scholarly journals Influence of Land-Use Type on Forest Bird Community Composition in Mount Kenya Forest

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel N. Mahiga ◽  
Paul Webala ◽  
Mugo J. Mware ◽  
Paul K. Ndang’ang’a
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Forest Biodiversity ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Plantation Forest ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Plantation Forests ◽  
Relative Species Richness

Few studies have explored how human land uses influence and support persistence of forest biodiversity in central Kenya. In the case of the Mount Kenya ecosystem, farmlands and plantation forests are significant land-use types. Using point counts, we assessed bird communities in natural forests, plantation forests, and farmlands in the Nanyuki Forest Block, Western Mount Kenya. Bird point counts were undertaken during two sampling periods (wet and dry season). Compared to farmlands and plantation forest, natural forest had the highest overall avian species richness and relative species richness of all except one forest-dependent foraging guild (granivores) and nonforest species, which occurred frequently only on farmlands. Plantation forest had the lowest relative richness of all avian habitat and foraging guilds. Conversely, specialist forest-dependent species mainly occurred in the structurally complex remnant natural forest. Our study underscores the importance of remnant natural forests for the persistence and conservation of forest biodiversity and risks posed by replacing them with plantation forests and farmlands.

scholarly journals Response of termite communities to natural forest conversion

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sri Heriza ◽  
DAMAYANTI BUCHORI ◽  
IDHAM SAKTI HARAHAP ◽  
NINA MARYANA
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
Plantation Forest ◽  
Termite Species ◽  
Land Use Conversion ◽  
Feeding Groups ◽  
Land Use Types

Abstract. Heriza S, Buchori D, Harahap IS, Maryana N. 2021. Response of termite communities to natural forest conversion. Biodiversitas 22: 5092-5096. Natural forest conversion can affect termite communities resulting from the various types of land use conversion. This study aims to examine the impacts of natural forest conversion on termite communities based on species richness, feeding groups, and termite species composition. Four land use types were evaluated on a gradient from the least to the most disturbing: natural forest, plantation forest, oil palm plantations and settlements. The method used to observe termites in this study is a plot measured 50 m x 10 m and was divided into sub-plots of 5 m x 5 m. The termites were collected from leaf litter and soil, dead wood, trunks, and nests. The response of the termite community to the conversion of natural forest functions into other forms of land use types, where for termite species richness, there was no significant differences between land uses, but for abundance and based on feeding groups there were difference between them.

scholarly journals Species richness of lichen functional groups in relation to land use intensity

2006 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia STOFER ◽  
Ariel BERGAMINI ◽  
Gregorio ARAGÓN ◽  
Palmira CARVALHO ◽  
Brian J. COPPINS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Lichen Diversity ◽  
Relative Species Richness ◽  
Intensively Managed ◽  
Managed Landscapes

Changing land use has a major impact on lichen diversity. This study attempts to identify patterns or trends of lichen functional groups along a land use gradient, ranging from natural forests to open agricultural landscape. In eight countries, covering six main European biogeographic regions, lichen vegetation was assessed according to a standardized scheme. Data on reproductive, vegetative and ecological traits was compiled and relative species richness for all classes of all traits calculated. Relationships between the land use gradient and relative species richness of trait classes were analysed. Open and intensively managed landscapes harbour more fertile species while sterile species are relatively more important in forests. This finding is also supported by analyses of different classes of dispersal propagules. The importance of species with the principal photobiont Trebouxia s.l. increases linearly with intensification of land use. A converse pattern is revealed by species with Trentepohlia. Concerning substratum specialization only generalists show an effect along the land use intensity gradient. Their relative species richness decreases from landscapes dominated by forests to open agricultural landscape. A considerable decline in the rare lichen species richness as a result of land intensification is predicted.

