Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T00:18:23.408Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Catherine Kemper  and
David T. Bell
Catherine Kemper
Affiliation:
South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
David T. Bell
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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.

Keywords

habitat utilizationMalaysiarain forestrodentstree shrew
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , February 1985 , pp. 5 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Adam, F. 1977. Données preliminaires sur l'habitat et la stratification des rongeurs en forêt de Basse Côte-d'ivoire. Mammalia 41:283–290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allbrook, R.J. 1973. The soils of Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negri Sembilan. Malayan Forester 36:22–33.Google Scholar
Ashton, P. S. 1976. Mixed dipterocarp forest and its variation with habitat in the Malayan lowlands: a re-evaluation at Pasoh. Malayan Forester 39:56–72.Google Scholar
Ashton, P. S. 1978. Vegetation and soil association in tropical forests. Malayan Nature Journal 30: 225–228.Google Scholar
Austin, M. P., Ashton, P. S. & Greig-Smith, P. 1972. The application of quantitative methods to vegetation survey III. A re-examination of rain forest data from Brunei. Journal of Ecology 60:305–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnett, J. L., How, R. A. & Humphreys, W. F. 1978. The use of habitat components by small mammals in eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 3:277–285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BourliÈre, F. 1973. The comparative ecology of rain forest mammals in Africa and tropical America: some introductory remarks. Pp. 279–292 in Meggers, B. J., Ayensu, E. S. & Duckworth, W. D. (eds). Tropical forest ecosystems in Africa and South America: a comparative review. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington. 350 pp.Google Scholar
Braithwaite, L. W., Dudzinski, M. L. & Turner, J. 1983. Studies on the arboreal marsupial fauna of eucalypt forests being harvested for woodpulp at Eden, N.S.W. II. Relationship between the fauna density, richness and diversity, and measured variables of the habitat. Australian Wildlife Research 10:231–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burgess, P. J. 1969. Ecological factors in hill and mountain forests of the States of Malaya. Malayan Nature Journal 22:119–128.Google Scholar
Dale, M. B. & Williams, W. T. 1978. A new method of species reduction for ecological data. Australian Journal of Ecology 3:1–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delany, M. J. 1971. The biology of small rodents in Mayanja Forest, Uganda. Journal of Zoology, London 165:85–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diong, C. H. 1973. Studies of the Malayan wild pig in Perak and Johore. Malayan Nature Journal 26:120–151.Google Scholar
Dransfield, J. 1969. Palms in the Malayan forest. Malayan Nature Journal 22:144–151.Google Scholar
Emmons, L. H. 1980. Ecology and resource partitioning among nine species of African rain forest squirrels. Ecological Monographs 50:31–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emmons, L. H. & Gentry, A. H. 1983. Tropical forest structure and the distribution of gliding and prehensile-tailed vertebrates. American Naturalist 121:513–524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fleming, T. H. 1970. Notes on the rodent faunas of two Panamanian forests. Journal of Mammalogy 51:473–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gauch, H. G. Jr. 1977. Ordiflex – a flexible computer program for four ordination techniques: weighted averages, polar ordination, principle components analysis, and reciprical averaging. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.125 pp.Google Scholar
Happold, D. C. D. 1977. A population study on small rodents in the tropical rain forest of Nigeria. Terre et Vie 31:385–457.Google Scholar
Harrison, J. L. 1957. Habitat of some Malayan rats. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 128:1–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, J. L. 1958. Range of movement of some Malayan rats. Journal of Mammalogy 39:190–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, J. L. 1962. The distribution and feeding habits among animals in a tropical rain forest. Journal of Animal Ecology 34:53–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, J. L. 1969. The abundance and population density of mammals in Malayan lowland forests. Malayan Nature Journal 22:174–178.Google Scholar
Hartshorn, G. S. 1978. Tree falls and tropical forest dynamics. Pp. 617–638 in Tomlinson, P. B. & Zimmerman, M. H. (eds). Tropical trees as living systems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.675 pp.Google Scholar
Hubert, B., Leprun, J.-C. & Poulet, A. 1977. Importance æcologique des facteurs ædaphiques dans la ræpartition spatiale de quelques Rongeurs au Sænægal. Mammalia 41:35'59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kato, R., Tadaki, Y. & Ogawa, H. 1978. Plant biomass and growth increment studies at Pasoh Forest. Malayan Nature Journal 30:211–224.Google Scholar
Kira, T. 1978. Community architecture and organic matter dynamics in tropical lowland rain forests of Southeast Asia with special reference to Pasoh Forest, West Malaysia. Pp. 561–590 in Tomlinson, P. B. & Zimmerman, M. H. (eds). Tropical trees as living systems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 675 pp.Google Scholar
Knight, D. H. 1975. An analysis of late secondary succession in species-rich tropical forest. Pp. 53–59 in Golley, F. & Medina, E. (eds). Tropical ecological systems. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 398 pp.Google Scholar
