scholarly journals Physical factors at salt licks influenced the frequency of wildlife visitation in the Malaysian tropical rainforest

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Bazilah Razali ◽  
Muhammad Syafiq Haiqal Shafie ◽  
Rahaniza Ali Mohd Jobran ◽  
Nur Hayati Abdul Karim ◽  
Shamsul Khamis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Hardwood Species ◽  
Open Canopy ◽  
Salt Lick ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
High Emergence ◽  
Salt Licks

Mineral reservoirs or salt licks are commonly used by wildlife to regulate the concentration of salt and minerals in their bodies. Salt lick utilisation is known to be influenced by the chemical composition, but information on their physical properties, particularly vegetation surrounding the salt licks is scarce. In this study, physical factors and wildlife utilisation at two natural salt licks (SPU and SPS) located in Perak, Malaysia, were determined. Wildlife visitation data were retrieved from camera traps. SPU exhibits two reservoirs represented by rocky and clay substrate, with minimally dense vegetation dominated by hardwood species and climbers. SPS encompasses muddy topsoil, open canopy cover, with highly dense forest floor vegetation. The wildlife survey shows a higher frequency of visitation in SPS, especially by ungulates, potentially due to dense understorey foliage that provides foraging sites for these animals. SPU exhibits more diverse but less frequent wildlife species, particularly primates, carnivores, and avian groups. High emergence and closed canopy cover at this lick serve as perching sites for primates and birds, while less dense understory vegetation could aid in prey detection among carnivore. Regardless of their physical assemblages, salt licks are an essential local hotspot for wildlife, therefore, elucidating the need to prioritise conservation areas by maximising the complementarities of salt licks.

scholarly journals Impact of natural salt lick on the home range of Panthera tigris at the Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Andrew Lazarus ◽  
Azlan Che-Amat ◽  
Muhammad Muzammil Abdul Halim Shah ◽  
Azwan Hamdan ◽  
Hasliza Abu Hassim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Nutritional Ecology ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Salt Lick ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
Salt Licks

AbstractNatural salt lick (sira) is a strategic localisation for ecological wildlife assemblage to exhibit geophagy which may act as a population dynamic buffer of prey and predators. Undoubtedly, many agree that geophagy at natural licks is linked to nutritional ecology, health and assembly places facilitating social interaction of its users. Overall, natural salt licks not only save energy of obtaining nutrient leading to health maintenance but also forms the basis of population persistence. The Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia (Royal Belum) is a typical tropical rainforest in Malaysia rich in wildlife which are mainly concentrated around the natural salt lick. Since this is one of the most stable fauna ecology forest in Malaysia, it is timely to assess its impact on the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris) home range dynamics. The three-potential home ranges of the Malayan tiger in this rainforest were selected based on animal trails or foot prints surrounding the salt lick viz (e.g. Sira Kuak and Sira Batu; Sira Rambai and Sira Buluh and Sira Papan) as well as previous sightings of a Malayan tiger in the area, whose movement is dependent on the density and distribution of prey. Camera traps were placed at potential animal trails surrounding the salt lick to capture any encountered wildlife species within the area of the camera placements. Results showed that all home ranges of Malayan tiger were of no significance for large bodied prey availability such as sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), and smaller prey such as muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjac) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Interestingly, all home range harbour the Malayan tiger as the only sole predator. The non-significance of prey availability at each home range is attributed to the decline of the Malayan tiger in the rainforest since tigers are dependant on the movement of its preferred prey surrounding natural salt licks. Thus, the information from this study offers fundamental knowledge on the importance of prey-predator interaction at salt lick which will help in designing strategy in rewilding or rehabilitation programs of the Malayan tiger at the Royal Belum Rainforest.

Predation on artificial nests and caterpillar models across a disturbance gradient in Subic Bay, Philippines

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Rose C. Posa ◽  
Navjot S. Sodhi ◽  
Lian Pin Koh
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Open Canopy ◽  
Closed Canopy

One possible mechanism underlying species losses in the tropics is an increase in predation due to habitat degradation. Relative levels of predation at three heights (ground, 1–1.5 m, > 5 m for nests and > 3 m for caterpillars) were compared across a gradient of disturbance in the Subic Bay Watershed Forest Reserve, Philippines over a 2-mo period. Four 750-m transects were established in each habitat type (closed-canopy forest, open-canopy forest, rural areas) where artificial nests and caterpillar models were placed within 10-m-radius plots and checked after a 5-d exposure period. Nests in open-canopy forest were least predated (16.7%), with predation in rural areas (58.3%) being higher than in closed-canopy forest (32.8%). Predation on nests at 1–1.5 m was significantly lower than ground nests. General linear mixed model analysis suggested that effects of habitat type on nest predation differed among heights. Attacks on caterpillars increased with disturbance (46.1–59.4%), but height was not found to have a significant effect on predation. Markings on plasticine models, camera traps and live traps were used to establish possible predators. Shifts in predator dominance among the habitats were observed. Vegetation cover, tree density and small mammal abundance were not correlated with mean predation in the transects.

