From Forest to Ffarmland: Butterfly Diversity and Habitat Associations Along a Gradient of Forest Conversion in Southwestern Cameroon

Worldwide, tropical landscapes are increasingly dominated by human land use systems and natural forest cover is decreasing rapidly. We studied frugivorous butterflies and several vegetation parameters in 24 sampling stations distributed over near-primary forest (NF), secondary forest (SF), agroforestry and annual culture sites in the Northeastern part of the Korup region, SW Cameroon. As in other studies, both butterfly species richness and abundance were significantly affected by habitat modification. Butterfly richness and abundance were highest in SF and agroforestry sites and significantly lower in NF and annual crop sites. Butterfly species richness increased significantly with increasing tree density, but seemed to decrease with increasing herb diversity and density in annual crop farms. A significant negative correlation was found between butterfly geographic range and their preference for NF sites. Our results also showed that agroforestry systems, containing remnants of natural forest, can help to sustain high site richness, but appear to have low complementarity through loss of endemic species confined to more undisturbed habitats. Our study also indicated that the abundance of selected restricted-range butterflies, particularly in the family Nymphalidae, appears to be a good indicator to assess and monitor forest disturbance.     

Zonation of forest vegetation and soils of Mount Cameroon,West Africa

Mount Cameroon is an active volcano in a wet part of West Africa. The forest vegetation and associated soils on its southern slopes were studied in 1989, 1991 and 1995 in coupled 0.25 ha plots at altitudes of 180, 600, 1,100, 1,800 and 2,180 m. All lianas and trees >10 cm dbh were enumerated and their structural features quantified. The forests were of large stature throughout. The strangling Schefflera species made a substantial contribution to the very high basal areas at 1,800 m. The associated soils were dominated by andisols derived from volcanic ash that showed a distinct increase with altitude in soil organic matter and total N attributed to lower temperatures. Soil pH, exchangeable K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, effective cation-exchange capacity and percentage base saturation showed very marked increases explained by the influence of recent volcanic ashfalls. Available N and P showed less distinct trends with altitude. Although there is a large decrease in tree species richness with altitude, forest stand growth (as compared on a basal area basis) does not appear to be limited by soil fertility or temperature. The forest line (altitude treeline and extensive gaps below it) appear to be controlled by periodic volcanic activity, ashfalls and lava flows, which can destroy existing forest through soil burial and fire effects and inhibit regrowth on bare lava flows and deep deposits of volcanic ash.     

西双版纳自然保护区勐养片土地利用模式研究

在应用农村快速评估法和参与性农村评估法调查现存土地利用方式的基础上,区分出生态旅游、农场种植园和乡村农业等3种基本的土地利用模式.乡村农业土地利用又分为传统模式、粮作模式、多种经营模式和产销协作模式.对比分析表明,土地利用模式是自然环境多样性和文化传统多样性综合作用的结果,从乡村农业土地利用的传统模式到生态旅游,是研究区特定生态环境条件下土地利用趋同发展的不同阶段.土地利用模式的变化从根本上减少了农业用地和提高土地产出效率,促进了地区生物多样性保护和社会经济可持续发展,也有利于宏扬优秀传统.     

Landscape patterns of species-level association between ground-beetles and overstory trees in boreal forests of western Canada (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Spatial associations between species of trees and ground-beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) involve many indirect ecological processes, likely reflecting the function of numerous forest ecosystem components. Describing and quantifying these associations at the landscape scale is basic to the development of a surrogate-based framework for biodiversity monitoring and conservation. In this study, we used a systematic sampling grid covering 84 km(2) of boreal mixedwood forest to characterize the ground-beetle assemblage associated with each tree species occurring on this landscape. Projecting the distribution of relative basal area of each tree species on the beetle ordination diagram suggests that the carabid community is structured by the same environmental factors that affects the distribution of trees, or perhaps even by trees per se. Interestingly beetle species are associated with tree species of the same rank order of abundance on this landscape, suggesting that conservation of less abundant trees will concomitantly foster conservation of less abundant beetle species. Landscape patterns of association described here are based on characteristics that can be directly linked to provincial forest inventories, providing a basis that is already available for use of tree species as biodiversity surrogates in boreal forest land management.     

