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To understand the effect of forest fire on the regeneration of Cephalostachyum pergracile Munro bamboo, we compared the culm dynamics in the early regeneration stage for 3 years between a site protected from natural fires since 1995 and a site that had been burnt almost annually in a mixed deciduous forest in Thailand. Although the repeated fires distinctly decreased the number and basal area of culms per clump and the proportion of surviving culms throughout the study period, this bamboo species basically represents an adaptation to fire disturbance. A greater number of thin culms and many small branches produced by the fire-disturbed bamboos may have maximized photosynthesis with minimum allocation of photosynthate after they lose their aboveground parts. Further, the ratio of surviving clumps was higher at the unprotected site than at the protected site where selfthinning among clumps occurred. In contrast to these dynamic responses of bamboos against the fire disturbances, the number of individual clumps and their sizes remained smaller at the unprotected site than at the protected site. These results indicate that the intensity and frequency of fires primarily determine the dynamics of the bamboo population, having potential to alter the forest succession to either less or more bamboo dominating forest community. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of fire on the interaction between bamboo and tree species, specifically at the middle and matured stages of bamboo life history and along a gradient of fire regimes for better understanding assembly of the MDF community.

Plant diversity is important for sustainable development, particularly in watershed areas. This study explored tree population and diversity in a lower montane forest (LMF). A 16-ha permanent plot was established in LMF at Huai Kogma sub-watershed, northern Thailand. All trees with a diameter at breast height ≥ 2 cm were tagged, measured, identified, and their coordinates were mapped. The results showed that 220 species in 139 genera from 63 plant families were found. The dominant families based on species numbers and tree density were Fagaceae, Lauraceae, and Theaceae. The most dominant species were Castanopsis acuminatissima, Schima wallichii, Castanopsis armata, and Styrax benzoides. Diameter classes for climax species frequently followed negative exponential distributions, indicating their populations could be maintained into the future. By contrast, pioneer species, such as Macaranga indica, Morus macroura, and Rhus javanica, had discontinuous distribution, and were mostly found in gap areas, indicating successful regeneration may require high light intensity. Spatial distribution patterns based on Morisita’s index showed that most of the selected species had clumped patterns, particularly those in the Fagaceae family, which were predominantly distributed along the mountain ridge. Tree distribution patterns can affect ecological dynamics, thus reinforcing patterns dependent on local interactions such as the abundance of and distance to available resources. Our finding can aid evaluations of forest sustainability, and support the biodiversity conservation plans. In particular, the selection of suitable species for LMF restoration programs where mixed plantings of pioneer and climax species are planned.

Abstract. Yarnvudhi A, Leksungnoen N, Siri S, Ponpithuk Y, Sukmasuang R, Duengkae P, Pongcharoen C, Sutummawong N, Marod D, Wachrinrat C, Premashthira A, Tor-ngern P, Poungcharean S, Hermuk S, Kachina P. 2022. Monetary evaluation of supporting ecosystem services as a habitat provider for birds in Thailand urban park. Biodiversitas 23: 4747-4758. Supporting services are important services to maintain ecosystems by providing habitats for organisms and genetic diversity. In this study, the monetary value of supporting services for bird habitats in urban parks was evaluated based on the price for nursing each bird species and market value. Bird diversity was conducted using point count observation. We found total of 53 bird species, 27 families and 8 orders in the park. Total monetary benefit for bird habitats in this park was estimated to be around USD60,354.12 per individual bird with an average value of USD1,138.76 per bird per species. The top three species with the highest monetary value were the Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans), and Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus). The species diversity index of the bird community (H') was 2.73 and the most abundant bird species were Eastern Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus), Eastern jungle crow (Corvus levaillantii), Oriental magpie robin (Copsychus saularis), and Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus). Among 4 microhabitats, birds were found the most in the trees, followed by lawn, grassland, and wetland areas. The small urban parks should be designed with diverse microhabitats to provide various ecological functions to attract and ensure adequate resources for organisms.