Cat Tien National Park Research Articles

Four new species of Entoloma (Entolomataceae, Agaricomycetes) subgenera Cyanula and Claudopus from Vietnam and their phylogenetic position

Three new species of Entoloma subgenus Cyanula (Entoloma argus, E. arion, and E. icarus) from Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve and one species of subgenus Claudopus (E. daphnis) from Cat Tien National Park were discovered during an investigation of the diversity of the mycobiota of Central and South Vietnam and are described here. Illustrated descriptions of their macro- and microscopic features and discussion of similar taxa are given. Phylogenetic analysis was based on nrITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU regions. The results confirm the polyphyletic origin of the pleurotoid basidiocarp form in the genus Entoloma.

Web Mapping For Forest Environmental Services of Protected Areas

Forest environmental services (FES) is a key solution to balance conservation and local development. For in-situ conservation, only a small number of Vietnam’s protected areas that have FES activities and revenue from their PFES has been low. Increasing awareness and sharing information and knowledge of protected areas’ PFES to promote PFES policy is needed. Among sharing information media, web map has recently been paid attention to. This study aims to develop a multi-scale web map of protected areas’ FES. Study areas include CatTien National Park (NP) (detailed scale), NPs of Southeast Vietnam, and social-economic zones (generalized scales). Input data include provincial reports on PFES projects, provincial PFES plans, and GIS data on provincial/NP’s forest resources and management and protection of the forest. Based on Law on Forestry 2017, Decree 156/NĐ-CP, and related regulations, GIS analysis was carried out to calculate K-Coefficient; supplied and paid FES areas; the amount of payment; and socio-economic and environmental impacts of PFES. The web map, which is developed and published via ArcGIS Platform, is a series of 53/79 expected multi-scale maps with interactive tools. The result shows that web mapping of protected areas’ FES is feasible. Although there is a limitation of data collection, the web map result is acceptable for the purpose of sharing information and raising people’s awareness.

Virome of Three Termite Species from Southern Vietnam.

Modern metagenomic approaches enable the effective discovery of novel viruses in previously unexplored organisms. Termites are significant ecosystem converters and influencers. As with the majority of tropical forest insects, termites are studied insufficiently, and termite virome remains especially understudied. Here, we studied the virome of lichenophagous and mycophagous termites (Hospitalitermes bicolor, Macrotermes carbonarius and Odontotermes wallonensis) collected in the Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam). We assembled four full genomes of novel viruses related to Solemoviridae, Lispiviridae, Polycipiviridae and Kolmioviridae. We also found several contigs with relation to Chuviridae and Deltaflexiviridae that did not correspond to complete virus genomes. All the novel viruses clustered phylogenetically with previously identified viruses of the termites. Deltaflexi-like contigs were identified in the fungi-cultivating M. carbonarius and showed homology with viruses recently discovered in the edible basidiomycete mushrooms.

Peliosanthes luteoviridis (Asparagaceae), a new species with yellowish green flowers from southern Vietnam

Peliosanthes luteoviridis is described and illustrated as a new species from southern Vietnam (Dong Nai Province, Cat Tien National Park). It is most similar to P. macrostegia in having stamens forming a hemispheric corona and a pistil somewhat abruptly narrowing to a conoid style, but differs mainly in dense inflorescence, terete peduncle, entirely yellowish green flowers and somewhat thin-textured translucent perigone.

Forest structure and seasonally inundated grassland shape tropical mammal communities under moderate disturbance