scholarly journals Diversity of Medicinal Plants among Different Tree Canopies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2640
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zubair ◽  
Akash Jamil ◽  
Syed Bilal Hussain ◽  
Ahsan Ul Haq ◽  
Ahmad Hussain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Floral Diversity ◽  
Tree Canopy Cover ◽  
Closed Canopy

The moist temperate forests in Northern Pakistan are home to a variety of flora and fauna that are pivotal in sustaining the livelihoods of the local communities. In these forests, distribution and richness of vegetation, especially that of medicinal plants, is rarely reported. In this study, we carried out a vegetation survey in District Balakot, located in Northeastern Pakistan, to characterize the diversity of medicinal plants under different canopies of coniferous forest. The experimental site was divided into three major categories (viz., closed canopy, open spaces, and partial tree cover). A sampling plot of 100 m2 was established on each site to measure species diversity, dominance, and evenness. To observe richness and abundance, the rarefaction and rank abundance curves were plotted. Results revealed that a total of 45 species representing 34 families were available in the study site. Medicinal plants were the most abundant (45%) followed by edible plants (26%). Tree canopy cover affected the overall growth of medicinal plants on the basis of abundance and richness. The site with partial canopy exhibited the highest diversity, dominance, and abundance compared to open spaces and closed canopy. These findings are instrumental in identifying the wealth of the medicinal floral diversity in the northeastern temperate forest of Balakot and the opportunity to sustain the livelihoods of local communities with the help of public/private partnership.

scholarly journals Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 724
Author(s):  
Noack ◽  
Heyns ◽  
Rodenwoldt ◽  
Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
New Class ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Wildlife Populations ◽  
Effective Conservation

The establishment of enclosed conservation areas are claimed to be the driving force for the long-term survival of wildlife populations. Whilst fencing provides an important tool in conservation, it simultaneously represents a controversial matter as it stops natural migration processes, which could ultimately lead to inbreeding, a decline in genetic diversity and local extinction if not managed correctly. Thus, wildlife residing in enclosed reserves requires effective conservation and management strategies, which are strongly reliant on robust population estimates. Here, we used camera traps combined with the relatively new class of spatially explicit capture-recaptured models (SECR) to produce the first reliable leopard population estimate for an enclosed reserve in Namibia. Leopard density was estimated at 14.51 leopards/100 km2, the highest recorded density in Namibia to date. A combination of high prey abundance, the absence of human persecution and a lack of top-down control are believed to be the main drivers of the recorded high leopard population. Our results add to the growing body of literature which suggests enclosed reserves have the potential to harbour high densities and highlight the importance of such reserves for the survival of threatened species in the future.

scholarly journals Abundance and composition of the medium to large-sized mammals in a private area of a REDD+ project in Acre, Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
André Luis Moura Botelho ◽  
Luiz Henrique Medeiros Borges ◽  
Brian McFarland
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Tapirus Terrestris

Abstract: The implementation of private areas focused on conservation of species and habitats, combined with REDD+ policies, has become an important ally for biodiversity conservation, expanding the conservation areas of the most varied habitats, covering key groups such as large mammals, which are extremely important for the maintenance of ecosystem services. In the upper region of the Purus River in Acre, Brazil, an inventory was carried out using camera-traps, of medium and large mammals community in a private REDD+ area, known as the Purus Project. A total of 19 species of mammals were recorded with an effort of 1859 trap-nigths, including rare, endangered and key species. It is estimated that the richness for the area is of 22 species. Endangered and rare species such as the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) presented high rates of relative abundance compared to other Conservation Units (UCs). The richness of medium to large-sized mammals recorded in the Purus Project underscores the importance of REDD+ in private areas for the conservation of this group, given the challenges for inclusion and creation of new protected areas. REDD+ projects in privates' areas become an important component for conservation of species and the connection between public conservation units favoring the spread of species and populations between areas, and consequently the gene flow.

