Importance of riparian reserves and other forest fragments for small mammal diversity in disturbed and converted forest landscapes

The primary objective of this study was to document the species richness, community composition of the small mammals in riparian remnants within oil palm plantation and in degraded forests. The purpose is to assess the value of retaining riparian remnants within oil palm plantation and logged forest habitats for small mammals conservation. Main questions 1. Is there a difference in species richness and community composition of small mammals in riparian remnants within oil palm and logged forests? 2. What effects do maintaining riparian remnants in oil palm and logged forests have on small mammal diversity? 3. Does the structure and width of riparian remnants in oil palm and logged forests affect small mammal species diversity? 4. How does the structure of riparian reserves could be managed to improve the extent to which they retain small mammals communities in oil palm and logged forests? Methods Sampling will be conducted at several sites representing four habitat treatments: (1) riparian reserves in old growth forests as control treatment (at Maliau Basin Conservation Area); (2) riparian reserves of different widths in logged forests (SAFE project area); (3) riparian remnants of different widths in oil palm (south of SAFE project area); and (4) oil palm without any riparian remnants (south of SAFE project area). In addition, sampling was conducted in other forest remnants within oil palm habitats. Each habitat treatment will be represented by three sites serving as replicates. Used a grid trapping of 4 x 12 grid points (23m spacing) for sampling the small mammals. We shall establish one grid at each site with 48 trap stations. Two wire-mesh cage traps (28 x 15 x 12.5 cm), baited with oil palm fruits, will be placed at each station. Trapping of small mammals and searchers for amphibians will be conducted in four sampling sessions. In each session we will visit randomly four sites representing the four habitat treatments. Each sampling session at each site will last for four months. Overall, each habitat treatment will be sampled three times over a 12 months period. The following variables will be collected for each sampling site to characterize the habitat structure: canopy cover, number of large and small logs, number of large and small trees, percentage leaf litter cover and other variables that may influence the distribution and abundance of small mammals.

Authors

• Bernard, Henry — Universiti Malaysia Sabah
• Hee, Kueh Boon — Universiti Malaysia Sabah
• Wong, Anna — Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Keywords

• small mammals
• SAFE project
• rats
• squirrels
• tree shrews

Funders

• Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Permits

• Research — Sabah biodiversity council (Local)

Worksheets

Files

• UMS_Small_mammal_data.xlsx

Taxa

49 GBIF taxa, 0 sequence-derived taxa.