AbstractTropical biodiversity is threatened globally by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly forest degradation and overhunting. Where large mammals have been extirpated, smaller bodied “mesomammals” may play an important ecological role (e.g., as seed dispersers). However, these species are disproportionally affected by overhunting for wildlife trade markets and are routinely understudied as they tend to be rare, cryptic, and nocturnal. Few studies have examined spatiotemporal responses to anthropogenic disturbance by mesomammals at the community level, which may identify imbalances within an ecosystem that could threaten species persistence. We deployed camera traps throughout Cat Tien National Park (i.e., Nam Cat Tien area), southern Vietnam, to (1) identify long‐term changes in terrestrial mesomammal richness and (2) evaluate the effects of forest structure and anthropogenic disturbance on an 18‐species mesomammal community within a historically disturbed tropical forest using hierarchical Bayesian community occupancy models. We found that site occupancy was driven by the interaction between distance to seasonally inundated grassland and absolute forest cover (basal area per hectare). This may be due to the combination of intact forest benefits (refuge from predators and hunters, denning sites) and early successional grassland resources (forage quality), as well as high levels of tolerance for disturbed forest among the largely generalist mesomammal community of Nam Cat Tien. We found no negative effects of current anthropogenic factors at the community level. However, we did find that four disturbance‐tolerant small carnivores have been extirpated since the 1990s and continued human presence in the park suggests that hunting and snaring remain an acute threat to native mesomammals. Without continued efforts to address the unsustainable harvest of wildlife, Southeast Asian's remaining mesomammals are at risk of extirpation despite resilience to moderate levels of disturbance.

NEW RECORD OF Cyrtodactylus cattienensis Geissler, Nazarov, Orlov, Bohme, Phung, Nguyen & Ziegler, 2009 (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) IN NUI ONG NATURE RESERVE, BINH THUAN PROVINCE, VIETNAM

Cyrtodactylus cattienensis was discovered in Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces by Geissler et al. (2009). Some other locations of this species were also discovered in later studies. We provide a new record for this species from Binh Thuan province based on three specimens collected in Nui Ong Nature Reserve. Data on the morphological of the collected specimens are also provided. Specimens include combination characters: tubercles present on the head, body, limbs and tails; 28 - 47 interorbital scale rows; 19 tubercules rows belonging at midbody; 35 - 38 ventral scales smooth, medial scales three times larger than the dorsal granules, lateral folds absent; males with 6 - 7 precloacal pores in angular continuous series, males and female with 17 -18 (including precloacal pores scales) enlarged scales in the precloacal region, 5 - 7 enlarged femoral scales on each side, femoral pores absent; subcaudal scales are small, not transversely enlarged; there are 15 - 16 lamellas under the fourth finger and 17 - 20 lamellas under the fourth toe. Results of the research also show that the distribution characteristic of Cyrtodactylus cattienensis is larger than most species of the Cyrtodactylus genus, which species nearly discovered in Vietnam. The new record also extends the distribution of this species about 60 km (from Cat Tien National Park to Nui Ong Nature Reserve).

Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from tropical terrestrial gastropods in southern Vietnam

Summary Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. was recovered from several tropical terrestrial gastropod species collected in Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam with the snail, Sesara sp., designated as the type host. Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. is recognised by males and females with a lip region set off by the circle of six triangular low probolae, three bilobed, separated lips, stoma nearly as wide as long, the first genital papilla in males not incorporated into the bursa, the ensheathed dauer juveniles more than 1 mm long and with two circles of papillae at the head end and prominent amphidial apertures, a long filamentous tail and, when exsheathed, with a short, conical tail ending with two tiny spikes. The head structure of P. quinamensis sp. n. differentiates it from all nominal species of Phasmarhabditis. Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. is the second species of the genus found in Cat Tien National Park. The sympatric species P. meridionalis was also found during the present study. Phylogenetically, both species belong to different lineages within Phasmarhabditis. The molecular analysis based on partial sequences of LSU rDNA, and ITS rDNA regions showed P. kenyaensis to be the closest species to P. quinamensis sp. n.

Impacts of Payment for Forest Environmental Services in Cat Tien National Park

This paper assesses the impacts of Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. We analyze the impacts and additionality of PFES on local livelihoods by comparing the socio-economic situations in four pairs of villages before and after its implementation, and between places where PFES is and is not applied. In total, 149 people participated in focus group discussions, while 244 households (123 in areas with PFES and 121 in areas without) took part in household surveys. Our research shows that 92% of the people interviewed are from ethnic minorities participating and benefiting directly from PFES. In villages with PFES, the numbers of participating households ranged from 45% to 88% of all poor households in those villages. Of the poor households participating in PFES in the studied villages, 22% have no source of cash income other than their forest protection contracts, while 81.4% have escaped poverty, based on self-defined poverty criteria, through additional income from forest protection. Since the implementation of PFES, the area of forests allocated for community and household management is estimated to be three to 3.64 times higher than it had been previously. Although the number of communities under PFES contracts has not changed, the number of households participating in forest protection contracts is now much lower than before PFES started. On average, PFES contributes 16% to 74% of total household income in villages with PFES. Incomes in places with PFES are significantly higher than in places without. Although our research demonstrates immediate positive socio-economic impacts on livelihoods, it also highlights weaknesses in the current monitoring and evaluation system and a lack of reliable data for measuring PFES impacts in Cat Tien National Park.