scholarly journals KEANEKARAGAMAN JENIS JAMUR MAKROSKOPIS PADA BERBAGAI KONDISI TEMPAT TUMBUH HUTAN RAWA GAMBUT DI KAWASAN HUTAN DENGAN TUJUAN KHUSUS UNIVERSITAS TANJUNGPURA

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syapriadi Utama ◽  
Dwi Astiani ◽  
Wiwik Ekyastuti
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Data Retrieval ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Swamp Forest ◽  
Peat Swamp Forest ◽  
Plot Sampling ◽  
Peat Swamp ◽  
Open Canopy

Tanjungpura University Forest for Special Purpose located in three districts Landak Regency, Mempawah Regency and Kubu Raya Regency. Has the potential to use and process non-timber forest products. The diversity of macroscopic fungi is not yet known as one of the potential natural biological resources of significant value. So that a mushroom inventory must be carried out to identify and assess the diversity of macroscopic fungi. The method used is the survey method. Data retrieval uses a double plot sampling technique. The size of each observation plot is 5 m × 5 m as the initial reference, four plots in the peat swamp forest area with open canopy cover conditions and also four observation plots in peat swamp forest areas with canopy cover conditions are still closed. Placement of research plots in both areas was carried out purposively in locations where there were many types of macroscopic fungi. The results showed that the types of macroscopic fungi found at the study site were 24 species. 24 species were divided into 594 individuals belonging to 23 genera and 9 families. Macroscopic fungi found in open canopy cover were found in 17 species, while in closed canopy cover there were 13 species. In both types of conditions the place to grow has the same 6 types of fungi. The degree of diversity of macroscopic fungi in various conditions the peat swamp in Tanjungpura University Forest for Special Purpose is low.Keyword: Macroscopic fungi, peat swamp forest, Tanjungpura University Forest for Special Purpose.

scholarly journals Status and conservation of primates in Odzala National Park, Republic of the Congo

Oryx ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Bermejo
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Terra Firma ◽  
Western Lowland Gorilla ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Open Canopy ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractA survey of diurnal primate populations was carried out in Odzala National Park, Republic of the Congo, over 3 months in 1994 and 2 months in 1995. The park contains a high diversity and species-specific abundance of primates, and has the highest number of diurnal primates (10 species) in the forest block of Central Africa. Eight species of monkey: greater whitenosed monkey Cercopithecus nictitans, moustached monkey Cercopithecus cephus, crowned guenon Cercopithecus pogonias, De Brazza's monkey Cercopithecus neglectus, talapoin Miopithecus talapoin, white-cheeked mangabey Cercocebus albigena, agile mangabey Cercocebus galeritus and guereza Colobus guereza, as well as gorilla Gorilla g. gorilla and chimpanzee Pan t. troglodytes were sighted in the survey. Monkey species richness was highest in dense inundated forest and thicket, with all eight species occurring in these habitats, whereas only four species were found in terra firma forest (consisting of the park's two main habitats, open-canopy Marantaceae forest and closed-canopy primary forest). Three of the four species (C. nictitans, C. cephus and C. albigena) present in terra firma forest were most abundant in closed-canopy primary forest (1.4,1.0 and 0.6 groups per km, respectively) while the fourth (C. pogonias) was most abundant in open-canopy Marantaceae forest. Gorilla nests were most abundant in open-canopy Marantaceae forest (12.1 nests per km), while chimpanzee nests were mostly found in closed-canopy primary forest and Marantaceae forest (14 and 12 nests per km, respectively). Odzala has the highest recorded densities of western lowland gorilla (mean = 5.4 individuals per sq km) and chimpanzee (mean = 2.2 individuals per sq km) in Central Africa. The high densities of gorillas and chimpanzees may be a result of the high productivity of the forest and low poaching pressure. Conservation measures to ensure the maintenance of conditions in the area, such as educational programmes, are suggested.

scholarly journals The influence of topographic variation on forest structure in two woody plant communities: A remote sensing approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sisira Ediriweera ◽  
Tim Danaher ◽  
Sumith Pathirana
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Lidar Data ◽  
Topographic Wetness Index ◽  
Crown Area ◽  
Fractional Cover ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Open Canopy ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
Topographic Variation

