Data from: Edge effects on components of diversity and above-ground biomass in a tropical rainforest

1. Edge effects are among the most significant consequences of forest
fragmentation. Therefore, understanding the impacts of edge creation on
biodiversity is crucial for forest management and biological conservation.
2. In this study, we used trait-based and phylogenetic approaches to
examine the effects of fragmentation on components of diversity and
above-ground biomass of rainforest tree communities in Madagascar in
forest edge vs. interior habitats. 3. Tree communities in forest edges
showed lower phylogenetic diversity relative to those in interior
habitats, suggesting that some clades may be more vulnerable to
environmental filtering than others. Functional diversity was also
significantly lower on the edge for productivity traits, but not for
dispersal traits. Tree communities in the forest edge showed higher
divergence of dispersal traits and lower divergence in productivity traits
than expected by chance, while functional diversity in interior forest did
not differ from random expectations. This suggests separate mechanisms
affect productivity traits vs. dispersal traits in edge habitat. 4. There
was no significant difference in above-ground biomass between edge and
interior habitats, suggesting that edge effects have not yet negatively
influenced the forest’s potential for carbon storage. However, these
changes may not have occurred yet, given the slow turnover of tree
communities. 5. Synthesis and applications: Our results highlight the role
of edge effects in the erosion of functional and phylogenetic diversity of
highly diverse tree communities. While above-ground biomass did not appear
to be affected by forest edge in our study, we suggest long-term
monitoring of forests for potential changes in ecosystem functioning.
Given the prevalence of forest fragmentation globally, these findings
indicate the need for more holistic biodiversity studies to better
understand local consequences of forest fragmentation.11-Jul-2017