Biodiversity of leaf-litter ants in fragmented tropical rainforests of Borneo: the value of publically and privately managed forest fragments

Tawatao, Noel; Lucey, Jennifer M.; Senior, Michael; Benedick, Suzan; Khen, Chey Vun; Hill, Jane K.; Hamer, Keith C.

doi:10.1007/s10531-014-0768-5

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…In our study, forest fragment sites differed in their pre‐fragmentation history (Tawatao et al . ). Our logged forest fragments were formed in areas that had already been designated for conversion to agricultural plantations, and so logging prior to fragment formation was intensive and likely salvaged all available commercial timber with no cutting diameter or slope limit (FAO ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Leaf litter decomposition rates in degraded and fragmented tropical rain forests of Borneo

Yeong

Reynolds²,

Hill

2016

Biotropica

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Previously extensive tracts of primary rain forest have been degraded by human activities, and we examined how the effects of forest disturbance arising from habitat fragmentation and commercial selective logging affected ecosystem functioning in these habitats by studying leaf litter decomposition rates in litter bags placed on the forest floor. The rain forests of Borneo are dominated by trees from the family Dipterocarpaceae, and we compared leaf litter decomposition rates of three dipterocarp species at eight forest fragment sites (area 3-3529 ha) that had different histories of disturbance pre-fragmentation: four fragments had been selectively logged prior to fragmentation and four had been formed from previously undisturbed forest. We compared these logged and unlogged forest fragments with sites in continuous forest that had been selectively logged (two sites) and fully protected and undisturbed (two sites). After 120 d, undisturbed continuous forest sites had the fastest rates of decomposition (52% mass loss). Forest fragments formed from unlogged forest (32% mass loss) had faster decomposition rates than logged forest fragments (28% mass loss), but slower rates than continuous logged forest (39% mass loss). Leaves of a light-demanding species (Parashorea malaanonan) decomposed faster than those of a shade-tolerant species (Hopea nervosa), but decomposition of all three dipterocarp species that we studied responded similarly to logging and fragmentation effects. Reduced decomposition rates in logged and fragmented forest sites may affect nutrient cycling and thus have detrimental consequences for forest regeneration. Conservation management to improve forest quality should be a priority, particularly in logged forest fragments.Abstract in Malay is available with online material.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…, Tawatao et al . ). Thus, our choice of study sites allowed us to compare the effects of habitat fragmentation (continuous forest vs. fragments) and habitat degradation (selectively logged vs. unlogged forest) on ecosystem functioning.…”

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confidence: 97%

Leaf litter decomposition rates in degraded and fragmented tropical rain forests of Borneo

Yeong

Reynolds²,

Hill

2016

Biotropica

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“…Similarly, the ant assemblage in a tropical rain forest was significantly reduced and community composition was simplified due to fragmentation [58,59]. Ants with specialized habits tend to be more sensitive to forest fragmentation compared to opportunist and generalist ant species [60].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of remnant forest on insect successional response in tropical fire-impacted peatland: A bi-taxa comparison

et al. 2017

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Fire has become a common feature in tropical drained peatlands, and it may have detrimental impacts on the overall biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. We investigated the effect of fire on termite and ant assemblages and the importance of remnant forest in restoring species diversity in fire-impacted tropical peat swamp forests. The species loss of both termites and ants was as high as 50% in some fire-impacted peats compared to remnant forests, but in most cases the species richness for termites and ants was statistically equal along the land uses surveyed. However, a pronounced difference in functional group composition of termites was detected. In particular, sites close to remnant forests contained two additional termite feeding groups so that they shared a similar composition structure with remnant forests but were significantly different from sites distant from remnant forests. In general, ants were resilient to fire, and the similarity index showed a high degree of similarity among ant communities in all land uses surveyed. The Shannon diversity index for termites and ants decreased with increasing distance from the remnant forests and level of ecological degradation. Peat vegetation variables and ecological degradation were important in shaping termite and ant communities in the tropical peatlands, but their relative importance was not significant in fire-impacted peats regardless of distance from the remnant forests. This study highlights the importance of remnant forests as a biodiversity repository and natural buffer that can enhance species diversity and recolonization of forest-adapted species.

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“…S1), representing habitat mosaics and boundaries typical of plantation landscapes (Tawatao et al . ). We selected four forest sites that had experienced similar levels of disturbance (due to repeated commercial selective logging) and that were adjacent to oil palm plantations of similar age (~13–16 yr since planting).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Barriers to dispersal of rain forest butterflies in tropical agricultural landscapes

et al. 2016

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Fragmentation of natural habitats can be detrimental for species if individuals fail to cross habitat boundaries to reach new locations, thereby reducing functional connectivity. Connectivity is crucial for species shifting their ranges under climate change, making it important to understand factors that might prevent movement through human-modified landscapes. In tropical regions, rain forests are being fragmented by agricultural expansion, potentially isolating populations of highly diverse forest-dependent species. The likelihood of crossing habitat boundaries is an important determinant of species dispersal through fragmented landscapes, and so we examined movement across rain forest-oil palm plantation boundaries on Borneo by using relatively mobile nymphalid butterflies as our model study taxon. We marked 1666 individuals from 65 species, and 19 percent (100/527) of recaptured individuals crossed the boundary. Boundary crossing was relatively frequent in some species, and net movement of individuals was from forest into plantation. However, boundary crossing from forest into plantation was detected in less than 50 percent (12/28) of recaptured species and was dominated by small-sized butterfly species whose larval host plants occurred within plantations. Thus, while oil palm plantations may be relatively permeable to some species, they may act as barriers to the movement of forest-dependent species (i.e., species that require rain forest habitat to breed), highlighting the importance of maintaining forest connectivity for conserving rain forest species.Abstract in Malay is available with online material.

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Biodiversity of leaf-litter ants in fragmented tropical rainforests of Borneo: the value of publically and privately managed forest fragments

Cited by 16 publications

References 64 publications

Leaf litter decomposition rates in degraded and fragmented tropical rain forests of Borneo

Leaf litter decomposition rates in degraded and fragmented tropical rain forests of Borneo

The effect of remnant forest on insect successional response in tropical fire-impacted peatland: A bi-taxa comparison

Barriers to dispersal of rain forest butterflies in tropical agricultural landscapes

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