Vertebrate diversity and biomass along a recovery gradient in a lowland tropical forest

Deforestation of tropical forests have resulted in extensive areas of secondary forests with the potential to restore biodiversity to former old-growth forest levels. The recovery of vertebrate communities is an essential component of biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, as vertebrates provide key ecosystem functions. However, little is known about the recovery trajectories and habitat preferences of vertebrates in tropical landscapes with differing land-use legacies. We used camera traps covering three weeks to study the activity of ground-based mammals and birds in the understory of 57 sites along a forest recovery gradient, ranging from active agriculture, such as pastures and cacao plantations, to naturally recovering forests and old-growth forests in the Chocó rainforest in north-western Ecuador. Our results show that diversity and biomass of wild vertebrates are highest in old-growth forests and late recovery stages, while for domestic vertebrates, these indices are highest in ..., , , # Vertebrate diversity and biomass along a recovery gradient in a **lowland tropical forest**

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bnzs7h4mj](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bnzs7h4mj)

## Description of the data and file structure

These data set contain data derived by camera traps on 65 plots in the reserves Reserva Río Canandé and Reserva Tesoro Escondido in northwest Ecuador.

### Files and variables

#### File: Grella\_et\_al.\_vertebrate\_assessment\_R-script.R

**Description:** R code for data analysis

* Includes the following analysis:
* Analysis of species diversity and biomass using a generalized linear model
* Network analysis
* Indicator species analysis
* Predictions of species diversity and biomass using a generalized additive model

#### File: S4\_environment.ods

**Description:** Environmental information of plot location, land-use legacy, surrounding forest cover and forest distance of each plot

* Project3: Information about plot selection
* Reassembly: Plots that...