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Our study evaluated the effects of environmental factors and ecological integrity on the communities of semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) in Cerrado (= Brazilian savanna) streams. We tested the following predictions: (i) altered streams will show a decreased level of environmental heterogeneity at regional scales; (ii) there will be a greater number of specialist species in preserved streams; (iii) Gerromorpha communities are structured mainly by local environmental factors of the streams; and (iv) alpha and beta diversities are higher in preserved streams, and altered streams contribute less to regional diversity. To test for that, we sampled semiaquatic bugs and environmental variables in 20 streams located on the northern portion of the Cerrado biome, in a 50 m transect in each site. Initially, we observed that environmental heterogeneity was higher among altered streams, contradicting our expectation. This result was supported by the finding that alpha and beta diversities of semiaquatic bugs were higher in altered streams. We also found that the environment explained 18% of the variation in Gerromorpha communities, while space explained about 23% of this variation. Our work shows a strong association between community structure and local environment, independent of the conservation status of the streams. Furthermore, because the study area lies in an Amazon–Cerrado–Caatinga transitional zone, it contains species from all these biomes, which are highly associated with space, indicating that community structuring can also occur due to biogeographic factors. Finally, this study contains relevant information concerning the aquatic biodiversity from the region that can be used to formulate conservation strategies for the Cerrado, a highly threatened biome. Implications for insect conservation: Our work shows how habitat disturbances in streams can change Gerromorpha communities, especially in relation to the environmental heterogeneity. Furthermore, because the study area lies in an Amazon–Cerrado–Caatinga transitional zone and species are highly associated with space, community structuring can also occur due to biogeographic factors. Information contained in this study can be used to formulate conservation strategies for the Cerrado, the second largest biome of Brazil in extension and currently the most threatened one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have considered the effects of environmental variables at different spatial scales on Neotropical stream biodiversity. Furthermore, scale-related studies mostly include only one facet of biodiversity. To determine the contribution of local and landscape variables to the variation in the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic α-diversity of stream fish assemblages, we sampled 85 streams in the Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. Local variables explained a substantial fraction of the variance in almost all biodiversity facets. Landscape variables (i.e., land-use and spatial variables) contributed little to the variation in the α-component of biodiversity. Our results thus highlight the importance of local features for maintaining stream fish biodiversity in agroecosystems. Probably, land-use were not significant because the study area was in a relatively homogeneous landscape severely impacted by anthropogenic activities. It is possible that insignificant effects of spatial structuring occurred because the ichthyofauna has already gone through a homogenization process and/or due to the spatial scale of our study. We suggest that even though local-scale restoration actions would influence biodiversity, we should not neglect landscape restoration because substantial improvements in the ecological integrity of streams are more likely to be accomplished with large-scale actions (e.g., re-establishment of the native riparian forest). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water availability is an essential factor in maintaining the integrity of ecological processes and is a source of socio‐economic development. However, socio‐economic development increases the pressure on water resources. Thus, understanding the flow regime in a watershed is essential to correct water resource management. In this study, we propose using dynamic quantile regression (DQR) to analyse trends in streamflow time series. DQR is a subset of the general class of semi‐parametric quantile regression models, which is tailored for time series modelling. It allows for autoregressive dynamics and modelling of trending behaviour and seasonal fluctuations. With a single model, it is possible to estimate the impacts of predictor variables on any given quantile of the response distribution instead of simply evaluating such effects on the mean response, as is typically done in other statistical approaches. In other words, it is possible to gain knowledge on how predictors impact the magnitude of streamflow in wet (upper quantiles) and dry seasons (lower quantiles) separately. We used DQR to model a streamflow time series of 27 gauges, distributed in the Araguaia watershed in central Brazil. The results show that, except for a single gauge (Alto Araguaia), there are downward streamflow trends, thus non‐stationary behaviour. The model yielded excellent data fits (pseudo‐R2 above 0.80), and it was possible to obtain a confidence interval for each slope. In our analysis, the usefulness of DQR modelling for assessing trends in streamflow time series is shown and, consequently, for achieving efficient water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Universitas Scientiarum is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The flood pulse concept refers to seasonal variation in river water levels promoting landscape spatial heterogeneity, connectivity, and nutrient cycling among nearby environments, in addition to contributing to the ecological functioning of river-floodplain systems. This seasonal variation is inherent to river-floodplain systems and responsible for establishing their natural pattern, as frequently observed in nature. In Brazil, the Upper Parana River and its floodplain constitute a river-floodplain system of interest, where an upstream reservoir cascade has altered the flood regime. This regime has been explored in the past; however, research