西双版纳热带季节雨林的研究

本文以多个样方的资料分析,从群落综合特征上研究了西双版纳热带季节雨林的特点和类型、物种组成、生活型谱、叶级谱等。根据上层标志树种、群落生态外貌特征和生境把西双版纳的热带季节雨林区分为低丘雨林和沟谷雨林二个群系组,各包括若干群系。低丘雨林中面积最大和最有代表性的群系是大药树、龙果林,而沟谷雨林中最有代表性的群系是番龙眼、千果榄仁林。二者相比,低丘雨林的物种多样性要小一些,附生植物相对少一些,小、矮高位芽植物和小叶、落叶树种比例稍高,在生态上向季雨林和热带山地的常绿阔叶林过渡,有更强的地方代表性。沟谷雨林则更接近典型的湿热带雨林。     

农业区城市化对植物多样性的影响:遵化的研究

选择河北省遵化市(39°55'～40°22'N,117°34'～118°14'E),调查了城郊和乡村在东南西北4个方向上以及市区的植物多样性,同时考察了不同取样点土壤养分的差异结果表明,西部和北部接近,而东部和南部的土壤养分特殊,城郊与乡村明显差异;西部物种丰富度低于其它方向,而南部最高,这种差异由草本造成;城市与东南西北4个方向的生物多样性差异明显;城市植物多样性与城郊和乡村呈现梯度变化;本研究统计的物种总数只有126种,而与之同纬度的北京东灵山区却有高等植物997种.城市化的影响是引进了一些观赏物种,区域地形和土壤养分等自然特征的影响微弱.     

Plantation forests and biodiversity: oxymoron or opportunity?

Losses of natural and semi-natural forests, mostly to agriculture, are a significant concern for biodiversity. Against this trend, the area of intensively managed plantation forests increases, and there is much debate about the implications for biodiversity. We provide a comprehensive review of the function of plantation forests as habitat compared with other land cover, examine the effects on biodiversity at the landscape scale, and synthesise context-specific effects of plantation forestry on biodiversity. Natural forests are usually more suitable as habitat for a wider range of native forest species than plantation forests but there is abundant evidence that plantation forests can provide valuable habitat, even for some threatened and endangered species, and may contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by various mechanisms. In landscapes where forest is the natural land cover, plantation forests may represent a low-contrast matrix, and afforestation of agricultural land can assist conservation by providing complementary forest habitat, buffering edge effects, and increasing connectivity. In contrast, conversion of natural forests and afforestation of natural non-forest land is detrimental. However, regional deforestation pressure for agricultural development may render plantation forestry a ‘lesser evil’ if forest managers protect indigenous vegetation remnants. We provide numerous context-specific examples and case studies to assist impact assessments of plantation forestry, and we offer a range of management recommendations. This paper also serves as an introduction and background paper to this special issue on the effects of plantation forests on biodiversity.

A comparison of bird communities of two fragmented and two continuous southeast Asian rainforests

A large proportion of forest-dependent bird species have disappearedfrom Singapore, probably due to heavy forest loss that started in the 1800s. Thebird fauna seems to have relaxed (attained a lower and relatively stablediversity following habitat destruction) in Singapore. Using mist-netting, Icompared understory bird communities of two lowland rainforest fragments inSingapore (Nee Soon and MacRitchie) with two continuous forests in Sarawak(Malaysia) (Matang Wildlife Sanctuary and Gunung Gading National Park). Icompared community characteristics (e.g. rarity [<2 individuals/1000mist-netting hours]), population characteristics (e.g. sex ratio) and individualquality (e.g. prevalence of ectoparasites) among avifaunas of the forests. Onaverage, more bird species and individuals were caught in continuous foreststhan in fragments. There were more rare species in Gading. The proportion ofadults and the sex ratios did not differ among the forests. Ectoparasiteprevalence and intensity also did not differ among the forests. Proportionallymore individuals contained fault bars in MacRitchie. My study shows that aviancommunities in rainforest fragments are depauperate but show few signs ofenvironmental stress. Thus there may be long-term resilience in some forest birdspecies. However, it is essential to protect large tracts of tropical lowlandrainforest to preserve rare forest-dependent avifauna.     

