Conservation of biodiversity in coffee agroecosystems: a tri-taxa comparison in southern Mexico

We compare species richness of birds, fruit-feeding butterflies and ground-foraging ants along a coffee intensification gradient represented by a reduction in the number of species of shade trees and percentage of shade cover in coffee plantations. We sampled the three taxa in the same plots within the same period of time. Two sites were selected in the Soconusco region of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Within each site four habitat types were selected and within each habitat type four points were randomly selected. The habitat types were forest, rustic coffee, diverse shade coffee, and intensive coffee (low density of shade). We found different responses of the three taxa along the intensification gradient. While ants and butterflies generally decrease in species richness with the decrease of shade cover, birds declined in one site but increased in the other. Ant species richness appears to be more resistant to habitat modification, while butterfly species richness appears to be more sensitive. Bird species richness was correlated with distance from forest fragments but not with habitat type, suggesting that scale and landscape structure may be important for more mobile taxa. For each of these taxa, the rustic plantation was the one that maintained species richness most similar to the forest. We found no correlation between the three taxa, suggesting that none of these taxa are good candidates as surrogates for each other. We discuss the implications of these results for the conservation of biodiversity in coffee plantations, in particular, the importance of distinguishing between different levels of shade, and the possibility that different taxa might be responding to habitat changes at different spatial scales.     

From shade- to sun-grown perennial crops in Sulawesi, Indonesia: implications for biodiversity conservation and soil fertility

Traditional, complex forest farming systems are increasingly convertedto sun-grown monocultures throughout the tropics. Biophysical, soil andbiodiversity effects associated with sun- vs. shade-grown coffee and cacao wereinvestigated in a case study in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Canopy height, tree,epiphyte, liana and bird species diversity, vegetation structural complexity,percent ground cover by leaf litter, and soil calcium, nitrate nitrogen andorganic matter levels in the O horizons were all significantly greater in shadedthan in sun-grown farms. In contrast, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), airand soil temperatures, weed diversity and percent ground cover by weeds weresignificantly greater in sun compared to shade farms. At the landscape level,conversion of shade-grown crops to sun conditions isolates protected areas andremnant primary forest fragments. Local cultivators are cognizant of theagronomic and socioeconomic risks associated with sun-grown perennialmonocultures and some are increasing the density and diversity of fruit treecultivation in an effort to provide shade and organic matter, and increase anddiversify crop yields. The maintenance of traditional, complex forest farmingsystems, particularly shade-grown perennial crops, warrants greater attention inagricultural development and biodiversity conservation efforts.     

Medicinal plant ecology, knowledge and conservation in Kalimantan, Indonesia

This study documents the abundance, distribution and knowledge of medicinal plant species in a Ransa Dayak village and adjoining forest in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Over 250 medicinal plant species from 165 genera and 75 families are utilized by the local healer. Late successional, primary and river bench forests contained the highest diversity of locally-utilized medicinal species and the greatest number of species restricted to a single forest type for which alternative species or remedies were unavailable. Epiphytes and trees restricted to primary forests are particularly important sources for plants used to treat unusual ailments. A 100% survey of village residents 15 years of age and older (N = 32) revealed that people older than 25 years of age, and older females in particular, possessed greater knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses than younger people and males. All residents, except the male healer, were more knowledgeable about medicinal plants found in early successional forests than those of primary forests. Commercial logging and the loss of traditional knowledge through acculturation pose twin challenges to the persistence of traditional medicinal plant use in this Ransa village and throughout much of Kalimantan.

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Résumé  Penelitian ini mengumpulkan informasi mengenai keberadaan, penyebaran dan pengetahuan tentang jenis tumbuhan obat di daerah perkampungan Daya’ Ransa dengan hutan sekitarnya di Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. Lebih dari 250 spesies tumbuhan obat dari 165 genus dan 75 suku digunakan oleh dukun setempat. Hutan sekunder tua, hutan primer dan daerah hutan sepanjang pinggir sungai merupakan tipe hutan yang memiliki keanekaragaman dan jenis tumbuhan obat paling tinggi yang hanya tumbuh di tipe hutan tersebut serta tidak adanya jenis tumbuhan obat pengganti untuk mengobati penyakit yang sama di tipe hutan lain. Jenis epipit dan pohon yang ditemukan khusus di hutan primer mempunyai arti sangat penting bagi masyarakat karena digunakan untuk menogobati jenis penyakit yang tidak biasa. Dari survey 100% yang dilakukan terhadap penghuni desa yang usianya lebih dari 15 tahun (N = 32) diketahui bahwa penduduk yang berusia lebih dari 25 tahun, terutama perempuan berusia tua, mempunyai pengetahuan yang lebih banyak mengenai pemanfaatan tumbuhan obat dibandingkan dengan laki-laki dan perempuan yang lebih muda. Seluruh penduduk, kecuali sang dukun, lebih mengetahui pemanfaatan tumbuhan obat yang tumbuh di hutan sekunder muda dibandingkan dengan tumbuhan obat yang tumbuh di hutan primer. Kegiatan pembalakan hutan berskala besar (HPH) dan hilangnya pengetahuan tradisional lewat perubahan budaya adalah dua tantangan yang dihadapi untuk dapat mempertahankan pemakaian dan melestarikan tumbuhan obat di kampung ini khususnya dan di seluruh Kalimantan umumnya.

     

Sago Palm (Metroxylon Sagu, Arecaceae) production in the Eastern Archipelago of Indonesia: Variation in morphological characteristics and pith dry-matter yield

Eleven local varieties of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) in southeast and north Sulawesi and in northern Maluku were studied: one variety with a weak black band on the back of the petiole: three varieties with a brown band on the back of the petiole: seven bandless varieties comprising two spineless, four short spine and one long spine types. Large variation in morphological characteristics and pith dry-matter yield were estimated at 13 to 34% and 55%, respectively. The difference in pith dry-matter yield is mainly attributed to trunk diameter and dry-matter percentage of pith. Trunk diameter was not affected by the length of growth period, which might reflect the palm’s own characteristics, such as genetic background and growth environment. The dry-matter percentage of pith was not related to any characteristics measured. The pith dry-matter yield was highest in the short spine type, followed by the spineless and the long spine types.

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Produksi Palma Sagu (Metroxylon Sagu, Arecaceae) Di Kepulauan Timur Indonesia: Keragaman Karakteristik Morfologi Dan Hasil Bahan Kering Empulur Batang

Résumé  Dalam survey tersebut dipelajari sebelas varitas sagu lokal (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) di Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, dan Maluku Utara: satu varitas dengan pita sedikit hitam pada bagian belakang dari tulang daun: tiga varitas dengan pita coklat pada bagian belakang belakang dari tulang daun: tujuh varitas tanpa pita terdiri dari dua varitas tanpa duri, empat varitas duri pendek dan satu varitas duri panjang. Terdapat adanya keragaman pada karakteristik morfologi dan hasil bahan kering empulur batang yang diperkirakan beriurut-turut berkisar 13 sampai 34% dan 55%. Perbedaan pada hasil bahan kering empulur batang terutama tergantung pada diameter batang dan proporsi kering empulur batang. Diameter batang tidak dipengaruhi oleh panjangnya periode tumbuh; namun nampaknya lebih terkait dengan gambaran karakteristik khusus, seperti latar belakang genetik dan lingkungan tumbuhnya.Persen bobot kering empulur batang tidak ada hubungannya dengan berbagai karakteristik yang diteliti. Hasil bahan kering empulur batang tertinggi adalah pada tipe duri pendek (511kg/batang), diikuti tipe tanpa duri (417kg/batang) dan tipe duri panjang (329kg/batang).