Changes in Soil Chemical Properties Under Different Land-Use Systems and Soil Depth Layers: A Case Study from the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yadesa Bato ◽  
Tamrat Bekele ◽  
Sebsebe Demissew
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Soil Chemical Properties ◽  
Plantation Forest ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Land Use Systems

Abstract Background: Soil chemical properties have changed under different land-use systems and soil depth layers either by increasing or decreasing. Hence, scientifically information on the soil chemical properties dynamics under different land-use systems and soil depths are crucial for best land management practices, and to avoiding ecological negative impacts of it for sustainable development. The study aimed to evaluate the soil chemical properties dynamics under different land-use systems and soil depths in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The land-use systems included natural forest, four exotic tree plantation species (Eucalyptus globules, Cupressus lusitanica, Grevillea robusta, and Pinus patula), grassland, grazing land, and cropland. Results: The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the majority of soil chemical properties of OC, TN, Avial. P, soil pH, EC, CEC, and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were showed that significant variations among land-use systems (P<0.0001). The highest mean values of OC (3.49 % DM ), TN ( 0.31 % DM) , Avail.P (31.52 mg/kg of soil ), CEC ( 33.63 meq/100gm soil), Exch. Ca (17.13 cmol(+)/kg soil), Exch. Mg (5.37 cmol(+)/kg soil), and Exch. K ( 3.60 cmol(+)/kg soil) were observed under natural forest than others of land-use systems. The results also showed that the lowest mean values of OC (1.47 % DM), TN (0.13 %DM), soil pH (5.38), CEC (18.98 meq/100gm soil), Exch. Ca (9.93 cmol(+)/kg soil), Exch. K (1.20 cmol(+)/kg soil), and Exch. Na (0.22 cmol(+)/kg soil) were recorded under cropland than other land-use systems. The highest mean values of EC (3.47ds/m), and Exch. Na (0.60 cmol(+)/kg soil) were observed under Eucalyptus globulus plantation forest. The overall mean values of OC, TN, Avail.P, CEC, Exch. Mg, Exch. Ca, Exch. K, and Exch. Na accumulation at the topsoil layer was higher than that of the subsoil layer except for soil pH and EC. Conclusion: In general, the majority of soil chemical properties under cropland and Eucalyptus globulus plantation forest were poorer than the soils subjected to other land-use systems which indicated that changes in land use systems were significantly affected soil chemical properties.

Powerline easements through forests: a case study of impacts on avifauna

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Baker ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Robert J. Whelan
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Southeastern Australia ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
New Type ◽  
Forest Values

Powerline easements are typically a strip cleared of trees and tall vegetation to a width of approximately 50 m. They may affect avifauna by modification and fragmentation of forest habitat. We investigated the responses of the bird community to easements at three sites in southeastern Australia using 25 m radius point-counts spaced at 50 m intervals from the easement to 300 m inside the forest. The easements caused an absolute loss of habitat for forest avifauna, with abundance and species richness at the easement less than 20% of the forest values. Four species of easement opportunist and one easement specialist provided evidence that the easement represented a new type of habitat for avifauna. A barrier effect of fragmentation may occur for four species of easement avoiders. These were small to medium-sized terrestrial birds associated with dense ground and/or understorey cover. The edge effect of fragmentation was an adverse impact on forest avifauna. At the margin (25?125 m from the easement) of the forest, bird abundance, mean species richness and total species richness were significantly less than the corresponding values for the interior (225?325 m) of the forest. The mean abundance at the sites varied from 13.0?17.7 birds/ha and the species richness varied significantly among sites. The adverse impacts of powerline easements on native avifauna could be minimized by site-specific management which includes strategies to minimize the loss of forest habitat and to ameliorate the effects of fragmentation.

scholarly journals Comparison of vulnerability to catastrophic wind between Abies plantation forests and natural mixed forests in northern Japan

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junko Morimoto ◽  
Kosuke Nakagawa ◽  
Kohei T Takano ◽  
Masahiro Aiba ◽  
Michio Oguro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Plantation Forest ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Mixed Forests ◽  
Plantation Forests ◽  
Coniferous Plantation ◽  
Strong Winds ◽  
Northern Japan

Abstract The risk of extreme events due to weather and climate change, such as winds of unprecedented magnitude, is predicted to increase throughout this century. Artificial ecosystems, such as coniferous plantation forests, can suffer irreversible deterioration due to even a slight change in environmental conditions. However, few studies have examined the effects of converting natural forests to plantations on their vulnerability to catastrophic winds. By modelling the 2004 windthrow event of Typhoon Songda in northern Japan using the random forest machine learning method, we answered two questions: do Abies plantation forests and natural mixed forests differ in their vulnerability to strong winds and how do winds, topography and forest structure affect their vulnerability. Our results show that Abies plantation forests are more vulnerable to catastrophic wind than natural mixed forests under most conditions. However, the windthrow process was common to both types of forests, and the behaviour of wind inside the forests may determine the windthrow probability. Future management options for adapting to climate change were proposed based on these findings, including modifications of plantation forest structure to reduce windthrow risk and reconversion of plantations to natural forests.

scholarly journals Microclimate determines community composition but not richness of epiphytic understory bryophytes of rainforest and cacao agroforests in Indonesia

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Goda Sporn ◽  
Merijn M. Bos ◽  
Monika Hoffstätter-Müncheberg ◽  
Michael Kessler ◽  
S. Robbert Gradstein
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Shade Trees ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
High Turnover ◽  
Forest Flora ◽  
Understory Trees

Management intensification in cultivated, tropical forests drives changes in the microclimate that can threaten native forest flora and fauna. In this study, we use epiphytic bryophytes, known to be sensitive to microclimatic changes due to their lack of a protective cuticle and the exposed habitat, to investigate the predictive power of microclimate for changes in species richness and composition. Bryophytes were sampled from understory trees in natural forest and cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) trees in two types of cacao agroforests (natural shade trees and planted shade trees) in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The microclimate in the agroforests was characterised by low air humidity and high air temperature during the afternoon. Bryophyte species richness did not differ between habitat types but species composition changed markedly from the natural forest to the cacao agroforests. Although no correlation between species richness and microclimate values could be found, a series of matrix-based analyses revealed a significantly positive relationship between similarities in species composition and in maximum values for temperature and minimum values for humidity, which suggests that microclimatic changes are a good predictor for high turnover of bryophyte community composition from natural forests to cacao agroforests.

Diversity and body size of dung beetles attracted to different dung types along a tropical land-use gradient in Sulawesi, Indonesia

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahabuddin ◽  
Purnama Hidayat ◽  
Sjafrida Manuwoto ◽  
Woro A. Noerdjito ◽  
Teja Tscharntke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Habitat Disturbance ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Habitat Types

Abstract:Dung beetles are a functionally important component of most terrestrial ecosystems, but communities change with habitat disturbance and deforestation. In this study, we tested if dung beetle ensembles on dung of introduced cattle and of the endemic anoa, a small buffalo, are affected differentially by habitat disturbance. Therefore, we exposed 10 pitfall traps, five baited with anoa and five baited with cattle dung, per site in six habitat types ranging from natural and selectively logged rain forest to three types of agroforestry system (characterized by different management intensity) and open areas (n = 4 replicate sites per habitat type) at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. We found 28 species, 43% of which were endemic to Sulawesi. Species richness, abundance and biomass declined from natural forest towards open area. Large-bodied species appeared to be more sensitive to habitat disturbance and the ratio of large to small-sized dung beetles declined with land-use intensity. Although selectively logged forest and cocoa agroforestry systems had lower species richness compared with natural forest, they appeared to maintain a high portion of species originally inhabiting forest sites. The similarity of dung beetle ensembles recorded at forest and agroforestry sites reflects the high similarity of some habitat variables (e.g. vegetation structure and microclimate) between both habitat types compared with open areas. Species richness and abundances as well as species composition, which was characterized by decreases in mean body size, changed with land-use intensity, indicating that dung type is less important than habitat type for determining ensemble structure of these Indonesian dung beetles.

scholarly journals Complex Small-Holder Agriculture in Rainforest Buffer Zone, Sri Lanka, Supports Endemic Birds

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Hanle ◽  
Balangoda M. P. Singhakumara ◽  
Mark S. Ashton
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Zone Management

The Sinharaja rainforest in southwestern Sri Lanka is a protected forest in a largely agriculture-dominated landscape. In keeping with global UNESCO global biosphere reserves planning, the Sinharaja is surrounded by a buffer zone of regenerating forest and villages with small tea plots and multi-strata tree gardens (homegardens). Globally, however, conservation planning lacks standards on buffer zone management. We ask what relationships exist between village land use and bird assemblages, which are effective ecosystem indicators. Birds have been little studied across land use and vegetation structure in actively managed, large, protected forest buffer zones. To that end, we ran spatially- and temporally-replicated bird point counts across tree gardens, forest fragments, and tea plots within a Sinharaja village. Tree gardens held a greater abundance of birds across habitat association, conservation concern, diet, and endemic species than forest fragments or tea plots. Forest fragments and tree gardens hosted statistically similar numbers of birds in some subsets, but their species assemblages differed. In tea plots, greater shade tree species richness correlated with greater bird abundance and species richness. Our results support the argument for programs to support complex small-scale tree-based agroforestry embedded in buffer zone regenerating forest.

scholarly journals Influences of Land Use/ Cover Changes on Soil Properties in Rib Watershed, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fentanesh Haile Buruso ◽  
Zenebe Admasu Teferi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Physical And Chemical Properties ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Abstract BackgroundThe decrease in the area under natural vegetation and its conversion into other types of use has resulted in resource degradation including soil quality loss. Soil properties response to changes in land use/ cover has shown spatial and temporal variations. Hence this study was carried out to examine the influence of land use/ cover changes on physical and chemical properties of the soils in Rib watershed. Soil samples were taken over three selected land use/ covers (natural forest, grazing and cultivated lands) in two agro- ecological zones (Dega and High Dega). Multivariate analysis of variance (MNOVA) and Pearson’s correlation was computed. ResultsThe study revealed that land use/ cover and altitude have influenced physical and chemical properties of the soil in the study watershed. Significant difference in distribution of soil texture, BD, OC, TN and pH among land use/ covers have been observed. Natural forest had higher OC, OC stock and TN than grazing and cultivated lands. The mean OC stock ranged from 188.32 t/ha in natural forest to 72.75t/ha in cultivated lands. Soil pH was slightly higher for natural forests and lower in the soils of grazing and cultivated lands. Significant difference (P<0.05) among the two agro ecologies were also observed in OC, Ca2+, clay, and silt.. ConclusionTherefore, land use/ cover changes have affected the concentration of TN, OC, increase soil acidity and compaction that can affect productive of soils and production of crops.

Bird occupancy and richness in ponderosa pine forests with contrasting forest structure and fire historyThis article is one of a selection of papers from the Special Forum on Ecological Studies in Interior Ponderosa Pine — First Findings from Blacks Mountain Interdisciplinary Research.

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 936-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Luke George ◽  
Steve Zack
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
American Robin ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forests ◽  
Silvicultural Treatments ◽  
Silvicultural Treatment

We compared the effects of two contrasting silvicultural treatments and prescribed fire on bird occupancy at Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest. Each silvicultural treatment was applied to two approximately 100 ha units within each of three blocks. Prescribed burning was applied to one-half of each silvicultural treatment in a split-plot design. Occupancy was estimated at eight points in each plot for 11 bird species and three foraging guilds (bark gleaners, woodpeckers, and foliage gleaners). The frequencies of species detections on the point counts were used to estimate species richness on each plot. Occupancy did not differ among treatments for any of the guilds. Four of the 11 bird species, the American robin ( Turdus migratorius L., 1766), the chipping sparrow ( Spizella passerina (Bechstein, 1798)), the white-breasted nuthatch ( Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790), and the western tanager ( Piranga ludoviciana (A. Wilson, 1811)), showed responses to the treatments. Species richness did not differ between the silvicultural or the burn treatments. The general lack of response of the bird community to the silvicultural and burn treatments is likely a result of the relatively large size of the trees and snags retained on both silvicultural treatments, the low intensity of the prescribed burns, and the lack of a strong contrast in tree density between the silvicultural treatments.

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