Key Roles of Dipterocarpaceae, Bark Type Diversity and Tree Size in Lowland Rainforests of Northeast Borneo-Using Functional Traits of Lichens to Distinguish Plots of Old Growth and Regenerating Logged Forests.

Holger Thüs,Glen Reynolds,Gothamie Weerakoon,Dan Carpenter,Paul Eggleton,Robert J Mrowicki,Charles S Vairappan,Pat Wolseley

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9030541

Abstract

Many lowland rainforests in Southeast Asia are severely altered by selective logging and there is a need for rapid assessment methods to identify characteristic communities of old growth forests and to monitor restoration success in regenerating forests. We have studied the effect of logging on the diversity and composition of lichen communities on trunks of trees in lowland rainforests of northeast Borneo dominated by Dipterocarpaceae. Using data from field observations and vouchers collected from plots in disturbed and undisturbed forests, we compared a taxonomy-based and a taxon-free method. Vouchers were identified to genus or genus group and assigned to functional groups based on sets of functional traits. Both datasets allowed the detection of significant differences in lichen communities between disturbed and undisturbed forest plots. Bark type diversity and the proportion of large trees, particularly those belonging to the family Dipterocarpaceae, were the main drivers of lichen community structure. Our results confirm the usefulness of a functional groups approach for the rapid assessment of tropical lowland rainforests in Southeast Asia. A high proportion of Dipterocarpaceae trees is revealed as an essential element for the restoration of near natural lichen communities in lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Highlights

Introduction iationsTropical forests are under threat from intensified land use and continue either to be altered or to disappear altogether at a high rate [1]
In total we studied eight plots at each of Maliau and Danum and six at SAFE with 12 trees per plot
Within the SAFE plots only 4 Dipterocarpaceae trees remained contributing to 5.5% of trees sampled

Summary

Introduction

Introduction iationsTropical forests are under threat from intensified land use and continue either to be altered or to disappear altogether at a high rate [1]. Efforts are made to select high priority sites for conservation as well as setting aside areas that have undergone some form of deterioration in the past but are on a path to recovery [2]. Identifying high quality forest remnants and monitoring recovery in regenerating forests requires quick assessment methodologies in order to guide limited resources for conservation to the most valuable sites and to enable monitoring of the success of recovery in regenerating or newly established forests [3,4]. The diversity of lichenised fungi species and their associated functional traits decreases in disturbed forests across the world and in turn can be used to assess levels of disturbance [5,6]. Lichens are multi-organism systems [7,8] with usually one fungal taxon

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Discussion

Conclusion