The Ecological Role of Deadwood Materials as Habitat Providers at Kanawa Forest

Abstract

Deadwood; snags or downed coarse are important habitat features for many forest-dwellers. They influence ecological activities and biodiversity. This study reported on the ecological role of snags and downed coarse as habitat providers. The research was conducted at Kanawa forest reserve. Systematic random sampling method was employed to lay 4,000m line transects (500m each) across the forest edge (FE) and core forest (CF) of the reverse. On each transect, five 20m x 20m plots were established at 100m interval to assess the deadwood, their colonizers and relationship. Different animal species were recovered using snags as their prepared home or hiding place. Salamander (31%) was found in significantly greater frequencies in the core forest as colonizer. Downed coarse accommodate diverse animal species with only one plant, Chick wee. Forest edge has the transect with higher numbers of colonizers, whereas core forest has the optimum percent of downed coarse. On colonization and relationship, the interaction is either as saprophyte, use as niches or habitat. The organisms are Reptiles, Isopoda, Hymenoptera and Herbs. Among the animate thing, forest edge possess more and diverse colonizers.