Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2016, 4, 132-140 Published Online July 2016 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/gep http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gep.2016.47014 How to cite this paper: Rodrigues, P.J.F.P., Melo, L.R., de Abreu, R.C.R. and Iguatemy, M.A. (2016) Edge Effects of Oil Pipe- line Canopy Openings on Tree Community Structure and Dynamics in a Montane Atlantic Forest. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 4, 132-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gep.2016.47014 Edge Effects of Oil Pipeline Canopy Openings on Tree Community Structure and Dynamics in a Montane Atlantic Forest Pablo J. F. Pena Rodrigues * , Leticia R. Melo, Rodolfo C. R. de Abreu, Mariana A. Iguatemy Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil Received 21 June 2016; accepted 22 July 2016; published 25 July 2016 Copyright © 2016 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract The Atlantic forest has historically been severely deforested, and only fragments currently remain that are subject to a wide variety of anthropogenic impacts, including edge effects that can cause structural and functional degradation. The Tinguá Biological Reserve-RJ comprises approximately 26,000 hectares of well-preserved Atlantic Forest, but it is subject to impacts caused by two cano- py openings along oil pipelines. Comparisons were made between pipeline edges and forest inte- riors to evaluate edge effects on the structure and dynamics of those tree communities. Tree den- sities were higher along forest edges, apparently increasing over time. Tree basal areas, on the other hand, have decreased along edges due to higher mortality rates. Linear canopy opening edges showed higher densities of small trees, while the interior had more very large trees, indi- cating changes in successional processes and community structural patterns due to edge effects. Keywords Fragmentation, Disturbance, Human-Modified Habitats, Linear Canopy Openings, Human Impact 1. Introduction Fragmentation of tropical forests can promote edge effects that lead to accelerated increases in plant recruitment and mortality [1] [2]. Small forest fragments showed changes in their structure, increased density, and reduced * Corresponding author.