Using landscape species as indicators of functional corridors in the Brazilian Amazon

Fernanda Michalski

Conserving wildlife species in fragmented landscapes is an immediate challenge facing conservation biologists and managers. Expansion of both human populations and resource requirements are driving habitat conversion at an increasing scale and speed; such that relying solely on protected areas to preserve remaining biodiversity is unlikely to succeed within or across landscapes dominated by human influences. There is increasing awareness of the importance of corridors for mitigating negative impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation. However studies have yet to show what makes an effective corridor for both people and remaining wildlife populations in fragmented landscapes. This study aimed to fill gaps in ecological understanding and provide a framework for conserving corridors in landscapes dominated by anthropogenic perturbations. The goal is to provide a large scale assessment of the conservation importance and usage of riparian corridors by landscape species in a fragmented region in the Brazilian Amazon.