Properties of the Yeast Communities Associated with Termites of a Tropical Monsoon Forest: Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

Properties of the Yeast Communities Associated with Termites of a Tropical Monsoon Forest: Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

Microbiomes in Suspended Soils of Vascular Epiphytes Differ from Terrestrial Soil Microbiomes and from Each Other.

Microbial biodiversity parameters for tropical rainforests remain poorly understood. Whilst the soil microbiome accounts up to 95% of the total diversity of microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystems, the microbiome of suspended soils formed by vascular epiphytes remains completely unexplored. Samples of ground and suspended soils were collected in Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam. DNA extraction and sequencing were performed, and libraries of 16s rDNA gene sequences were analyzed. Alpha diversity indices of the microorganisms were the highest in the forest ground soil. In general, the microbiological diversity of all the soil types was found to be similar at the phylum level. Taxonomic composition of the bacterial communities in the suspended soils of plants from the same species are not closer than the taxonomic compositions of the communities in the suspended soils of different plant species. However, the beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in the movement of mineral elements in terrestrial versus suspended soils. Our data showed that the suspended soils associated with vascular epiphytes were a depository of unique microbiological biodiversity. A contributing factor was the presence of large amounts of organic matter in the suspended soils—deposits collected by the epiphytes—which would have been degraded by termites if it had reached the ground. Further, the nutrient content of the suspended soils was prime for soil respiration activity and taxonomic microbial community biodiversity.

Nature and level of NTFP reliance: a case study in the buffer zone of Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

ABSTRACT There is growing evidence that collection of non-timber-forest products (NTFPs) remains an essential part of livelihoods for people living near protected areas in developing countries. This study examined the nature and level of livelihood reliance of households on the collection and use of NTFPs and alternative income streams for three ethnic groups (Chau Ma, Stieng and Kinh) in a village in the buffer zone adjacent to Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai province, Vietnam. Household surveys (n = 150) and key informant interviews (n = 10) were conducted to collect data on forest usage, household socio-economy, and collection of NTFPs. About one-third of Chau Ma and Stieng households had a high reliance on NTFPs, while Kinh households having no reliance on NTFPs for their livelihood. The dependence on NTFPs for Chau Ma and Stieng people was a result of limited opportunities for other livelihood options due to a complex set of factors, including among others low education levels and imposed fundamental changes to their traditional livelihoods. For Chau Ma and Stieng people struggling to adjust from a subsistence forest-based livelihood to living outside the forest, around 42% continued to visit the forest for cultural reasons including traditional food and ceremonies, albeit at low to moderate levels (63%). It is proposed that government authorities acknowledge the livelihood role for local people of low-level traditional use of NTFPs. In addition, for those people who are highly reliant on NTFPs, alternative livelihood strategies should be developed further, to better engage their local knowledge and skills in the co-management of the Park forest.

Soil microbiome, organic matter content and microbial abundance in forest and forest-derived land cover in Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam)

Loss of tropical forests leads both to the loss of aboveground biodiversity and to the changes in belowground biological activity. Planted secondary forests return canopy cover, but the reversibility of belowground changes may depend on soil properties, forest age and tree species composition. We studied microbial communities in an array of soils in southern Vietnam under different vegetation: natural tropical forests, grasslands on deforested area and 20 and 30 years-old forest plantations. Conversion of natural forests into grasslands led to the loss of half of soil organic matter and microbial abundance, soil moisture decreased, bacterial community structure changed and beta-diversity increased. Bacterial alpha-diversity and pH were not affected by deforestation. Reforestation for 30 years restored bacterial and archaeal abundance, partially restored bacterial community structure, but did not restore fungal abundance and organic matter content. Thus, forest planting in southern Vietnam restores soil microbiome properties partially, but the complete restoration apparently requires much more than 30 years of secondary forest succession.

