: the effect of fragmentation and the importance of migration between reserve fragments Oikos 55 75–81

    Google Scholar 

  • S.K. Collinge R.T.T. Forman (1998) ArticleTitleA conceptual model of land conversion processes: predictions and evidence from a microlandscape experiment with grassland insects Oikos 82 66–84

    Google Scholar 

  • V.H. Dale R.V. O’Neill M. Pedlowski F. Southworth (1993) ArticleTitleCauses and effects of land use change in Central RondôniaBrazil Photogram. Eng. Remote Sens. 59 997–1005

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Fahrig (1997) ArticleTitleRelative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on species extinction J. Wildlife Manag. 61 603–610

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Fahrig (1998) ArticleTitleWhen does fragmentation of breeding habitat affect population survival? Ecol. Model. 105 273–292 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3800(97)00163-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C.H. Flather M. Bevers (2002) ArticleTitlePatchy reaction-diffusion and population abundance: the relative importance of habitat amount and arrangement Amer. Nat. 159 40–56 Occurrence Handle10.1086/324120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.F. Franklin R.T.T. Forman (1987) ArticleTitleCreating landscape pattern by forest cutting: ecological consequences and principles Landscape Ecol. 1 5–18 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02275261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.H. Gardner (1999) RULE: A program for the generation of random maps and the analysis of spatial patterns JM Klopatek RH Gardner (Eds) Landscape Ecological Analysis: Issues and Applications Springer-Verlag New York 280–303

    Google Scholar 

  • R.H. Gardner R.V. O’Neill (1991) Pattern, process, and predictability: the use of neutral models for landscape analysis MG Turner RH Gardner (Eds) Landscape Ecology Springer-Verlag New York 289–307

    Google Scholar 

  • R.H. Gardner B.T. Milne M.G. Turner R.V. O’Neill (1987) ArticleTitleNeutral models for the analysis of broad-scale landscape pattern Landscape Ecol. 1 19–28 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02275262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.H. Gardner M.G. Turner R.V. O’Neill S. Lavorel (1991) Simulation of the scale-dependent effects of landscape boundaries on species persistence and dispersal M.M. Holland P.G. Risser R.J. Naiman (Eds) Ecotones: the Role of Landscape Boundaries in the Management and Restoration of Changing Environments Chapman and Hall New York, USA 76–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Geist H.J. and Lambin E.F. 2001. What drives tropical deforestation? A meta-analysis of proximate and underlying causes of deforestation based on subnational case study evidence. LUCC Report Series No. 4, CIACO, Louvain-la-NeuveBelgium.

  • E.J. Gustafson G.R. Parker (1992) ArticleTitleRelationship between landcover proportion and indices of landscape spatial pattern Landscape Ecol. 7 101–110 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02418941

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.J. Gustafson T.R. Crow (1994) ArticleTitleForest management alternatives in the hoosier-national-forest J. Forest. 92 28–29

    Google Scholar 

  • C.D. Hargis J.A. Bissonette J.L. David (1998) ArticleTitleThe behavior of landscape metrics commonly used in the study of habitat fragmentation Landscape Ecol. 13 167–186 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1007965018633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameINPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) (2004) Levantamento das áreas desflorestadas na Amazônia Legal no período 2002–2003: Resultados Ministério de Ciência e Tecnologia São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • A.W. King K.A. With (2002) ArticleTitleDispersal success on spatially structured landscapes: when do spatial pattern and dispersal behavior really matter? Ecol. Model. 147 23–39 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3800(01)00400-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • W.F. Laurance (2000) ArticleTitleMega-development trends in the Amazon: implications for global change Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 61 113–122 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXisF2qtr0%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006374320085

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W.F. Laurance S.G. Laurance L.V. Ferreira J.M. Rankin-de-Merona C. Gascon T.E. Lovejoy (1997) ArticleTitleBiomass collapse in Amazonian Forest Fragments Science 278 1117–1118 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnt1aisbk%3D Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.278.5340.1117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W.F. Laurance M.A. Cochrane S. Bergen P.M. Fearnside P. Delamonica C. Barber S. D′Angelo T. Fernandes (2001) ArticleTitleEnvironment – The future of the Brazilian Amazon Science 291 438–439 Occurrence Handle11228139 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlslaqsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.291.5503.438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H. Li J.F. Franklin F.J. Swanson T.A. Spies (1993) ArticleTitleDeveloping alternative forest cutting patterns: a simulation approach Landscape Ecol. 8 63–75 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00129867

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. Mahar (1988) Government Policies and Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon Region World Bank Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • N.E. McIntyre J.A. Wiens (1999) ArticleTitleInteractions between habitat abundance and configuration: experimental validation of some predictions from percolation theory Oikos 86 129–137

    Google Scholar 

  • J.P. Metzger (2001) ArticleTitleEffects of deforestation pattern and private nature reserves on the forest conservation in settlement areas of the Brazilian Amazon Biota Neotrop. 1 1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • J.P. Metzger (2002) ArticleTitleLandscape dynamics and equilibrium in areas of slash-and-burn agriculture with short and long fallow period (Bragantina region, NE Brazilian Amazon) Landscape Ecol. 17 419–431 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1021250306481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.P. Metzger H. Décamps (1997) ArticleTitleThe structural connectivity threshold: an hypothesis in conservation biology at the landscape scale Acta Ecol. 18 1–12 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1146-609X(97)80075-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Mykra S. Kurki A. Nikula (2000) ArticleTitleThe spacing of mature forest habitat in relation to species-specific scales in managed boreal forests in NE Finland Annales Zool. Fennici 37 79–91

