Impact of Forest Fragment on Bird Community at the Bukit Kuantan Rubber Forest Plantation

Radhiah Abdul Kadir,Mohd Ikram Mohammad,Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli,Y Asih Purwestri,G Wirakusuma,W Dyah Sawitri,S Subandiyah,I Yoga Prasada,P Montoro,A Dewi,K Restu Susilo

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202130505004

Radhiah Abdul Kadir, Mohd Ikram Mohammad + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202130505004

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Abstract

Realizing the potential of expanding rubber forest plantations in Malaysia and the increasing awareness of biodiversity, the Bukit Kuantan rubber forest plantation portrays its ecofriendly nature through several initiatives such as conservation of natural forest fragment within the plantation landscape. By using birds as an indicator, this work aims for a favourable outcome from conservation of the forest fragment and investigate bird diversity in relation to distance from the forest fragment into the rubber forest plantation area. The number of bird species recorded is high in the forest fragment i.e., 45 species, however, the number steadily declined with distance. Likewise, species diversity is high in the forest fragment, H’ = 3.404 but declined with distance. Fourteen (14) species are exclusively found in the forest fragment. Through the findings, it can be deduced that the presence of forest fragment helps to increase bird diversity in the rubber forest plantation, although continuous research is still required to understand how the presence of forest fragment sustains the biodiversity within a plantation landscape.

Highlights

Concern over the expansion of land area for plantation is growing especially in Southeast Asia (Aratrakorn et al, 2006; Cotter et al, 2009; Aziz et al, 2010; Achondo et al, 2011; Behm et al, 2013; Warren-Thomas et al 2015)
The study was conducted at the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) Rubber Research Station located in Bukit Kuantan, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (3°59’18.3”N 103°14’48.0”E)
The locality was formerly a logged forest area before it was converted into a rubber forest plantation that is managed by the MRB

Summary

Introduction

Concern over the expansion of land area for plantation is growing especially in Southeast Asia (Aratrakorn et al, 2006; Cotter et al, 2009; Aziz et al, 2010; Achondo et al, 2011; Behm et al, 2013; Warren-Thomas et al 2015). From the ecological perspective, such establishment would result in biodiversity-poor ecosystem and species with low conservation status (Aratrakorn et al 2006) Despite this and without depriving the importance of agriculture, many researchers are still urging th at plantations may be fostered into an area that is rich in biodiversity (Norton, 1998; Najera and Simonetti, 2009). By having a diverse tree and shrubs in term of structure and floristically, scientist believe that it could increase the diversity of an area in term of species density, species abundance and species richness (Perfecto et al, 2004; Najera and Simonetti, 2010; Achondo et al, 2011) These practices could help to shift the poor biodiversity plantations to a less hostile environment. Many research ers urge current plantation managers to restructure their plantation management for them to continue their production without eliminating ecological aspects

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