Males and ephippial females of Oriental Chydoridae (Cladocera: Anomopoda) from Cat Tien National Park, South Vietnam.

Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of South-East Asia have been intensively investigated over the last decades, but males and ephippial females of many taxa remain unknown or poorly studied. Males and ephippial females of ten species of Chydoridae were collected by monthly sampling of eight water bodies during autumn-winter dry season in Сat Tien National Park, South Vietnam. Morphology of studied specimens is described and taxonomic status of studied species is discussed. Gamogenetic specimens were sparse in all studied taxa, contributing less than 8 % of the populations in samples. Gamogenetic specimens were found mostly during December-January, what suggests that daylight period is the main factor inducing a sexual reproduction in most studied species.

A new species of Lyriothemis Brauer, 1868 from Vietnam and Thailand (Odonata: Libellulidae).

Lyriothemis pallidistigma sp. nov. (holotype male: Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Prov., southern Vietnam) is described. This species is reminiscent of L. defonsekai van der Poorten, 2009 and L. elegantissima Selys, 1883, but can be separated by the shape of its secondary genitalia and its patterning. Information on its biology and ecology is provided.

Yet another kukri snake piercing an anuran abdomen: Oligodon ocellatus (Morice, 1875) eats Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) in Vietnam

A case of Oligodon ocellatus eating a toxic adult toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, in Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam, is provided. We found a kukri snake having buried its head deeply into the abdomen of the toad and probably being in the process of eating organs. Subsequently, the toad was swallowed whole and the kukri snake moved away and disappeared with the toad’s hind feet still visible from its mouth. It is hypothesised that the behaviour of eviscerating or piercing anurans to eat their organs has been developed in the O. cyclurus species group or clade. This has now been observed in three species.

The first record of the genus Phycopeltis (Trentepohliaceae, Chlorophyta) from Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam)

The genus Phycopeltis comprises filamentous to pseudoparenchymatous green algae which grow on the leaves, stems and fruits of higher plants. The genus occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Up to now Phycopeltis has not been recorded from Vietnam. During the phycological investigations in Cat Tien National Park we recorded the species of Phycopeltis growing on leaves of different higher plants.

Soil diatom from Cat Tien National Park: first data

Diatoms from soil ecosystems in Vietnam are almost unknown. From soils was isolated 281 strains. Was found 15 genus and 78 species. Our findings provide new information about the soils diatoms in Vietnam.

Composition and structure algal сommunity of the Сát Tiên National Park, Southern Vietnam (first data)

The report presents the results of a study of algae in forest soils in the Cat Tien National Park (South Vietnam) using 7 model sites as an example. The species composition of algae and their vertical distribution in the soil horizons have been characterized.

Participation of ethnic minorities in natural forest management: Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam case study

Participation of ethnic minorities in natural forest management: Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam case study

Annual acoustic dynamics are associated with seasonality in a monsoon tropical forest in South Vietnam

We studied the annual dynamics of the biotic component of the acoustic environment in a lowland monsoon tropical forest. The study was conducted in Nam Cat Tien National Park (southern Vietnam) from January 2013 to January 2014. We placed an autonomous recorder at the Nam Cat Tien ecosystem flux observation station at a height of 35 m. For the analysis, we selected 1–4 5-min recordings per day collected at 5.30 a.m., 12.00 a.m., 4.00 p.m., and 8.00 p.m. For each recording, we calculated four acoustic indices: the acoustic complexity index (ACI), the bioacoustic index (BIO), the acoustic diversity index (ADI) and the acoustic evenness index (AEI). These indices had roughly similar annual dynamics and peaked from May to August (i.e., immediately before the wet season and in the wet season). We then related the four acoustic indices to the daily values of the following meteorological variables: air temperature, air relative humidity, solar radiation, and precipitation sum. The BIO, ADI and AEI were most influenced by daily average humidity. We therefore concluded that humidity rather than precipitation, temperature or radiation was the best predictor of the annual dynamics of acoustic activity in Nam Cat Tien. The increase in humidity was apparent several months before the major rains began in 2013 (i.e., before the wet season). We suggest that future ecoacoustics studies in the tropics should give greater consideration to humidity as a variable determining the acoustic activity of local fauna.