Study

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.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Install rope bridges between canopies

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. 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)

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