Labang, D. & Medway, Lord. 1979. Preliminary assessments of the diversity and density of wild mammals, man and birds in alluvial forest in the Gunong Mulu National Park, Sarawak. Pp. 53–62 in G.Marshall, A. Marshall, A. (ed.). The abundance of animals in Malesian rain forests. Transactions of the Sixth Aberdeen-Hull Symposium on Malesian Ecology. University of Hull (Department of Geography Miscellaneous Series No. 22), Hull. 133 pp.Google Scholar
Leigh, E. G. 1975. Structure and climate in tropical rain forest. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 6:67–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
L., Lim B. 1970. Distribution, relative abundance, food habits, and parasite patterns of giant rats (Rattus) in West Malaysia. Journal of Mammalogy 51:730–740.Google Scholar
L., Lim B., Muul, I. & S., Chai K. 1977. Zoonotic studies of small mammals in the canopy transect at Bukit Lanjan Forest Reserve, Selangor, Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 31:127–140.Google Scholar
Mackinnon, K. S. 1978. Stratification and feeding differences among Malayan squirrels. Malayan Nature Journal 30:593–608.Google Scholar
Madge, D.S. 1965. Leaf fall and litter disappearance in a tropical forest. Pedobiologia 5:273–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matsumoto, T. 1976. The role of termites in an equatorial rain forest ecosystem of West Malaysia. I. Population density, biomass, carbon, nitrogen and calorific content and respiration rate. Oecologia 22:153–178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Medway, .Lord 1972. The Gunong Benom Expedition 1967. 6. The distribution and altitudinal zonation of birds and mammals on Gunong Benom. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Zoology) 23:105–154.Google Scholar
Medway, , Lord 1978. The wild mammals of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) and Singapore. (2nd edn.) Oxford University Press, Kuala Lumpur. 128 pp.Google Scholar
Musser, G. G. 1981. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 105. Notes on the systematics of Indo-Malayan murid rodents, and descriptions of new genera and species from Ceylon, Sulawesi, and the Philippines. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 168:1–334.Google Scholar
Musser, G. G., Marshall, J. T. Jr.. & Boeadi, . 1979. Definition and contents of the Sundaic genus Maxomys (Rodentia, Muridae). Journal of Mammalogy 60:592–606.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Musser, G. G. & Newcombe, C. 1983. Malaysian murids and the giant rat of Sumatra. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 174:329–598.Google Scholar
Muul, I. 1978. Small mammal populations in zoonotic disease and toxicological studies. Pp. 208–223 in Snyder, D. P.(ed.). Populations of small mammals under natural condtions. Special Publication Series, Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, Vol. 5, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh. 237 pp.Google Scholar
Muul, I. & L., Lim B. 1970. Vertical zonation in a tropical rainforest in Malaysia: method of study. Science 169:788–789.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nie, N. H., Hull, C. H., Jenkins, J. G., Steinbrenner, K. & Bent, D. H. 1975. Statistical packge for social sciences. McGraw-Hill, New York. 675 pp.Google Scholar
Orloci, L. 1967. An agglomerative method for the classification of plant communities. Journal of Ecology 55:193–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Payne, J. B. 1980. Competitors. Pp. 261–277 in Chivers, D. J. (ed.). Malayan forest primates. Plenum Press, New York. 364 pp.Google Scholar
Raemaekers, J. J., Aldrich-Blake, F. P. G. & Payne, J. B. 1980. The forest. Pp. 29–61 in Chivers, D. J. (ed.). Malayan forest primates. Plenum Press, New York. 364 pp.Google Scholar
Richards, P. W. 1952. The tropical rain forest. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 450 pp.Google Scholar
Richards, P. W. 1978. Pasoh in perspective. Malayan Nature Journal 30:145–148.Google Scholar
Richards, P. W. & Williamson, G. B. 1975. Treefalls and patterns of understorey species in a wet lowland tropical rainforest. Ecology 56:1226–1229.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rudd, R. L. 1965. Weight and growth in Malaysian rain forest mammals. Journal of Mammalogy 46:588–594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nor., Salleh Bin Mohd. 1968. Forest resources reconnaissance survey of Malaya, report No. 21. Jelebu District, Negri Sembilan. Forest Research Institute, Kuala Lumpur.Google Scholar
Soepadmo, E. 1978. Introduction to the Malaysian I.B.P. Synthesis Meetings. Malayan Nature Journal 30:119–124.Google Scholar
Stevens, W. 1968. Habitat requirements of Malayan mammals. Malayan Nature Journal 22:3–9.Google Scholar
Suckling, G. C. & Heislers, A. 1978. Populations of four small mammals in radiata pine plantations and eucalypt forests of north-eastern Victoria. Australian Wildlife Research 5:305–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Webb, L. J. 1959. A physiognomic classification of Australian rain forests. Journal of Ecology 47:551–570.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Webb, L. J., Tracey, J. G. & Williams, W. T. 1976. The value of structural features in tropical forest typology. Australian Journal of Ecology 1:3–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
K., Wong Y. & Whitmore, T. C. 1970. On the influence of soil properties on species distribution in a Malayan lowland dipterocarp rain forest. Malayan Forester 33:42–54.Google Scholar
H., Wood. D. 1971. The ecology of Rattus fuscipes and Melomys cervinipes (Rodentia: Muridae) in a south-east Queensland rain forest. Australian Journal of Zoology 19:371–392.Google Scholar
Yoda, K. 1978. Organic carbon, nitrogen and mineral nutrient stock in the soils of Pasoh Forest. Malaya Nature Journal 30:229–251.Google Scholar
Yoneda, T., Yoda, K. & Kira, T. 1978. Accumulation and decomposition of wood litter in Pasoh Forest. Malayan Nature Journal 30:381–389.Google Scholar