Life on the Edge

Many species, such as vine snakes in the Amazon, favour the darker and more humid forest interiors. Photo: Professor Jos Barlow - Breaking up the rainforest into small, isolated patches is forcing more species to live at the forest edge and putting those that are dependent on the forest core at risk. Research published today in the academic journal Nature highlights how biodiversity is changing as a result of deforestation - forcing some species to the brink of extinction while others flourish in the changing environment. Collecting data for over 1,500 forest vertebrates, the research team led by Newcastle University, UK, and Imperial College London, and involving a Lancaster University conservation scientist, found that 85 per cent of species are now being affected by forest fragmentation. The winners are those that seek out the forest edge while the losers are those that rely on the forest core and whose habitat is being constantly squeezed. Developing a system to predict which species are likely to disappear first from our changing forest habitats, the team is now hoping to use this information to inform forest conservation and restoration efforts. Professor Jos Barlow , a co-author of the paper and conservation scientist at Lancaster Environment Centre , said: "Although many previous studies have identified edge effects, this study demonstrates that almost all vertebrate species are affected in some way.