has focused only on its time-domain. In this study, I sought to analyze the flood pulse in the Upper Paraná River Floodplain through a set of spectral (frequency-domain) and nonlinear analyses using a time-series of water level fluctuations (1968–2017) in the system. In doing so, I believe to bring novel information on this system flood regime in terms of its dynamic invariants. I divided the data into four periods: (i) natural regime period, (ii) transitional period, (iii) dam cascade period, and (iv) Primavera dam period. Spectral analysis demonstrated a decrease in the annual cycle amplitude, reflected in its power spectrum, which indicates a weakening in the difference between flood and drought events. Additionally, nonlinear dynamical analysis revealed a less deterministic and predicable behavior leading to more erratic fluctuations, thus jeopardizing the temporal heterogeneity of the system. Such altered dynamics is harmful for threatening the ability of organisms to harmonize their biological cycles with seasonal phenomena, consequently raising concerns about the maintenance of ecological integrity in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions are one of the major threats to the integrity of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. We examined the influence of reservoirs, availability of food resources, abiotic resistance, and biotic resistance on the distribution of Daphnia lumholtzi, a non‐native cladoceran that is spreading through habitats in the upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. We sampled 48 sites distributed in four habitat types: reservoirs, lakes, tributaries, and the main river. D. lumholtzi densities were higher in reservoirs than in other habitat types (lentic and lotic). We found a significant correlation between a higher density of D. lumholtzi and the distance from reservoirs to the other sampling points. Additionally, a relationship between D. lumholtzi and types of environments was noted. It is known that cladocerans, including D. lumholtzi, have a reduced swimming ability, which makes it difficult for them to overcome currents and consequently establish or maintain large populations in lotic environments. Further research is needed to identify other factors responsible for the species' occurrence in this system and to determine the possible effects this species may have on the native community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation remains a major focus of research by ecologists decades after being put forward as a threat to the integrity of ecosystems. While studies have documented myriad biotic changes in fragmented landscapes, including the local extinction of species from fragments, the demographic mechanisms underlying these extinctions are rarely known. However, many of them—especially in lowland tropical forests—are thought to be driven by one of two mechanisms: (1) reduced recruitment in fragments resulting from changes in the diversity or abundance of pollinators and seed dispersers or (2) increased rates of individual mortality in fragments due to dramatically altered abiotic conditions, especially near fragment edges. Unfortunately, there have been few tests of these potential mechanisms due to the paucity of long‐term and comprehensive demographic data collected in both forest fragments and continuous forest sites. Here we report 11 years (1998–2009) of demographic data from populations of the Amazonian understory herb Heliconia acuminata (LC Rich.) found at Brazil's Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP). The data set comprises >66,000 plant × year records of 8586 plants, including 3464 seedlings established after the first census. Seven populations were in experimentally isolated fragments (one in each of four 1‐ha fragments and one in each of three 10‐ha fragments), with the remaining six populations in continuous forest. Each population was in a 50 × 100 m permanent plot, with the distance between plots ranging from 500 m to 60 km. The plants in each plot were censused annually, at which time we recorded, identified, marked, and measured new seedlings, identified any previously marked plants that died, and recorded the size of surviving individuals. Each plot was also surveyed four to five times during the flowering season to identify reproductive plants and record the number of inflorescences each produced. These data have been used to investigate topics ranging from the way fragmentation‐related reductions in germination influence population dynamics to statistical methods for analyzing reproductive rates. This breadth of prior use reflects the value of these data to future researchers. In addition to analyses of plant responses to habitat fragmentation, these data can be used to address fundamental questions in plant demography and the evolutionary ecology of tropical plants and to develop and test demographic models and tools. Though we welcome opportunities to collaborate with interested users, there are no restrictions on the use of this data set. However, we do request that those using the data for teaching or research purposes inform us of how they are doing so and cite this paper and the data archive when appropriate. Any publication using the data must also include a BDFFP Technical Series Number in the Acknowledgments. Authors can request this series number upon the acceptance of their article by contacting the BDFFP's Scientific Coordinator or E. M. Bruna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prokaryotes play crucial roles in the rehabilitation process to restore the ecological integrity of disturbed areas. This work reports on the profiles of N‐fixing microorganisms and Actinobacteria, from DGGE, the prokaryotic composition from next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and physicochemical soil characteristics. We compared a deactivated mining site where mining ended about 10 years ago, when the revegetation process was begun (RV), and a reference site, with natural vegetation (NT), both located at Retiro das Almas Mine, in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In both sites, the most abundant archaeal and bacterial groups included Euryarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia and revealed differences in their ecological metrics and distribution. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were most abundant in RV sites, while Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia were most abundant in NT sites. Less abundant phyla, such as Bathyarchaeota (Archaea) and GAL 15 (Bacteria) were found only in NT, while Gracilibacteria, Ignavibacteriae BJ‐169, and BRC1 were only found in RV. The majority of identified bacterial genera were shared by RV and NT. Soil P, pH, and particle density were most significant (p < 0.05) in RV, while Fe, Ca, organic matter, potential acidity and dispersed clays, were most significant (p < 0.05) in NT, showing differences in soil characteristics, which led the prokaryotic composition in these sites. DGGE profiles of N‐fixing microorganisms revealed N‐fixing predominance in both sites, although after 10 years prokaryotes diversity increased in RV site. Our results revealed that prokaryotic structure and composition are indicative of RV soil resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is a megadiverse country and is participant of fundamental environmental agreements for biodiversity conservation. However, the internal politics and the cultures that affect negatively the ecological integrity in Brazilian freshwater need to be improved on the condition of sustainable management. Scientific community, the government and stakeholders are in constant conflicts of goals. Meanwhile, the current model for Brazilian aquaculture shows problems of ecological impact due to the lack of appropriated planning and legislation to the aquatic biota. The non‐recognition of sustainable census incorporated in its environmental politics reflects in an archaic and unsustainable management, with the following characters: a non‐specific approach for technical management, the indiscriminate use of interspecific hybrids and non‐native species and the lack of skilled labour. The potential impact on native species and the introduction of pathogens are the main negative effects on aquatic biota. This way, the aim of this article is to elucidate the conflicts of interests and ecological effects of fish aquaculture in Brazil, besides providing good practices and sustainable alternatives for management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overexploitation of sandy beaches by tourism reduces ecological integrity, rendering natural conditions unsatisfactory for the needs of the population and resulting in negative socio-economic impacts. In this context, the assessment of tourist carrying capacity aims to support beach management from a social, environmental, and economic perspective. The objective of this study was to estimate the tourist carrying capacity at nine beaches in the states of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Espírito Santo (ES), southeastern Brazil. The physical carrying capacity was calculated based on the available space for recreation in scenarios of one user per 5 m2 and 10 m2. Subsequently, limiting environmental factors for recreational use such as sunlight, precipitation, strong winds, tidal range, and temperature were considered, supporting the calculation of the tourist carrying capacity. For the calculation, management conditions (infrastructure and services) were estimated based on the scoring of 69 indicators, included in the international beach quality program called Blue Flag and in the main instrument for coastal management in Brazil, the Orla Project. At RJ beaches, the carrying capacity was not exceeded in the scenario of one user per 10 m2, except in the central region with a higher tourist appeal. In ES state, the results indicated overload for all beaches in the central southern region; for example, one received six times more users than its tourist capacity. Overall, the highest percentages of management capacity were recorded at beaches with Blue Flag certification. The beaches that require the most improvements in coastal management are those located in regions with lower Human Development Index (HDI) and farther from major urban centers. The results suggest priority management actions and guide efforts towards potential beach certification. The management of services, infrastructure, and overload highlights the need for preventive measures to avoid the tourism paradox, including loss of environmental quality and revenue. Moreover, the flexibility of this evaluation tool allows for its application in beaches of any country. The integration of tourist carrying capacity and assessment of the coastal scenario provides a more comprehensive and effective framework for the sustainable management of beaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed MMI models that combine responses of fish and benthic macroinvertebrates for the evaluation of the biotic integrity of streams. The MMI was developed using a dataset covering stream sampling sites in the South of Brazil. Reference streams were identified based on the physical and chemical conditions and riparian vegetation. Thirty-four metrics were calculated and evaluated for their range, redundancy, and responsiveness to the environmental perturbation. We applied a robust approach to select the most sensitive metrics and MMI models based on the complexity and ability of the index in distinguishing impacted and reference sites. The four best MMI models selected are composed of different combinations of the eight metrics: % fish herbivorous, fish evenness, fish abundance, % macroinvertebrate shredder; % macroinvertebrate predator; % macroinvertebrate tolerant, % macroinvertebrate swimmer, and % macroinvertebrate burrower. All of the MMI models selected presented good performance in distinguishing reference streams from those impacted by different forms of land use. This study is one of the few attempts to use more than one biological assemblage in a single-multimetric index. Accordingly, we believe that the unified MMI we developed could be a useful tool to assist in the conservation and management of water resources in Neotropical regions, specially, in the implementation of ecological integrity tools more cost-effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, aquatic communities reflect the effects of anthropogenic changes such as deforestation or organic pollution. The Cerrado stands among the most threatened ecosystems by human activities in Brazil. In order to evaluate the ecological integrity of the streams in a preserved watershed in the Northern Cerrado biome corresponding to a mosaic