Assessing threats to phylogenetic and functional diversity and the consequences on the provisioning of ecosystems services

Abstract

The order Rodentia is the most diverse of mammal in the world. In the Atlantic forest occur more than 90 species of rodents being 30% endemic. Although heavily fragmented and with less than 12% of forest left, seven species are considered Threatened by IUCN, 10 classified as Data Deficient and 30 species are Not Avaluated. The recent publication of the Atlantic Small Mammal dataset (Bovendorp et al. 2017) compiled information on population status of 94 species of rodents and 30 of marsupials. Recently, this dataset was used to infer the functional and phylogenetic diversity for 300 small-mammals communities in the Atlantic forest (Bovendorp et al. accepted). In this project, we will learn how to apply the classification of IUCN for ail rodent species in the Atlantic forest based on population size, distribution, endemism and the novel approach of functional and phylogenetic diversity. To fulfill a our goal we have a highly qualified team: 1) Dr. Thomas E. Lacher Jr., Co-Chair of the IUCN Small Mammal Specialist Group; 2) Dr. Alexandre Reis Percequillo, taxonomist of small mammals, expert in Sigmodontinae group; 3) Dr. Mauro Galetti, field-ecologist focused on defaunation in the Anthropocene; 4) Dr. Ricardo Bovendorp, field-ecologist working with anthropogenic pressures in communities of small mammals; and 5) Dr. Shelby McCay, a specialist in training courses for people who will working with the IUCN Red List. (AU)