农业区域市化对植物多样性的影响：遵化的研究

选择河北省遵化市(39°55'～40°22'N,117°34'～118°14'E),调查了城郊和乡村在东南西北4个方向上以及市区的植物多样性,同时考察了不同取样点土壤养分的差异结果表明,西部和北部接近,而东部和南部的土壤养分特殊,城郊与乡村明显差异;西部物种丰富度低于其它方向,而南部最高,这种差异由草本造成;城市与东南西北4个方向的生物多样性差异明显;城市植物多样性与城郊和乡村呈现梯度变化;本研究统计的物种总数只有126种,而与之同纬度的北京东灵山区却有高等植物997种.城市化的影响是引进了一些观赏物种,区域地形和土壤养分等自然特征的影响微弱.     

Ecosystem services across the aquatic–terrestrial boundary: Linking ponds to pollination

Many small farmland ponds are built for nutrient retention, the conservation of biodiversity or both, yet they are relatively neglected habitats. For example, little is known about the potential for ponds to influence populations of beneficial terrestrial insects, deliver ecosystem services across the aquatic–terrestrial boundary and affect crop yield in insect-pollinated cash crops.We assessed whether the presence of a pond affects the abundance of pollinators and the quality and quantity of strawberry yield. We compared the abundance of pollinators and the quality and quantity of strawberries between habitats adjacent to the pond, semi-natural terrestrial habitat and field border without semi-natural vegetation (control habitat).We found significantly higher abundances of syrphids and bees next to ponds compared to control habitats. Also, syrphids were significantly more abundant at pond habitats compared to vegetation habitats and a similar tendency, although not significant, was found for the abundance of bees. The quantity and quality of strawberries was significantly higher near the vegetation and pond habitats compared to the control habitats.Our result supports the theory that the presence of semi-natural habitats, in the agricultural landscape benefits both public interest in biodiversity conservation and farmers’ interest in crop pollination. These benefits may also come from ponds as semi natural habitats. However, further studies are required to disentangle the effect of the pond per se and the effect of the associated terrestrial vegetation.     

Land-cover change: quantification metrics for perforation using 2-D gap features

Perforation or gap formation in a vegetation is a major process in landscape transformation. The occurrence of gaps profoundly alters the microclimatical conditions in a vegetation. A method is proposed to quantify perforation by using the three main 2-D characteristics of the gaps: area, number and boundary length. New measures are developed by normalizing the observed values to the reference status of minimum and maximum perforation. As minimum perforation status, the presence of one single gap with area equal to the map resolution is assumed. The new measures are combined using a 3-D Euclidean distance to visualize the process and to detect changes. The method is exemplified using a field case of gaps in a tropical terra firme rainforest at Tiputini, Ecuador.     

Agroforestry systems conserve species-rich but modified assemblages of tropical birds and bats

Although an increasing number of studies have shown that diverse, multi-strata agroforestry systems can contribute to the conservation of tropical biodiversity, there is still debate about how the biodiversity within agroforestry systems compares to that of intact forest and alternative land uses. In order to assess the relative importance of agroforestry systems for biodiversity conservation, we characterized bat and bird assemblages occurring in forests, two types of agroforestry systems (cacao and banana) and plantain monocultures in the indigenous reserves of Talamanca, Costa Rica. A total of 2,678 bats of 45 species were captured, and 3,056 birds of 224 species were observed. Agroforestry systems maintained bat assemblages that were as (or more) species-rich, abundant and diverse as forests, had the same basic suite of dominant species, but contained more nectarivorous bats than forests. Agroforestry systems also contained bird assemblages that were as abundant, species-rich and diverse as forests; however the species composition of these assemblages was highly modified, with fewer forest dependent species, more open area species and different dominant species. The plantain monocultures had highly modified and depauperate assemblages of both birds and bats. Across land uses, bird diversity and species richness were more closely correlated with the structural and floristic characteristics than were bats, suggesting potential taxon-specific responses to different land uses. Our results indicate that diverse cacao and banana agroforestry systems contribute to conservation efforts by serving as habitats to high numbers of bird and bat species, including some, but not all, forest-dependent species and species of known conservation concern. However, because the animal assemblages in agroforestry systems differ from those in forests, the maintenance of forests within the agricultural landscape is critical for conserving intact assemblages at the landscape level.     

