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Quantifying the biodiversity value of repeatedly logged rainforests: gradient and comparative approaches from Borneo

Struebig, Matthew J., Turner, Anthony, Giles, Emily, Lasmana, Felicia, Tollington, Simon, Bernard, Henry, Bell, Diana (2013) Quantifying the biodiversity value of repeatedly logged rainforests: gradient and comparative approaches from Borneo. Advances in Ecological Research, 48 . pp. 183-224. (doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-417199-2.00003-3) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:34285)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided. (Contact us about this Publication)
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-417199-2.00003...

Abstract

There is substantial variation in the reported effects of logging on tropical forest fauna. In addition to inherent variation in disturbance sensitivity amongst taxa, another contributing factor is that most studies use comparative analyses of unlogged versus logged forests, which cannot fully account for heterogeneity in disturbance as well as underlying environmental gradients. To better understand how logging affects biodiversity we examined changes in bat assemblages across a disturbance gradient ranging from old growth to forest logged several times. In one of the first evaluations of repeatedly logged forest, we use both comparative and gradient analyses to reveal substantial signals in assemblage change in response to habitat alteration.

Despite multiple rounds of extraction in the most degraded forest, neither approach revealed a definitive effect of logging on site-based richness. However, each approach generated insight into assemblage compositional responses to forest degradation. Structural differences were evident between old growth and repeatedly logged forest, and depauperate assemblages characterized degraded sites with low, open canopy. Ordinations identified species that best contributed to the signal of assemblage change, and also key associated forest structure variables. Models of trap-based abundance confirmed the importance of forest height in determining assemblage change, but also the role of tree cavity availability in supporting forest specialists, indicating that efforts to supplement this resource could aid restoration.

Whilst highlighting the ecological importance of unlogged stands, we show that heavily degraded forests – even those that have been repeatedly logged – still hold some potential value for tropical biota, and could have a role in conservation.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/B978-0-12-417199-2.00003-3
Uncontrolled keywords: tropical ecology, habitat disturbance, selective logging, Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems Project, Chiroptera, tree cavities, habitat restoration, Southeast Asia, forest management, conservation
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QH Natural history
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Q Science > QL Zoology
S Agriculture > SD Forestry
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Matthew Struebig
Date Deposited: 13 Jun 2013 09:59 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 12:45 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34285 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Struebig, Matthew J..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2058-8502
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Tollington, Simon.

Creator's ORCID:
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