Use of agro-silvicultural landscapes by small mammals in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

• Ano de defesa: 2024
• Autor(a) principal: Vasquez Uribe, Lina Cristina
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Biblioteca Digitais de Teses e Dissertações da USP
• Palavras-chave em Português: Above-ground biomass; Agroecossistema; Agroecosystem; Biodiversity conservation; Bioindicador; Bioindicator; Biomassa aérea; Conservação da biodiversidade; Cultura de cana-de-açúcar; Eucalyptus silviculture; Marsupiais; Marsupials; Rodents; Roedores; Silvicultura de eucaliptos; Sugarcane plantation
• Link de acesso: https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/91/91131/tde-03022025-153044/

Studies in agricultural landscapes have shown that anthropogenic environments can be relevant for many wild species. Given the extent of these areas, efficient research methods such as the use of biological indicators are needed to assess their ecological value in terms of local diversity. This study aimed to evaluate the use by small mammals of agro-silvicultural landscape in sugarcane and eucalyptus plantations, containing fragments of native vegetation in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. From October 2021 to September 2022, we carried out monthly sampling campaigns over a grid of 300 traps in a landscape with a eucalyptus plantation matrix and 240 traps in a landscape with a sugarcane plantation matrix, following the RAPELD methodology. Chapter 1 presents a systematic review of the scientific literature to analyze the temporal evolution, spatial distribution, and key features of existing research, as well as to identify research gaps and opportunities. In chapter 2 we evaluate the spatial-temporal distribution and abundance patterns of non-volant small mammals inhabiting agrosilvicultural landscapes: sugarcane and eucalyptus plantations containing fragments of natural vegetation. A total of 326 individuals from 11 species of the orders Rodentia (9 spp.) and Didelphimorphia (2 spp.) were captured. Native vegetation exhibits higher species richness than eucalyptus and sugarcane plantations. In chapter 3 we evaluate the relationship between native plant biomass and patterns of non-volant small mammals diversity, distribution, and abundance. An increase in plant biomass prompts a shift in the small mammals species abundance, transitioning from open area species to forest species. This study supports the use of native vegetation biomass as a proxy for assessing small mammal abundance in agricultural landscapes. In chapter 4 we evaluate stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C) composition of small mammals. Our findings revealed intraspecific and interspecific variation in carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope values among small mammal species across different habitat types. Thus, native vegetation recovery emerges as one of the most effective strategies for enhancing the conservation value of agricultural landscapes.