Conservation Value of Remnant Forest Patches: Tree Composition, Spatial Patterns, and Recruitment in the Ottoville Lowland Forest, American Samoa

In South Africa, much of the forest biome is vulnerable to human-induced disturbance. The forest-dwelling butterfly Charaxes xiphares occidentalis is naturally confined to a small forest region in the south-western Cape, South Africa. Most of the remaining habitat of this species is within a fragmented agricultural matrix. Furthermore, this geographical area is also heavily invaded by alien plants, especially Acacia mearnsii. We investigated how C. x. occidentalis behaviourally responds to different habitat conditions in the landscape. We were particularly interested in touring, patrolling and settling behaviour as a conservation proxy for preference of a certain habitat configuration in this agricultural matrix. Remnant forest patches in the agricultural matrix showed fewer behavioural incidents than in a reference protected area. Moreover, dense stands of A. mearnsii negatively influenced the incidence and settling pattern of this butterfly across the landscape, with fewer tree settlings associated with more heavily invaded forest patches. This settling pattern was predominantly seen in female butterflies. We also identified specific trees that were settled upon for longer periods by C. x. occidentalis. Distance to a neighbouring patch and patch size influenced behavioural incidences, suggesting that further patch degradation and isolation could be detrimental to this butterfly. Conservation implications: We highlight the importance of clearing invasive tree species from vulnerable forest ecosystems and identify key tree species to consider in habitat conservation and rehabilitation programmes for this butterfly. We also suggest retaining as much intact natural forest as possible. This information should be integrated in local biodiversity management plans.

Download Full-text

The avifauna and conservation status of the Namuli Massif, northern Mozambique

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270900003518 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 315-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Peter G. Ryan ◽

Carlos Bento ◽

Callan Cohen ◽

John Graham ◽

Vincent Parker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Bird Species ◽

Current Status ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Commercial Logging ◽

Remnant Forest ◽

First Time ◽

Pristine Forest ◽

Montane Grasslands

SummaryWe report the current status of birds at the Namuli Massif, northern Mozambique. Despite being the only known locality for the Namuli Apalis Apalis lynesi and the nominate race of the Dapplethroat Arcanator orostruthus, the mountain is very little known ornithologically. Prior to our survey it had only been visited by an ornithologist in 1932, when Jack Vincent collected in the area for three weeks. During our week-long survey in November-December 1998 we recorded 130 bird species from the Namuli area, including all three globally threatened species reported by Vincent (Thyolo Alethe Alethe choloensis, Dapplethroat and Namuli Apalis). The higher-elevation (>1,500 m) forests are still largely intact, but most of those at lower elevations have been cleared for agriculture. The alethe and apalis are common, occurring in remnant forest patches and secondary scrub as well as pristine forest from 1,160 to 2,000 m. The Dapplethroat is restricted to large, intact forests above 1,500 m, but also is fairly common (up to 2–3 singing males per hectare; greater densities than recorded elsewhere). Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica was recorded for the first time in Mozambique, and was suspected of breeding at 1,400 m. We estimate that some 1,300 ha of pristine forest remains on the main massif between Gurue and Mount Namuli, but this area is being reduced by burning and “subsistence” logging. Approximately 7,000 people currently live in the area east of the main forest. Grazing by goats and pigs on the montane grasslands surrounding the forests is another problem, but the gravest threat is posed by improved road access to the area, which could open the forests to commercial logging. In addition to being the sole locality known for the Namuli Apalis and the nominate race of Dapplethroat, the Namuli forests probably support the largest single populations of Thyolo Alethe and the well-marked belcheri race of Green Barbet. These populations make Namuli arguably the most critical Important Bird Area for Mozambique, and the remaining forests have a high priority for conservation action.

Download Full-text

Studi Variasi Tingkat Keanekaragaman Jenis Burung pada Berbagai Tipe Habitat di Areal Konservasi Perkebunan Sawit PT.MSM, Wilmar Plantation, Kalteng

Daun Jurnal Ilmiah Pertanian dan Kehutanan ◽

10.33084/daun.v2i1.167 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Belinda Hastaril ◽

Muhammad Arief Soendjoto

Keyword(s):

Palm Oil ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Positive Relationship ◽

Bird Species ◽

Conservation Value ◽

Lowland Forest ◽

Central Kalimantan ◽

High Conservation ◽

Heath Forest ◽

Heterogeneous Vegetation

High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA) in palm oil plantation is one of the efforts to reduce the negative impoct of oil palm plantations on biodiversity. The purpose of this study was to to identify bird species in dffirent types of habitats in the conserration area of oil palm plantations, calculate and compare the diversity of bird species and how is the relations with vegetation as habitat componen\ the study location at PT. MSM, Wilmar Plantation Central Kalimantan. The results showed the diversity value of birds and vegetation hos a positive relationship. Forested habitat v,ith heterogeneous vegetation presenting a higher value of diversity bird species than homogeneous vegetation hobitat. The highest diversity of bird species is the habitot of swampforests (H'3,70) lowland forest (H'3,69), heath forest (H'3,59) and the lowest is the habitat of palm plantatioru (H' 2,60).

Download Full-text

Group Living in the Black-Breasted Wood-Quail and the Use of Playbacks as a Survey Technique

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/108.1.107 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 108 (1) ◽

pp. 107-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amanda M. Hale

Keyword(s):

New World ◽

Group Structure ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Group Living ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Continuous Forest ◽

Survey Technique ◽

One Year ◽

Remnant Forest

Abstract I used playbacks of recorded group song to survey and capture Black-breasted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus leucolaemus), a cloud forest endemic, in Monteverde, Costa Rica. This species is abundant in the dense understory of large windbreaks, forest fragments, and continuous forest of the Monteverde Reserve Complex. Mean covey size was four adults (range = 2–9 adults) and mean density, which did not differ between fragmented and continuous forest, was one covey per 3.3 ha. Wood-Quail defended all-purpose group territories and coveys persisted from one year to the next, indicating a group structure that is very different from what is found in most New World quail. A peak in breeding activity occurred at the transition from the wet to the dry season and larger groups produced significantly more juveniles than smaller groups in this population. Playbacks were a useful technique for detecting Black-breasted Wood-Quail; coveys responded to 65% of survey attempts by chorus and approach. By repeating the survey just three times, I was able to detect 91% ± 5% of all coveys that were known from extensive searches to occur in the remnant forest patches of the Monteverde community. The year-round sociality that is seen in this species is due in part to the retention of young on the natal territory beyond the age of sexual maturity. The intriguing relationship between group size and reproductive success in this population suggests the wood-quail may provide the first demonstration of a cooperative breeding system in the Galliformes.

Download Full-text

Effects of compositional and configurational heterogeneity of the urban matrix on the species richness of woody plants in urban remnant forest patches

Landscape Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10980-021-01368-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jingyi Yang ◽

Xiangyu Luo ◽

Siran Lu ◽

Yongchuan Yang ◽

Jun Yang

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Woody Plants ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Remnant Forest ◽

Urban Matrix

Download Full-text

Abundance and patterns of rarity of Polylepis birds in the Cordillera Vilcanota, southern Perú: implications for habitat management strategies

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270908000166 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 164-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Huw Lloyd

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Habitat Management ◽

Habitat Restoration ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Distance Sampling ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Community ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Lowland Forest

AbstractPoint count distance sampling surveys were conducted at three sites in the Cordillera Vilcanota to determine whether variation in high-Andean species richness, diversity and abundance was a reflection of Polylepis habitat quantity. Bird community and abundance measures revealed that there was considerably variation in bird species richness, diversity and mean encounter rates between large, medium, and small forest patches. Densities of Polylepis-dependent bird species (including five globally-threatened and eight restricted-range species) were greater in larger forest patches and differed significantly between different patch size categories. Density estimates for matrix-dependent species were higher in smaller Polylepis patches indicating that the matrix exerts an influence on bird species composition and abundance in remnant Polylepis forests, particularly smaller patches. Comparison of lowland forest habitat specialists using three categories of rarity revealed that between 19–22% of all Polylepis-dependent species were intrinsically rare within larger forest patches, and a greater number (34–74%) were rare in smaller forest patches. Population estimates for all species, in particular for all threatened species, were extremely low, numbering ⩽ 10 individuals at nine of the ten sites examined. The results suggest that declines in the densities of certain Polylepis birds may be predictable following habitat loss and that these patterns of rarity should govern population recovery goals through appropriate habitat restoration strategies. Such strategies are urgently required and must be designed to prevent further habitat loss, and to increase Polylepis habitat quantity to boost threatened bird populations in the Cordillera Vilcanota.Evaluaciones de distancias de puntos de conteo fueron conducidas en tres lugares en la Cordillera Vilcanota para determinar si la variación en la riqueza, diversidad y abundancia de las especies de los Andes altos, era un reflejo de la cantidad de hábitats de Polylepis. La comunidad de aves y su abundancia revelaron que hubo una considerable variación en la riqueza de especies, diversidad y la media encontrada en rangos parches de bosque comprendidos entre grandes, medios y pequeãos. La densidad de especies de aves dependientes de Polylepis (incluyendo cinco amenazados globalmente y ocho especies con rango restringido) fueron mayores en parches grandes de bosque y difirieron significativamente entre diferentes categorías de tamaãos de parche. La densidad estimada para especies matriz-dependientes fue mayor en pequeãos parches de Polylepis indicando que la matriz ejerce una influencia en la composición de especies de aves y abundancia en vestigios de bosques de Polylepis, particularmente parches pequeãos. En comparación con especialistas de hábitat de bosque bajo, empleando tres categorías de rareza revelaron que entre 19–22% de todos las especies dependientes de Polylepis fueron intrínsicamente raras dentro de parches grandes de bosque, y un número mayor (34–74%) fueron raras en los parches pequeãos de bosque. La población estimada para todas las especies, en particular para todas las especies amenazadas, fue extremadamente baja, contando ⩽ 10 individuos en nueve de los 10 sitios examinados. El resultado sugiere que la disminución en la densidad de ciertas aves de Polylepis se podría predecir después de la pérdida de hábitat y que esos patrones de rareza podrían servir como objetivos para la recuperación de la población a través de estrategias de restauración de hábitats apropiados. Este tipo de estrategias son requeridas con urgencia y deberían estar diseãadas para prevenir futuras pérdidas de hábitats, incrementar la cantidad de hábitat de Polylepis para aumentar la población de aves amenazadas en la Cordillera Vilcanota.

Download Full-text

Assessing biodiversity and conservation value of forest patches secondarily fragmented by urbanisation in semiarid southeastern Spain

Journal for Nature Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.jnc.2013.11.002 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 166-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Víctor M. Zapata ◽

Francisco Robledano

Keyword(s):

Conservation Value ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Southeastern Spain

Download Full-text

Vertical stratification of selected Hymenoptera in a remnant forest of the Po Plain (Italy, Lombardy) (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae, Crabronidae, Sphecidae)

Fragmenta Entomologica ◽

10.4081/fe.2017.233 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 71

Author(s):

Filippo Di Giovanni ◽

Maurizio Mei ◽

Pierfilippo Cerretti

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Temperate Forests ◽

Vertical Stratification ◽

Lowland Forest ◽

Po Plain ◽

Natural Reserve ◽

Northeastern Italy ◽

Remnant Forest ◽

Forest Managers ◽

Species Ecology

Communities of the canopy of temperate forests are still relatively unexplored. Furthermore, very little is known on how vertical stratification for some insect groups is related to biological strategies. In this study, we investigated the community composition of both canopy and understory of the families Ampulicidae, Crabronidae and Sphecidae (Hymenoptera) of the Natural Reserve of “Bosco della Fontana”, a remnant lowland forest in northeastern Italy. Observed patterns in vertical stratification have been related to species foraging habits. Our study reveals that the bulk of the community of Spheciformes of the understory consists of species predating dipterans and spiders, while species associated with the canopy are mainly predators of sap-sucking honeydew producers and epiphyte grazers, like aphids, thrips, and barkflies. Comparing the communities of canopy and understory may lead to a better understanding of species ecology and provides useful information to forest managers.

Download Full-text