%0 Journal Article
%T Conserving Tropical Tree Diversity and Forest Structure: The Value of Small Rainforest Patches in Moderately-Managed Landscapes
%A Manuel A. Hern¨¢ndez-Ruedas
%A V¨ªctor Arroyo-Rodr¨ªguez
%A Jorge A. Meave
%A Miguel Mart¨ªnez-Ramos
%A Guillermo Ibarra-Manr¨ªquez
%A Esteban Mart¨ªnez
%A Gilberto Jamangap¨¦
%A Felipe P. L. Melo
%A Br¨¢ulio A. Santos
%J PLOS ONE
%D 2014
%I Public Library of Science (PLoS)
%R 10.1371/journal.pone.0098931
%X Rainforests are undergoing severe deforestation and fragmentation worldwide. A huge amount of small forest patches are being created, but their value in conserving biodiversity and forest structure is still controversial. Here, we demonstrate that in a species-rich and moderately-managed Mexican tropical landscape small rainforest patches (<100 ha) can be highly valuable for the conservation of tree diversity and forest structure. These patches showed diverse communities of native plants, including endangered species, and a new record for the country. Although the number of logged trees increased in smaller patches, patch size was a poor indicator of basal area, stem density, number of species, genera and families, and community evenness. Cumulative species-area curves indicated that all patches had a similar contribution to the regional species diversity. This idea also was supported by the fact that patches strongly differed in floristic composition (high ¦Â-diversity), independently of patch size. Thus, in agreement with the land-sharing approach, our findings support that small forest patches in moderately-managed landscapes should be included in conservation initiatives to maintain landscape heterogeneity, species diversity, and ecosystem services.
%U http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0098931