Ensuring sustainable açaí fruit production in the Amazon river delta

With açaí fruit becoming increasingly popular, it is important to understand how farming management practices are affecting vital pollination services. Associate Editor, Ainhoa Magrach comments on the recent article, Anthropogenic disturbance of tropical forests threatens pollination services to açaí palm in the Amazon river delta by Campbell et al. Worldwide the demand for the berries of the açaí palm is increasing. These anti-oxidant rich foods have … Continue reading Ensuring sustainable açaí fruit production in the Amazon river delta

Is environmental legislation conserving tropical stream faunas?

Looking beyond the trees in tropical forest landscapes, Cecília Leal comments on recent article, Is environmental legislation conserving tropical stream faunas? A large-scale assessment of local, riparian and catchment-scale influences on Amazonian fish. What comes to your mind when you think about the Amazon River Basin? Large rivers, giant fish, impacts from big hydroelectric projects? Our new article in Journal of Applied Ecology calls attention to … Continue reading Is environmental legislation conserving tropical stream faunas?

Forest loss impacts fish diversity in the Amazon floodplain

Today’s post discusses the wider impacts of forest loss and comes from the team behind the recent article, Relationships between forest cover and fish diversity in the Amazon River floodplain. In the Amazon and most other major tropical regions, large forested areas are being cleared for development of agriculture, hydropower and human settlements. Floodplain forests provide key habitats and food resources for fish, including several … Continue reading Forest loss impacts fish diversity in the Amazon floodplain