Document: ROD-3-18-9

Land use patterns in tropical ecosystems and consequences for biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function.

DIRZO, R.*

Instituto de Ecologia UNAM. Mexico 04510 D.F. ¹

Abstract:
Current patterns of land use in tropical ecosystems are leading to a considerable reduction of their original coverage and, in addition, the remaining forests consist of a mosaic of fragments of different size and time of separation from the major tracts of forest. A review of the consequence of such patterns of land use will be provided in terms of the future scenarios of plant and animal species loss and in terms of the disruption of ecological processes in which biodiversity elements participate. In particular a review is presented of the disruption of biotic linkages as a result of the loss of several animal functional groups: pollinators, dispersal agents and herbivores. A discussion is presented which suggests that a major pulse of biodiversity loss in term of species and species populations, may take place under the current patterns of land use and that such losses of biodiversity may seriously damage the ecological interactions between organisms. It is concluded that such disruptions may threaten the maintenance of the exuberant diversity of tropical ecosystems.

Keywords:

This abstract is being presented at: 2:45 PM in session:
Symposium # 17: Land Use and Land Cover Change: The Last Century and Prospects for the 21st Century.