of ecosystems in transition to the Amazonia biome in Brazil, biological metrics related to diversity, structure, and sensitivity of aquatic macroinvertebrates were calculated. Sampling included collections along stretches of 200 m of nine streams and measurements of abiotic variables (temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and discharge) and the Index of Habitat Integrity (HII). The values of the abiotic variables and the HII indicated that most of the streams have good ecological integrity, due to high oxygen levels and low concentrations of dissolved solids and electric conductivity. Two streams showed altered HII scores mainly related to small dams for recreational and domestic use, use of Cerrado natural pasture for cattle raising, and spot deforestation in bathing areas. However, this finding is not reflected in the biological metrics that were used. Considering all nine streams, only two showed satisfactory ecological quality (measured by Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), total richness, and EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) richness), only one of which had a low HII score. These results indicate that punctual measures of abiotic parameters do not reveal the long-term impacts of anthropic activities in these streams, including related fire management of pasture that annually alters the vegetation matrix and may act as a disturbance for the macroinvertebrate communities. Due to this, biomonitoring of low order streams in Cerrado ecosystems of the Northern Central Brazil by different biotic metrics and also physical attributes of the riparian zone such as HII is recommended for the monitoring and control of anthropic impacts on aquatic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First record of Perkinsus marinus infecting oysters Crassostrea sp. in the estuaries of the Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. • ITS primers recommended for official diagnosis of P. marinus by PCR were efficient in the qPCR performed. • New reports of P. marinus infecting oysters in Brazilian northeastern put producers and animal defense agencies on alert. A pathogen with high virulence potential in some host species, Perkinsus marinus remains a challenge for the ecological integrity of marine ecosystems and the health of bivalve molluscs. This study investigates the occurrence of P. marinus in Crassostrea sp. in estuaries of the Potengi River and the Guaraíras lagoon in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A total of 203 oyster samples that tested positive for Perkinsus sp. in Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM) were subjected to species-specific quantitiative PCR, where 61 animals (30.05 %) presented amplification graphs with a melting temperature of 80.1 ± 0.6 °C matching the positive control. This was the first record of P. marinus in oysters in these estuaries using qPCR as a diagnostic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to provide information on the ecological integrity of an industrial district located in the estuary of Pará River (Amazon estuary), by applying a selection of fish based multimetric indices of ecosystem integrity: Abundance Biomass Comparation (ABC); Biological Health Index; Estuarine Fish Community, Transitional Fish Classification and Estuarine Biotic Integrity Indexes. To evaluate the impacts of the industrial area and cargo terminal, three areas were considered: Zone 1, (maximum impact), Zone 2 (median risk) and Zone 3 (reference area). All the biological indices used were considered to be excellent indicators of the ecological integrity of the different sectors of the study area and were especially effective for the demonstration of the critical alterations of the fish community of Zone 1 and Zone 2. The simultaneous use of diferents indices family, with diferente assumptions, did strengthen the results enhancing the confidence in the diagnostic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

1. The future of tropical forest species depends in part on their ability to survive in human-modified landscapes. Forest strips present a priority area for biodiversity research because they are a common feature of many managed landscapes, are often afforded a high level of legal protection, and can provide a cost-effective and politically acceptable conservation strategy. 2. Despite the potential conservation benefits that could be provided by forest strips, ecologists currently lack sufficient evidence to inform policy and guide their design and management. 3. We used a quasi-experimental landscape in the Brazilian Amazon to test the importance of four management-relevant variables (forest type, isolation distance, forest structure, and large mammal activity) on the potential biodiversity conservation value of narrow forest strips for dung beetles. 4. Information-theoretic model selection based on AICc revealed strong support for the influence of large mammal activity and forest type on dung beetle abundance; isolation distance on species richness; and forest structure on the relative abundance of matrix-tolerant species. Multi-dimensional scaling showed a strong influence of forest type and isolation on community composition and structure, with riparian and dry-land strips having complementary sets of species. 5. Synthesis and applications. To enhance the conservation value and ecological integrity of forest strips in human-modified landscapes we recommend that strip design considers both isolation distance and whether or not the strips encompass perennial streams. In addition, we identify the maintenance of forest structure and the protection of large mammal populations as being crucially important for conserving forest dung beetle communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to develop and apply a fish-based biotic integrity index to assess lowland streams in a highly deforested region of the Upper Paraná River basin. Fifty-six first-order segments were randomly selected for environmental and fish evaluation. Because previous analysis had identified the main type of effect on the streams of the region as physical habitat degradation, 22 qualitatively biological attributes were selected and tested over a physical condition gradient between reference and degraded sites. Sensitivity and redundancy of each attribute revealed that five metrics were adequate for