Natural canopy bridges effectively mitigate tropical forest fragmentation for arboreal mammals

Published source details Gregory T., Carrasco-Rueda F., Alonso A., Kolowski J. & Deichmann J.L. (2017) Natural canopy bridges effectively mitigate tropical forest fragmentation for arboreal mammals. Scientific Reports, 7, 3892.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Install rope bridges between canopies Action Link

Install rope bridges between canopies

A study in 2012–2013 at a forest site in the Lower Urubamba region, Peru (Gregory et al. 2017) found that canopy bridges over a pipeline route were used by 25 arboreal mammal species with use increasing over 10 months, and crossing rates were higher over the bridges than at ground level. Twenty-five arboreal mammal species were recorded crossing over 13 canopy bridges (see original paper for details). Overall, use of the bridges increased over 10 months (total 40–55 crossings/100 nights). Crossing rates were higher over the bridges (total 45 crossings/100 nights) than below them at ground level (total 0.3 crossings/100 nights), although the difference was not tested for statistical significance. A gas pipeline route (10–25 m wide) was cleared through an area of native forest in June–August 2012. Thirteen canopy bridges (with branches from one or more trees connecting across the clearing) were preserved along a 5.2 km stretch of the route. Ten bridges remained functional by the end of the study in August 2013. Three failed due to exposure/tree damage. From September 2012, camera traps recorded crossing activity over the bridges (1–4 cameras/bridge) and at ground level below (2–3 cameras/bridge) for 11–12 months.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)