    Google Scholar 

  • D.E. Naugle K.F. Higgins S.M. Nusser W.C. Johnson (1999) ArticleTitleScale-dependent habitat use in three species of prairie wetland birds Landscape Ecol. 14 267–276 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1008088429081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.C. Neel K. McGarigal S.A. Cushman (2004) ArticleTitleBehavior of class-level landscape metrics across gradients of class aggregation and area Landscape Ecol. 19 435–455 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:LAND.0000030521.19856.cb

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.C. Nepstad C.A. Klink C. Uhl I.C. Vieira P. Lefebvre M. Pedlowski E. Matricardi G. Negreiros I.F. Brown E. Amaral A. Homma R. Walker (1997) ArticleTitleLand-use in Amazonia and the Cerrado of Brazil Ciência e Cultura 49 73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • R.V. O’Neill B.T. Milne M.G. Turner R.H. Gardner (1988) ArticleTitleResource utilization scales and landscapes pattern Landscape Ecol. 2 63–69 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00138908

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameRADAMBRASIL (1983) Folha SC.21 Juruena. Levantamento de Recursos Naturais, Vol. 20 Ministério das Minas e Energia Rio de JaneiroRJ, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • W.J. Ripple G.A. Bradshaw T.A. Spies (1991) ArticleTitleMeasuring forest landscape patterns in the cascade range of Oregon, USA Biol. Conserv. 57 73–88 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0006-3207(91)90108-L

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • W.H. Romme (1982) ArticleTitleFire and landscape diversity in subalpine forests of Yellowstone National Park Ecol. Monogr. 52 199–221 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1942611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Serra (1982) Image Analysis and Mathematic Morphology Academic press New York, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • D.L. Skole C.J. Tucker (1993) ArticleTitleTropical deforestation, fragmented habitatand adversely affected habitat in the Brazilian Amazon: 1978– 1988 Science 260 1905–1910 Occurrence Handle17836720

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D.L. Skole W.H. Chomentowski W.A. Salas A.D. Nobre (1994) ArticleTitlePhysical and human dimensions of deforestation in Amazonia Bioscience 44 314–322 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1312381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B.S. Soares-Filho C. Pennachin G.C. Cerqueira (2002) ArticleTitleDINAMICA – a stochastic cellular automata model designed to simulate the landscape dynamics in an Amazonian colonization frontier Ecol. Model. 154 217–235 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3800(02)00059-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B.S. Soares-Filho A. Alencar D. Nepstad G.C. Cerqueira M. Vera Diaz S. Rivero L. Solórzano E. Voll (2004) ArticleTitleSimulating the response of land-cover changes to road paving and governance along a major Amazon highway: the Santarém-Cuiabá corridor Global Change Biol. 10 745–764 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1529-8817.2003.00769.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. Stauffer (1985) Introduction to Percolation Theory Taylor & Francis London, England

    Google Scholar 

  • M.K. Trani R.H. Giles (1999) ArticleTitleAn analysis of deforestation: metrics used to describe pattern change Forest Ecol. Manag. 114 459–470 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1127(98)00375-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G.M. Turner R.H. Gardner V.H. Dale R.V. O’Neill (1989) ArticleTitlePredicting the spread of disturbance across heterogeneous landscapes Oikos 55 121–129

    Google Scholar 

  • R.T. Walker A.K.O. Homma F.N. Scatena A.J. Conto C.D. Rodrigues-Pedrazza C.A.P. Ferreira (1997) ArticleTitleLand cover evolution of small properties: the Transamazon Highway Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural 35 115–126

    Google Scholar 

  • K.A. With (1997) ArticleTitleThe application of neutral landscape models in conservation biology Conserv. Biol. 11 1069–1080 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.1997.96210.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.A. With T.O. Crist (1995) ArticleTitleCritical threshold in species responses to landscape structure Ecology 76 2446–2459 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2265819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.A. With A.W. King (1999a) ArticleTitleDispersal success on fractal landscapes: a consequence of lacunarity thresholds Landscape Ecol. 14 73 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1008030215600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.A. With A.W. King (1999b) ArticleTitleExtinction thresholds for species in fractal landscapes Conserv. Biol. 13 314–326 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.1999.013002314.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.A. With R.H. Gardner M.G. Turner (1997) ArticleTitleLandscape connectivity and population distributions in heterogeneous environments Oikos 78 151–169

    Google Scholar 

  • K.A. With S.J. Cadret C. Davis (1999) ArticleTitleMovement responses to patch structure in experimental fractal landscapes Ecology 80 1340–1353 Occurrence Handle10.2307/177079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.A. With D.M. Pavuk J.L. Worchuck R.K. Oates J.L. Fisher (2002) ArticleTitleThreshold effects of landscape structure on biological control in agroecosystems Ecol. Appl. 12 52–65

    Google Scholar 

  • J.H. Zar (1996) Biostatistical Analysis Prentice-Hall Upper Saddle RiverNJ, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • W.C. Zipperer (1993) ArticleTitleDeforestation patterns and their effects on forest patches Landscape Ecol. 8 177–184 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00125349

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology – Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matao, 321, travessa 14, 05508–900, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Francisco José Barbosa Oliveira de Filho & Jean Paul Metzger

Authors
  1. Francisco José Barbosa Oliveira de Filho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean Paul Metzger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean Paul Metzger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Filho, F.J.B.O., Metzger, J.P. Thresholds in landscape structure for three common deforestation patterns in the Brazilian Amazon. Landscape Ecol 21, 1061–1073 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-006-6913-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-006-6913-0

Keyword

Search

Navigation