Teak plantations are complementary habitat for the Green Peafowl movement within the fragmented Bago Yoma range, south-central Myanmar

Abstract

Abstract Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation following intensive agricultural expansion, and both legal and illegal logging, have contributed to the rapid decline of the Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) over mainland Southeast Asia. Dry forest habitat in the Bago Yoma range (Myanmar) is considered one of the region’s last remaining strongholds for the species. However, the area has been fragmented over the past years, mostly due to large-scale teak (Tectona grandis) plantations. This study aimed to estimate the Green Peafowl population in the Bago Yoma range with a particular focus on the use of large-scale teak plantations as possible complementary habitat for the species. The survey was conducted over 47 line transects located in the natural forest and teak plantations. The average estimated density, using distance sampling, was 0.800 calling males km–2 across the whole survey area. Estimated densities were similar within the natural forest and teak plantations (0.825 and 0.866 calling males km–2, respectively), suggesting an extensive use of this crop by Green Peafowl. The remaining suitable habitat covered an area of 8,554 km2 divided into 8 large forest patches (>40 km2). When including large-scale teak plantations in the landscape matrix, more suitable habitat fragments could be connected to each other, with the remaining suitable habitat grouped into 6 large forest patches. These results suggest teak plantations could be used for connecting remaining forest patches and improving fragmented natural habitats for Green Peafowl.