Body size, habitat fragmentation, and lizard species loss: A long-term study on artificial islands in the Brazilian Cerrado
- 1Fauna and Protected Areas Lab, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America; Corresponding author.
- 2Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- 3Fauna and Protected Areas Lab, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation often leads to local extinctions and species turnover, but the mechanisms that allow some species to persist while others go extinct remain poorly understood. Land-bridge islands created by reservoir flooding, a severe form of fragmentation caused by hydroelectric dams, are a valuable model for studying these impacts. When terrestrial habitats are flooded, hilltops become isolated islands, leading to dramatic structural changes in ecosystems. We used the lizard community in Serra da Mesa to evaluate species’ sensitivity to such changes over 23 years of monitoring, spanning before, during, and after flooding. Lizard diversity declined from 19 species to six on land-bridge islands and mainland areas near the reservoir. Large-bodied species (e.g., Teiidae) decreased sharply on islands, where small-bodied species (e.g., Gekkonidae) thrived. This shift resulted in island, but not mainland communities being dominated by one highly abundant species, Gymnodactylus amarali . Smaller species may have advantages on islands due to lower energy demands and secretive habits. These findings highlight the importance of fragment size in conserving biodiversity. Hydroelectric dams, while considered clean energy, cause significant habitat loss and fragmentation. Our results provide critical insights for mitigating declines in wildlife and emphasize the need for careful planning to preserve biodiversity during reservoir formation.
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BibTeX
@article{miranda2026body,
title = {{Body size, habitat fragmentation, and lizard species loss: A long-term study on artificial islands in the Brazilian Cerrado}},
author = {Rogério B. Miranda and Karen C. Abbott and Ryan A. Martin and Reuber A. Brandão},
journal = {Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.pecon.2026.09.002},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2026.09.002},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Body size, habitat fragmentation, and lizard species loss: A long-term study on artificial islands in the Brazilian Cerrado
AU - Rogério B. Miranda
AU - Karen C. Abbott
AU - Ryan A. Martin
AU - Reuber A. Brandão
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation
DO - 10.1016/j.pecon.2026.09.002
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2026.09.002
AB - Habitat fragmentation often leads to local extinctions and species turnover, but the mechanisms that allow some species to persist while others go extinct remain poorly understood. Land-bridge islands created by reservoir flooding, a severe form of fragmentation caused by hydroelectric dams, are a valuable model for studying these impacts. When terrestrial habitats are flooded, hilltops become isolated islands, leading to dramatic structural changes in ecosystems. We used the lizard community in Serra da Mesa to evaluate species’ sensitivity to such changes over 23 years of monitoring, spanning before, during, and after flooding. Lizard diversity declined from 19 species to six on land-bridge islands and mainland areas near the reservoir. Large-bodied species (e.g., Teiidae) decreased sharply on islands, where small-bodied species (e.g., Gekkonidae) thrived. This shift resulted in island, but not mainland communities being dominated by one highly abundant species, Gymnodactylus amarali . Smaller species may have advantages on islands due to lower energy demands and secretive habits. These findings highlight the importance of fragment size in conserving biodiversity. Hydroelectric dams, while considered clean energy, cause significant habitat loss and fragmentation. Our results provide critical insights for mitigating declines in wildlife and emphasize the need for careful planning to preserve biodiversity during reservoir formation.
SN - 2530-0644
ER -