Small mammals and habitat structure in lowland rain forest of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

A method of assessing rain forest structure by ranking relative abundance of 41 habitat variables was used to describe habitat differences among six trapping sites (324 subsites). Variables included aspects of all vegetation layers but concentrated on those considered to be important to small mammal distribution. Ordination and classification methods resulted in similar analyses of the data. Differences in habitat structure were primarily related to the moisture conditions of the trapping sites and secondarily to their successional age (regenerating versus primary forest). The most important habitat variables for differentiating between sites were LITTER, CLEARING, SOILS, PIG DAMAGE, FLOODING, FAN PALM, EMERGENTS, CANOPY SURFACE and SEEDLINGS. Habitat structure also varied within sites with some suggestion of small-scale patterning.Small mammal captures were more likely in drier sites and subsites, but there was no difference in trap success between regenerating sites and primary forest sites. Greater numbers of species were captured in sites containing a variety of habitats, a discrete layering of vegetation and an extensive understorey. Small mammal captures were positively associated with five habitat variables (EMERGENTS, LITTER, ROTTING LOGS, SEEDLINGS, ROUGH BARK) and negatively associated with five others (LAYERS, BERTAM, SEDGES, PIG DAMAGE, FLOODING). The destruction caused by pigs is thought to be a major factor since it reduces litter and food availability over wide areas. Leopoldamys sabanus was the most abundant small mammal captured (40/68 individuals) and trap success differences among sites (0.4–1.9%) reflect its preference for higher, well-drained habitats.The study demonstrates the usefulness of a simple method of ranking habitat features according to importance/abundance thus eliminating the all but impossible task of direct measurements in this complex system. This simple method of habitat description provides a basis for studying variables influencing faunal distribution patterns.

Life after logging: reconciling wildlife conservation and production forestry in Indonesian Borneo

“…Small mammal abundance was primarily determined by density of fallen logs and twigs, coverage of rock piles and wet areas, number of tree stumps and vegetation density at low heights (1-5 m), medium heights (>5 m) and at canopy level. This mirrors fi ndings by Kemper and Bell (1985). Bernard (2004) suggested that the correlations between mammal presence and the abundance of rock piles, tree stumps and dense ground level vegetation were best explained by improved predator avoidance, as these structures decrease visibility and allow rapid escapes.…”

“…Leopoldamys sabanus and C. notatus L. sabanus and T. glis (Kemper & Bell 1985) 72 | Mammals unlogged sites would be of little value unless the species composition and density was assessed before logging commenced. If densities between sites already differed before logging, then any species density assessments after logging are more diffi cult, unless adequate sample designs are used to take full account of all the potentially confounding sources of variation; such designs remain rare.…”

“…Leopoldamys sabanus and C. notatus (Zubaid & Khairul 1997) Tupaia glis and Maxomys surifer/rajah (Jum 1987in Zubaid & Khairul 1997 L. sabanus and T. glis (Kemper & Bell 1985) M. surifer/rajah and L. sabanus Rattus tiomanicus and C. notatus (Harrison 1969) T. glis and M. surifer/rajah (Langham 1983) T. glis and L. sabanus L. sabanus and Maxomys surifer (Yasuda et al 2003) L. sabanus and T. glis (Kemper & Bell 1985) unlogged sites would be of little value unless the species composition and density was assessed before logging commenced. If densities between sites already differed before logging, then any species density assessments after logging are more diffi cult, unless adequate sample designs are used to take full account of all the potentially confounding sources of variation; such designs remain rare.…”

Richness, abundance, and mass in snake assemblages from two Atlantic Rainforest sites (Ilha do Cardoso, São Paulo) with differences in environmental productivity

“…Spatial heterogeneity tends to promote an increase in the diversity of resources available in a particular habitat, favoring the coexistence of a large number of species (Simpson 1964). Also, some characteristics of the structural habitat such as leaf-litter depth may also influence the local snake community, not only by increasing microhabitat space for potential preys such as frogs (Van Sluys et al 2007) and small mammals (Kemper and Bell 1985), but may also favor the occurrence of some snake species, especially terrestrial, semi-fossorial or fossorial ones. In LF the amount of leaf-litter/m 2 of forest floor was about three times higher than that found in SF, which can provide more space and shelter protected from predators for some snakes.…”

Hutan pasca pemanenan: melindungi satwa liar dalam kegiatan hutan produksi di Kalimantan

“…Spesies mamalia kecil yang umumnya terjerat dalam sejumlah penelitian di Semenanjung Malaya. (Yasuda et al 2003) Tikus-raksasa Ekor Panjang (L. sabanus) dan Bajing akar (T. glis) (Kemper & Bell 1985) Primata Primata adalah kelompok mamalia yang paling terkenal yang hidup di hutan tropis dan informasi ekologi spesies primata ini cukup banyak diketahui. Namun demikian, kebanyakan yang diketahui tentang primata Borneo lebih menyangkut perilaku, kondisi populasi, dan pola pergerakannya.…”