Contribution of tree species to the biodiversity of a 1ha Old World rainforest in Brunei, Borneo

Tree biodiversity data is presented for a 1-ha permanent study plot on a low slope position of the Kuala Belalong valley in Temburong District, Brunei, Borneo. This is the first study in the region to document the tree flora of a low slope. All trees 5cm at 1.3m were mapped, measurements of dbh and height taken, and identified to species and morpho-species level. The total and relative values of each family for density, diversity, dominance and Importance Value Indices were calculated. A total of 1062 stems were recorded on the plot (1019 live, 43 dead) with a total of 278 species representing 110 genera in 49 families. The most ecologically significant family as determined by the Family Importance Value (FIV) was Euphorbiaceae with a value of 40 and'the'most significant species, using the Importance Value (IV), was morpho-speciesFordia splendissima with an IV of 29. The total basal area of all living trees was 31.43m². Forest structure was marked by a few tall (>45m) emergents, for example,Koompassia excelsa, Crypteronia griffithii and two species of the Dipterocarpaceae family, however, lower understorey and sub-canopy species dominated the plot with the average height of all individuals over the hectare being 11m.     

西双版纳热带雨林聚果榕小蜂的传粉生态学

对聚果榕小蜂（Ceratosolen sp.)传粉生态学进行了首次研究。结果表明,聚果榕小蜂的雄蜂比雄蜂早羽化数小时;雄蜂羽化不能自行打开瘿花和果肉出蜂口,两个出蜂口均需雄蜂开凿,而聚果榕的成熟花粉,不能自行地从开裂处散发出来,必须经榕小蜂的繁殖性雌蜂采集才能散到表面,羽化后的雌蜂的开裂的雄花中不停地用触角柄节,口器上颚和足推动和采集花粉,雄蜂飞出熟榕果寻找嫩隐头花果,一般在外飞5－80min,雌蜂进入嫩聚果榕的隐头花果内后,立即把粘附在足,头触角和身上的花粉不停地推动到长柱头雌花中,授粉行为长达4－9h,然后,才把卵产在短柱头雌花中。     

Wild trees in the Amazon basin harbor a great diversity of beneficial endosymbiotic fungi: is this evidence of protective mutualism?

It has been shown that the disappearance of, or drastic changes in, ancestral and indigenous (or native) endosymbiotic microbiota can lead to many adverse health consequences. However, the effects of changes in beneficial endosymbionts in plants are poorly known (except for mycorrhizal and rhizobial associations). We sampled and compared endophytes from hundreds of trees belonging to the economically important genus Hevea, the source of natural rubber, in their native range in the Amazon basin and in plantations. We also conducted antagonism tests to determine the potential effects that some of these endophytes may have on selected plant pathogenic fungi. The natural and indigenous endosymbiotic mycota of the rubber tree (Hevea) contains a high diversity of beneficial fungi that may protect against pathogens (protective mutualism). In contrast, plantation trees have a reduced and different diversity of these beneficial fungi. We propose that abundance, and not just presence, of competitive fungal strains and species (i.e., Trichoderma and Tolypocladium) create a protective effect against pathogens in wild trees. This study provides support for the importance of mutualistic endosymbionts in plant health and ecosystem resilience, and calls for awareness of their potential loss by human-related activities.     

The impact of land conversion on plant biodiversity in the forest zone of Cameroon

Floristic surveys were carried out in different land use systems(primary and secondary forest, fallows of different ages, cocoa plantations,crop fields) within the forest zone of Cameroon, to assess the impact of landconversion on above-ground plant biodiversity. Beside various diversity studies,plant density was measured and diameter at breast height was estimated.The results showed that the forest areas, which represent thehistoric biodiversity of the region, preserve the greatest number of species(160 species in primary forest and 171 in secondary forest). Our resultsindicate the relatively great importance of secondary forests as refuge areasfor primary forest plant species that may function as a starting point forpossible regeneration of original biodiversity. Species richness is reducedprogressively from the original forest (160 spp.) and secondary forests (171spp.), to Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) fallow fields(149 spp.), to an old fallow field (139 spp.), to a cocoa plantation (116 spp.)and to the farmland (64 spp.), where only weeds and crops contribute essentiallyto plant biodiversity. Also the number of species that are used for non-timberproducts (construction, food and medicines) decreased with increased landconversion.