Aim of study:  The study aimed to characterise variation in structural attributes of vegetation in relation to variations in topographic position using LIDAR data over landscapes.Area of study: The study was conducted in open canopy eucalypt-dominated forest (Richmond Range National Park-RRNP) and closed canopy subtropical rainforest (Border Ranges National Park-BRNP) in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia.Material and Methods: one metre resolution digital canopy height model (CHM) was extracted from the LIDAR data and used to estimate maximum overstorey height and crown area. LIDAR fractional cover representing the photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic component of canopy was calculated using LIDAR points aggregated into 50 m spatial bins. Potential solar insolation, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), slope and the elevation were processed using LIDAR derived digital elevation models.Main results: No relationship was found between maximum overstorey height and insolation gradient in the BRNP. Maximum overstorey height decreased with increasing insolation in the RRNP (R2 0.45). Maximum overstorey height increased with increasing TWI in the RRNP. Average crown area decreased with increasing insolation in both study areas. LIDAR fractional cover decreased with increasing insolation (R2 0.54), and increased with increasing TWI (R2 0.57) in the RRNP.Research highlights: The characterization of structural parameters of vegetation in relation to the variation of the topography was possible in eucalyptus dominated open canopy forest.  No reportable difference in variation of structural elements of vegetation was detected with topographic variation of subtropical rainforest.  

scholarly journals Top-down and sideways: Herbivory and cross-ecosystem connectivity shape restoration success at the salt marsh-upland ecotone

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247374
Author(s):  
Kerstin Wasson ◽  
Karen E. Tanner ◽  
Andrea Woofolk ◽  
Sean McCain ◽  
Justin P. Suraci
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
High Marsh ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Salt Marsh Restoration ◽  
Marsh Restoration ◽  
Restoration Site ◽  
Restoration Success

Wetland restoration provides remarkable opportunities to understand vegetation dynamics and to inform success of future projects through rigorous restoration experiments. Salt marsh restoration typically focuses on physical factors such as sediment dynamics and elevation. Despite many demonstrations of strong top-down effects on salt marshes, the potential for consumers to affect salt marsh restoration projects has rarely been quantified. Recently, major restoration projects at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in central California, USA provided an opportunity to examine how herbivory influences restoration success. We quantified the strength of consumer effects by comparing caged to uncaged plantings, and compared effects among plant species and sites. We used camera traps to detect which herbivores were most common and how their abundance varied spatially. Beyond characterizing consumer effects, we also tested management strategies for reducing negative effects of herbivory at the restoration sites, including caging, mowing, and acoustic playbacks of predator sounds. We found extremely strong consumer effects at sites with extensive stands of exotic forbs upland of the high marsh; uncaged restoration plants suffered heavy herbivory and high mortality, while most caged plants survived. Brush rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani) were by far the most frequent consumers of these high marsh plants. Our work thus provides the first evidence of mammal consumers affecting salt marsh restoration success. Mowing of tall exotic forb cover adjacent to the marsh at one restoration site greatly reduced consumption, and nearly all monitored plantings survived at a second restoration site where construction had temporarily eliminated upland cover. Playbacks of predator sounds did not significantly affect restoration plantings, but restoration efforts in marsh communities vulnerable to terrestrial herbivory may benefit from concurrent restoration of predator communities in the upland habitats surrounding the marsh. A landscape approach is thus critical for recognizing linkages between terrestrial and marine vegetation.

scholarly journals Vertical Measurement Accuracy of Mapping-Grade Global Positioning Systems Receivers in Three Forest Settings

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Wing ◽  
Aaron Eklund
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Gps Receiver ◽  
Gps Receivers ◽  
Positioning Systems ◽  
Young Forest ◽  
Open Canopy ◽  
Time Differential ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
Differential Corrections

Abstract Elevation or height differences are necessary measurements for many forest operation activities. We rigorously examined the vertical measurement performance of five mapping-grade GPS receivers in three forest settings representing open-sky,young-forest, and closed-canopy conditions. The mapping-grade GPS receivers collected data simultaneously at each of the three forest settings and had different hardware and data-collection configurations, including internal and external antennas, and real-time differential corrections. We evaluated the influence of forest setting and postprocessed differential corrections on all GPS receiver measurements, including those that were collected with real-time differential corrections. We also compared the effect of 1-, 30-, and 60-point averaging intervals on vertical measurement accuracy. We found average vertical accuracies for unprocessed GPS receiver measurements of 0.9, 1.7, and 2.8 m in the open-sky, young-forest, and closed-canopy settings, respectively. The influence of data postprocessing was inconsistent under closed canopy and resulted in average vertical GPS accuracies of 0.2, 0.4, 3.3 m in open-canopy, young-forest, and closed-canopy settings, respectively. Different point averaging intervals did not result in statistically significant differences in vertical accuracies for either unprocessed or postprocessed GPS data.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document