Mammal Conservation in the Neotropics: from regional patterns to local conservation actions

Summary: This symposium presents an overview of mammal threat and conservation in the Neotropics, presenting case studies and knowledge gaps at the regional level, narrowing down to case studies at the local level that illustrate on the ground conservation actions.

Dr. Mariana M. Vale. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil

Description: Birds and mammals are among the most studied, with detailed information on distribution, habitat preferences, life-history, functional traits, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation status compared to other groups. This makes them appropriate for an overview of biodiversity conservation in the Neotropics. In this symposium we will cover important topics on bird and mammal threat and conservation in terrestrial environments in the Neotropics. The symposium will start presenting spatial patterns of bird and mammal diversity, threat and protection in the Neotropics, identifying the main gaps in protected areas at the regional level. It will than present a series of talks focusing on the conservation implications of short and long-distance migration, reintroduction of ecologically important species and consequences for ecosystems processes, management of forested and open landscapes inside and outside protected areas, consequences of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity, and potential strategies to reduce land use impacts. All talks start with an overview of the topic, presenting case studies and knowledge gaps at the regional level, narrowing down to case studies at the local level that illustrate on the ground conservation actions.

Keywords: diversity, protected areas, forest habitats, open habitats, reintroduction

Justification: Mammals are well studied, with detailed information on distribution, habitat preferences, life-history, functional traits, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation status compared to other groups. This makes them appropriate for an overview of biodiversity conservation in the Neotropics.

Symposium Length: 6 - Presentations total

Presentation 1: Patterns of diversity, threat and protection in the Neotropics

Mariana M. Vale

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Presentation 2: Fragmentation and functional diversity in forested habitats

Carlos Eduardo de Viveiros Grelle

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Presentation 3: Conservation along short and long-distance migration routes

Luís Fabio Silveira

University of São Paulo

Presentation 4: The role of fine-scale landscape elements in conservation

Marcus Vinicius Vieira

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Presentation 5: Fire management for biodiversity conservation in open habitats

Carla Suertegaray Fontana

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Presentation 6: Species reintroduction for the reestablishment of key ecological interactions

Alexandra Pires Fernandez

Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro