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 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.

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 Influence of land use and climate on wetland breeding birds in the Prairie Pothole region of Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.M. Forcey ◽  
G.M. Linz ◽  
W.E. Thogmartin ◽  
W.J. Bleier
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Breeding Birds ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Bird Conservation ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Wetland Birds ◽  
Bird Abundance

Bird populations are influenced by a variety of factors at both small and large scales that range from the presence of suitable nesting habitat, predators, and food supplies to climate conditions and land-use patterns. We evaluated the influences of regional climate and land-use variables on wetland breeding birds in the Canada section of Bird Conservation Region 11 (CA-BCR11), the Prairie Potholes. We used bird abundance data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, land-use data from the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, and weather data from the National Climatic Data and Information Archive to model effects of regional environmental variables on bird abundance. Models were constructed a priori using information from published habitat associations in the literature, and fitting was performed with WinBUGS using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques. Both land-use and climate variables contributed to predicting bird abundance in CA-BCR11, although climate predictors contributed the most to improving model fit. Examination of regional effects of climate and land use on wetland birds in CA-BCR11 revealed relationships with environmental covariates that are often overlooked by small-scale habitat studies. Results from these studies can be used to improve conservation and management planning for regional populations of avifauna.

scholarly journals Agricultural expansion in African savannas – effects on diversity and composition of trees and mammals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemant Tripathi ◽  
Emily Woollen ◽  
Mariana Carvalho ◽  
Catherine Parr ◽  
Casey Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Agricultural Expansion ◽  
Miombo Woodlands ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Impact On Biodiversity

Abstract Land use change (LUC) is the leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. However, the global understanding of LUC's impact on biodiversity is mainly based on comparisons of land use endpoints (habitat vs non-habitat) in forest ecosystems. Hence, it may not generalise to savannas, which are ecologically distinct from forests, as they are inherently patchy, and disturbance adapted. Endpoint comparisons also cannot inform the management of intermediate mosaic landscapes. We aim to address these gaps by investigating species- and community-level responses of mammals and trees along a gradient of small scale agricultural expansion in the miombo woodlands of northern Mozambique. Thus, the case study represents the most common pathway of LUC and biodiversity change in the world's largest savanna. Tree abundance, mammal occupancy, and tree- and mammal-species richness showed a non-linear relationship with agricultural expansion (characterised by the Land Division Index, LDI). These occurrence and diversity metrics increased at intermediate LDI (0.3 to 0.7), started decreasing beyond LDI > 0.7, and underwent high levels of decline at extreme levels of agricultural expansion (LDI > 0.9). Despite similarities in species richness responses, the two taxonomic groups showed contrasting β-diversity patterns in response to increasing LDI: increased dissimilarity among tree communities (heterogenisation) and high similarity among mammals (homogenisation). Our analysis along a gradient of landscape-scale land use intensification allows a novel understanding of the impacts of different levels of land conversion, which can help guide land use and restoration policy. Biodiversity loss in this miombo landscape was lower than would be inferred from existing global syntheses of biodiversity-land use relations for Africa or the tropics, probably because such syntheses take a fully converted landscape as the endpoint. As, currently, most African savanna landscapes are a mosaic of savanna habitats and small scale agriculture, biodiversity loss is probably lower than in current global estimates, albeit with a trend towards further conversion. However, at extreme levels of land use change (LDI > 0.9 or < 15% habitat cover) miombo biodiversity appears to be more sensitive to LUC than inferred from the meta-analyses. To mitigate the worst effects of land use on biodiversity, our results suggest that miombo landscapes should retain > 25% habitat cover and avoid LDI > 0.75 – after which species richness of both groups begin to decline. Our findings indicate that tree diversity may be easier to restore from natural restoration than mammal diversity, which became spatially homogeneous.

scholarly journals Ethnic Influence Against Land Use Patterns and Its Contribution to Community Income in The Aketajawe Lolobata National Park

Jurnal Wasian ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Lis Nurrani ◽  
Halidah Halidah ◽  
Supratman Tabba
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rice Field ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Field Pattern ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Land Use Pattern ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Zone Management

Buffer zone management is an integrated practice of managing forest and agriculture land based on biophysical nature of region and social-culture combination to obtain an optimum forest and agriculture products that support local livelihood economy. The study was to identify the community land use patterns that shapes the buffer zone of Aketajawe Lolobata National Park particularly at Aketajawe block. Sampling villages were determined by stratification based on the distance from the National Park boundary which varied between <3,3-5, and > 5 km. The purposive random sampling was chosen 82 respondents to be interviewed. Land use pattern which applied by communities were divided into six groups according to cultivated commodities i.e. community forest, mixed garden, monoculture garden, intercropping garden, horticulture and rice fields. The differences of these patterns were influenced by background and origin of communities. The indigenous people of Halmahera island used their land as mixed garden while the settler used theirs as rice field and horticulture. Based on the land cover quality, mixed garden pattern was more similar to forest vegetation than another pattern. Rice field pattern gave the largest economic contribution while community forest gave the lowest contribution to the farmer’s income.

scholarly journals The distribution and density of Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) at potential corridor locations between forest fragments in Batang Toru, North Sumatra, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
ARFAH NASUTION ◽  
DYAH PERWITASARI-FARAJALLAH ◽  
S. SUCI UTAMI-ATMOKO
Keyword(s):  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Population Number ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Undisturbed Forest ◽  
North Sumatra

Abstract. Nasution A, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Utami-Atmoko SS. 2020. The distribution and density of Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) at potential corridor locations between forest fragments in Batang Toru, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5382-5388. The newly discovered Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is in danger of being lost in a few decades due to their small population number in fragmented forest of Batang Toru. The major threats faced by this critically endangered ape, including: hunting, habitat loss, and fragmentation due to large infrastructure development and other developments in the key corridor area. The establishment of corridor and buffer zone is one such effort to maintain their population and bring them from the brink of extinction. Data on the population and distribution are needed to assess and provide baseline information for investigating the habitat condition of potential corridors and buffer zones. This study aimed to analyze population and distribution of Tapanui orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) in buffer zone and potential corridor of Batang Toru. Our study provides an initial dataset prior to the development of the hydrodam, which is important to understand the future post-development impact. The study was carried out in disturbed (Hutaimbaru and Bulu Mario) and undisturbed forest (Sitandiang and Hopong) of Batang Toru from June 2015 until February 2016. Orangutan nest, fig (Ficus spp.), and trees bearing fruit were recorded using a line transect method. This research showed that population and distribution of orangutan were influenced by forest conditions, threat level, and fruit availability. There were fewer nests per km2 in disturbed forest than in undisturbed forest, resulting in an orangutan density estimation to be 0.24 ind/km2, 0.14 ind/ km2 (Hutaimbaru and Bulu Mario) and 0.74 ind/km2, 0.36 ind/km2 (Sitandiang and Hopong). Number of nest in transects was influenced by the availability of fig class I and class II, but not fruit tree. The APL forest of Sitandiang is key area to connect the three populations of Tapanuli orangutan: east Batang Toru, west Batang Toru, and Sibualbuali. Furthermore, orangutan’s nests were encountered both in protected and non-protected forest, thus protection of such areas, especially areas including primary forest that harbor orangutan is essential for their long term survival. The conservation measures and action Tapanuli orangutan is alarming, thus we recommend all remaining habitat should be officially and strictly protected and collaboration work with multi-stakeholder is essential to establish the corridor as well as the strategic management plan of Tapanuli orangutan.

scholarly journals Agroforestry system as a buffer zone in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest conservation unit: an artificial nest predation perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila André Galvão ◽  
Mercival Roberto Francisco ◽  
Marcelo Nivert Schlindwein
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Artificial Nest ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Predator Species

Abstract Here we inferred about the effectiveness of a buffer zone composed by an Agroforestry System (AS) for providing reproductive conditions for Atlantic Forest birds by comparing artificial nest predation rates between a buffer zone, a primary forest area, and a set of small and isolated Atlantic Forest fragments. We have used 237 nests throughout the three areas, of which 100 (42.2%) were depredated. Predation frequencies were 28.6% in the continuous forest, 100% in the AS, and 51.9% in the fragments, differing significantly. We could detect nest predators in 48 of the 100 depredated nests (48%) using camera traps. Differences between areas may be attributed to changes in nest predator species. We support previous evidences that the conservation of bird communities may not rely on buffer zones as an extension of their breeding habitats.

scholarly journals Estimating the potential biodiversity impact of redeveloping small urban spaces: the Natural History Museum’s grounds

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3914
Author(s):  
Helen R.P. Phillips ◽  
Sandra Knapp ◽  
Andy Purvis
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Species Density ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Current Form ◽  
Habitat Area ◽  
The Impact

Background With the increase in human population, and the growing realisation of the importance of urban biodiversity for human wellbeing, the ability to predict biodiversity loss or gain as a result of land use change within urban settings is important. Most models that link biodiversity and land use are at too coarse a scale for informing decisions, especially those related to planning applications. Using the grounds of the Natural History Museum, London, we show how methods used in global models can be applied to smaller spatial scales to inform urban planning. Methods Data were extracted from relevant primary literature where species richness had been recorded in more than one habitat type within an urban setting. As within-sample species richness will increase with habitat area, species richness estimates were also converted to species density using theory based on the species–area relationship. Mixed-effects models were used to model the impact on species richness and species density of different habitat types, and to estimate these metrics in the current grounds and under proposed plans for redevelopment. We compared effects of three assumptions on how within-sample diversity scales with habitat area as a sensitivity analysis. A pre-existing database recording plants within the grounds was also used to estimate changes in species composition across different habitats. Results Analysis estimated that the proposed plans would result in an increase of average biodiversity of between 11.2% (when species density was modelled) and 14.1% (when within-sample species richness was modelled). Plant community composition was relatively similar between the habitats currently within the grounds. Discussion The proposed plans for change in the NHM grounds are estimated to result in a net gain in average biodiversity, through increased number and extent of high-diversity habitats. In future, our method could be improved by incorporating purposefully collected ecological survey data (if resources permit) and by expanding the data sufficiently to allow modelling of the temporal dynamics of biodiversity change after habitat disturbance and creation. Even in its current form, the method produces transparent quantitative estimates, grounded in ecological data and theory, which can be used to inform relatively small scale planning decisions.

scholarly journals Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover on Water Quality at Multiple Buffer-Zone Scales in a Lakeside City

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqin Huang ◽  
Jingqiao Mao ◽  
Dejun Zhu ◽  
Chenyu Lin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Effect

Understanding the effect of land use/land cover (LULC) on water quality is essential for environmental improvement, especially in urban areas. This study examined the relationship between LULC at buffer-zone scales and water quality in a lakeside city near Poyang Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in China. Representative indicators were selected by factor analysis to characterize the water quality in the study area, and then the association between LULC and water quality over space and time was quantified by redundancy analysis. The results indicated that the influence of LULC on water quality is scale-dependent. In general, the LULC could explain from 56.9% to 31.6% of the variation in water quality at six buffer zones (from 500 m to 1800 m). Forest land had a positive effect on water quality among most buffer zones, while construction land and bare land affected the representative water quality indicators negatively within the 1200 m and 1500 m buffer zones, respectively. There was also a seasonal variation in the relationship between LULC and water quality. The closest connection between them appeared at the 1000 m buffer zone in the dry season, whereas there was no significant difference among the buffer zones in the wet season. The results suggest the importance of considering buffer-zone scales in assessing the impacts of LULC on water quality in urban lakeshore areas.

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