mains, with loss increasing by 210 100 ha yr −1 (Hansen et al. 2013). Between 1990 and 2010, tropical forest cover was reduced from 1635 mil lion ha to 1514 million ha, with 32.9 million ha lost in Southeast Asia (Achard et al. 2014). Overexploitation and agricultural activities are the primary threats to species worldwide
Background: The Bornean banteng (Bos javanicus lowi) is an endangered subspecies that often inhabits logged forest; however very little is known about the effects of logging on their ecology, despite the differing effects this has on other ungulate species. A body condition scoring system was created for the Bornean banteng using camera trap photographs from five forests in Sabah, Malaysia, with various past and present management combinations to establish if banteng nutrition suffered as a result of forest disturbance. Results: One hundred and eleven individuals were photographed over 38,009 camera trap nights from April 2011 to June 2014 in five forests. Banteng within forests that had a recent history of reduced-impact logging had higher body condition scores than banteng within conventionally logged forest. Conversely, when past logging was conducted using a conventional technique and the period of forest regeneration was relatively long; the banteng had higher body condition scores. Conclusion: The body condition scoring system is appropriate for monitoring the long-term nutrition of the Bornean banteng and for evaluating the extent of the impact caused by present-day reduced-impact logging methods. Reduced-impact logging techniques give rise to individuals with the higher body condition scores in the shorter term, which then decline over time. In contrast the trend is opposite for conventional logging, which demonstrates the complex effects of logging on banteng body condition scores. This is likely to be due to differences in regeneration between forests that have been previously logged using differing methods.
20Logging causes soil compaction and alters the vegetation structure and plant diversity, 21 and ungulates must adapt to modified conditions if they are to survive. We investigated 22 the impact of logging upon the foraging ecology of the Borneo banteng using camera 23 traps and botanical surveys. General linear models were used to explore the effects of 24 site characteristics and plant diversity upon foraging duration, and plant specimens were 25 identified to confirm dietary preferences. Foraging events were recorded over 40,168 26 nights in five forests. Foraging duration significantly decreased in open areas 27 depauperate in species richness (F=7.82, p= <0.01), however it increased with elevation 28 (F=3.46, p=0.05). Their diet comprised of eight invasive species (Mikania cordata and 29 Chromolaena odorata, Cyperus difformis, Fimbristylis littoralis and Scleria sp., 30 Desmodium triflorium, Eleusine indica, and Selaginel sp.), which are characteristic of 31 disturbed forest and fast to establish. Logging creates ideal conditions for these plants, 32 which are preferentially selected by bantengs. Whilst logging may increase forage, the 33 disturbances logging causes to the bantengs and the ensuing poaching may counteract 34 any positive benefits. Developing forest management strategies that incorporate 35 conservation of the bantengs may in-turn encourage more favourable conditions for 36 emergent timber species and also conserve this endangered wild cattle species.37 38
Identifying the consequences of tropical forest degradation is essential to mitigate its effects upon forest fauna. Large forest-dwelling mammals are often highly sensitive to environmental perturbation through processes such as fragmentation, simplification of habitat structure, and abiotic changes including increased temperatures where the canopy is cleared. Whilst previous work has focused upon species richness and rarity in logged forest, few look at spatial and temporal behavioural responses to forest degradation. Using camera traps, we explored the relationships between diel activity, behavioural expression, habitat use and ambient temperature to understand how the wild free-ranging Bornean banteng (Bos javanicus lowi) respond to logging and regeneration. Three secondary forests in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo were studied, varying in the time since last logging (6–23 years). A combination of generalised linear mixed models and generalised linear models were constructed using >36,000 trap-nights. Temperature had no significant effect on activity, however it varied markedly between forests, with the period of intense heat shortening as forest regeneration increased over the years. Bantengs regulated activity, with a reduction during the wet season in the most degraded forest (z = -2.6, Std. Error = 0.13, p = 0.01), and reductions during midday hours in forest with limited regeneration, however after >20 years of regrowth, activity was more consistent throughout the day. Foraging and use of open canopy areas dominated the activity budget when regeneration was limited. As regeneration advanced, this was replaced by greater investment in travelling and using a closed canopy. Forest degradation modifies the ambient temperature, and positively influences flooding and habitat availability during the wet season. Retention of a mosaic of mature forest patches within commercial forests could minimise these effects and also provide refuge, which is key to heat dissipation and the prevention of thermal stress, whilst retention of degraded forest could provide forage.
Biophysical and socio-cultural factors have jointly shaped the distribution of global biodiversity, yet relatively few studies have quantitatively assessed social and ecological influences on wildlife. Drawing on a dataset of 321 total camera traps locations and 38,017 camera days across 18 field sites and three years in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, we fitted occupancy models incorporating socio-cultural covariates and environmental covariates associated with bearded pig (Sus barbatus) occupancy. We find that all competitive occupancy models included both socio-cultural and ecological covariates. Moreover, we found that Indigenous ethnicity mediated the effect of hunting accessibility on bearded pig occupancy: Indigenous ethnicity was positively associated with pig occupancy in areas of low hunting accessibility, and negatively associated with pig occupancy in areas of high hunting accessibility. These results suggest that bearded pig populations in Malaysian Borneo should be managed with context-specific strategies, promoting Indigenous pig hunting rights in areas of low hunting accessibility. We also provide important baseline information on bearded pig occupancy prior to the 2020-2021 outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which has caused social and ecological concerns after mass dieoffs of bearded pigs in Borneo, and domestic pigs across much of Asia.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.