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Primary forests are irreplaceable for sustaining tropical biodiversity

Author

Listed:
  • Luke Gibson

    (National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore)

  • Tien Ming Lee

    (Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Section, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0116, USA
    Yale University, PO Box 208106, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8106, USA)

  • Lian Pin Koh

    (National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore
    ETH Zurich, CHN G73.1, Universitatstrasse, 16 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Barry W. Brook

    (The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide)

  • Toby A. Gardner

    (University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK)

  • Jos Barlow

    (Lancaster Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK)

  • Carlos A. Peres

    (School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK)

  • Corey J. A. Bradshaw

    (The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide
    South Australian Research and Development Institute, PO Box 120)

  • William F. Laurance

    (Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University)

  • Thomas E. Lovejoy

    (Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), CP 478, Manaus, AM 69011–970, Brazil
    H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and Environment)

  • Navjot S. Sodhi

    (National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore)

Abstract

Pristine forests preserve variety Primary tropical forests sustain the majority of Earth's terrestrial biodiversity, but they have faced considerable degradation, and in many locations have been replaced by agriculture, plantations and secondary forests. A meta-analysis of the biodiversity consequences of such changes in land use suggests that with the possible exception of selective logging, all changes from primary forest cause substantial falls in biodiversity, and secondary forests are poor substitutes for primary forest.

Suggested Citation

  • Luke Gibson & Tien Ming Lee & Lian Pin Koh & Barry W. Brook & Toby A. Gardner & Jos Barlow & Carlos A. Peres & Corey J. A. Bradshaw & William F. Laurance & Thomas E. Lovejoy & Navjot S. Sodhi, 2011. "Primary forests are irreplaceable for sustaining tropical biodiversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 478(7369), pages 378-381, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:478:y:2011:i:7369:d:10.1038_nature10425
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10425
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