discriminating higher quality from degraded sites. Of the fifty-six streams assessed, one (2%) was classified as good, four (7%) as fair, ten (18%) as poor, and forty-one (73%) as very poor, indicating that, on a regional scale, many aspects of biological integrity are altered, indicative of serious degradation. Considering that first-order segments amount to 11,000 km in total, it is noticeable that 10,000 km of the stream segments have no more than half of the expected conditions, indicative of poor or very poor biotic integrity conditions. Possible strategies of mitigating this scenario are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We study ecological processes in streams along an agricultural impact gradient. • We aggregate limnological and land use and land cover information. • The removal of riparian vegetation increased primary production and decreased the decomposition. • Functional indicators reflected land use in the riparian zone. Agricultural practices affect the integrity of riparian areas of small streams. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the increase of agricultural activities influences negatively the functional conditions of the low order streams in the Atlantic forest of southern Brazil. Litter bags with leaves of Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez were located in eight streams with different amounts of woody vegetation and agriculture land uses in their riparian zones. After 7, 15 and 30 days, the litter bags were removed for identification of associated invertebrates and determination of decomposition rate. Decomposition rates were negatively influenced by agriculture in the riparian zone while primary production was positively influenced. On the other hand, the decomposition mediated by microorganisms did not vary along the degradation gradient. The abundance of collectors increased in streams adjacent to agricultural land while the abundance of shredders was decreased. Our results showed that algae biomass and leaf decomposition were sensitive to the replacement of native vegetation by agricultural use. However, the trophic structure of invertebrates was moderately sensitive to agricultural land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is river basin revitalization's place in relation to water security? This question is the basis of our reflection, posed to help in the understanding of the evolution of both concepts, taking management of the São Francisco River Basin (Brazil) as a case study. With this main objective in mind, a literature review was carried out, followed by the collection of survey data on the watershed's revitalization program. In this context, the members of the São Francisco River Basin Committee (a total of 124 participants) were consulted, using questionnaires with the Delphi method. The respondents (a total of 47) chose the river basin revitalization strategy as the main measure to achieving water security in the São Francisco River Basin. They also highlighted the importance of the environmental dimension, underlining measures for conservation and restoration of the ecosystem's natural functions. The concept map tool was adopted for a comparative perspective between conceptual implications of revitalization and water security for the studied river basin's conservation. The results showed the existence of a symbiotic relationship between both concepts. Consequently, we conclude that it is urgent to reconcile water use and ecosystem ecological integrity through the comprehensive concept of water security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing tools have been long used to monitor landscape dynamics inside and around protected areas. Hereto, scientists have largely relied on land use and land cover (LULC) data to derive indicators for monitoring these dynamics, but these metrics do not capture changes in the state of vegetation surfaces that may compromise the ecological integrity of conservation areas' landscapes. Here, we introduce a methodology that combines LULC change estimates with three Normalized Difference Vegetation Index-based proxy indicators of vegetation productivity, phenology, and structural change. We illustrate the utility of this methodology through a regional and local analysis of the landscape dynamics in the Cerrado Biome in Brazil in 2001 and 2016. Despite relatively little natural vegetation loss inside core protected areas and their legal buffer zones, the different indicators revealed significant LULC conversions from natural vegetation to farming land, general productivity loss, homogenization of natural forests, significant agricultural expansion, and a general increase in productivity. These results suggest an overall degradation of habitats and intensification of land use in the studied conservation area network, highlighting serious conservation inefficiencies in this region and stressing the importance of integrated landscape change analyses to provide complementary indicators of ecologically-relevant dynamics in these key conservation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimetric indices are considered a low-cost and rapid means of assessing ecological integrity in streams. This study aimed to develop a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (N3S-IBI) in an agricultural region within the domains of the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. We sampled 23 first-order streams and used large-scale land use and a local physical condition index to choose reference sites and to classify sites according to the disturbance level. N3S-IBI resulted in six metrics (Simpson's dominance; the numbers of Characiformes and non-native individuals (Poecilia reticulata); and the percentages of Characidae species, intolerant insectivorous individuals, and tolerant species), contemplating tolerance, composition, abundance, richness, trophic habits, and origin. The low number of metrics contributes to a quick and easy biomonitoring process. N3S-IBI showed an excellent performance to separate least and most disturbed sites in our study area and can provide additional knowledge about anthropogenic effects within this impacted region. In fact, this tool could be utilized by managers to direct restoration actions for the most disturbed sites and to strengthen the preservation of the least disturbed sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]