Doi Suthep-Pui Research Articles

The Importance of Natural Forest Gap on Migratory Birds in a Lower Montane Forest at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

The Importance of Natural Forest Gap on Migratory Birds in a Lower Montane Forest at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

The application of remote sensing technology to investigation of areas burned by forest fires

Forest fires once get started cause huge damage. In Thailand, most forest fires are caused by human activities, most likely found in the dry season. This study aims to apply remote sensing technology based on data from Landsat 8 OLI satellite to investigate areas burned by forest fires in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai province, Thailand. Differences of spectral indices in 4 patterns are used, i.e. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Burned Ratio (NBR), and Burn Area Index (BAI) in April 2021. How the study was conducted included 1) collecting data from Landsat 8 OLI satellite, 2) analyzing the difference of spectral indices in 4 patterns, i.e. NDVI, BAI, and NBR, and 3) analyze data accuracy using statistical methods. The study results revealed that BAI gave the most accurate data for investigating areas burned by forest fires, Kappa Statistics shown was 0.87, followed by NDVI showing Kappa Statistics equal to 0.77, and NBR showing Kappa Statistics equal to 0.67.

Population Structure and Spatial Distribution of Tree Species in Lower Montane Forest, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Northern Thailand

Plant diversity is important for sustainable development, particularly in watershed areas. This study explored tree population and diversity in a lower montane forest (LMF). A 16-ha permanent plot was established in LMF at Huai Kogma sub-watershed, northern Thailand. All trees with a diameter at breast height ≥ 2 cm were tagged, measured, identified, and their coordinates were mapped. The results showed that 220 species in 139 genera from 63 plant families were found. The dominant families based on species numbers and tree density were Fagaceae, Lauraceae, and Theaceae. The most dominant species were Castanopsis acuminatissima, Schima wallichii, Castanopsis armata, and Styrax benzoides. Diameter classes for climax species frequently followed negative exponential distributions, indicating their populations could be maintained into the future. By contrast, pioneer species, such as Macaranga indica, Morus macroura, and Rhus javanica, had discontinuous distribution, and were mostly found in gap areas, indicating successful regeneration may require high light intensity. Spatial distribution patterns based on Morisita’s index showed that most of the selected species had clumped patterns, particularly those in the Fagaceae family, which were predominantly distributed along the mountain ridge. Tree distribution patterns can affect ecological dynamics, thus reinforcing patterns dependent on local interactions such as the abundance of and distance to available resources. Our finding can aid evaluations of forest sustainability, and support the biodiversity conservation plans. In particular, the selection of suitable species for LMF restoration programs where mixed plantings of pioneer and climax species are planned.

The bryophyte community as bioindicator of heavy metals in a waterfall outflow

The species diversity and heavy metal accumulation in bryophytes were determined in Huay Pah Lahd stream in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Thailand. Eight bryophytes from two major taxonomic groupings (epilithic mosses and liverworts) were investigated. Of these, Fissidens crispulus var. crispulus was the most dominant taxon with an importance value (IV) of 28.98%, while Ectropothecium zollingeri, Claopodium prionophyllum, and Hyophila involuta were also dominant taxa with IV ≥ 10%. Scopelophila cataractae, a rare moss species with the lowest IV (0.91%) had the greatest capacity to accumulate metals in tissue, particularly Fe, Zn, Cd and Cu in protonemata (8026.7, 1187.2, 16.9 and 530.1 mg kg−1, respectively). The highest enrichment factors (EFs) of Zn, Cd and Cu (5.3, 2.4 and 0.9, respectively) were also found in S. cataractae, while the highest EFMn (1.1) was found in H. involuta. Enrichment factors of most heavy metals were < 5 from the study bryophytes, which suggests that natural processes were the key source of heavy metals. Dilution effects caused by increased water volume during the rainy season may be responsible for low pollutant loads and the maintenance of good water quality in this waterfall stream, which is favorable for biota and general environmental health.

Fruit traits of tree species in lower montane rainforest at Doi Suthep–Pui, northern Thailand

AbstractFruits are a major food resource for wildlifes and have evolved different traits which attract specific frugivores and facilitate seed dispersal. This study examines the quantity of the frequency of fruit tree species, distribution amongst fruit traits and estimates the potential availability of the fruit resource for frugivores in a 16-ha permanent forest plot at Doi Suthep–Pui, Thailand. The similarity amongst traits for fleshy fruited species was explored using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Fleshy fruited species comprised 122 of 208 tree species &gt;2 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) recorded in the permanent plot. Amongst fleshy fruited species, small fruits (length &lt;20 mm) were most common (63.16% of species) while large fruits were rare (4.1%). Black was the most common fruit colour (43.4%). Principal Component Analysis of fruit traits explained 57% of total variance on the first three axes, and allowed identification of three species groups. Litsea martabanica and Persea gamblei are the greatest density and represented the major PCA group; black, small-sized and thin husk indehiscent fruits. These fruiting trees scattered throughout the permanent plot and were of good regeneration status. Indicating fleshy fruit can be a food resource for frugivores especially small-sized fruit. Furthermore, large-fruited species such as Madhuca floribunda is low density but important to preserve for food resource of large frugivores. This finding is very important not only for forest protection policy but also for wildlife conservation as food resources.

Exploring plant diversity through soil DNA in Thai national parks for influencing land reform and agriculture planning.

BackgroundThe severe deforestation, as indicated in national forest data, is a recurring problem in many areas of Northern Thailand, including Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Agricultural expansion in these areas, is one of the major drivers of deforestation, having adverse consequences on local plant biodiversity. Conserving biodiversity is mainly dependent on the biological monitoring of species distribution and population sizes. However, the existing conventional approaches for monitoring biodiversity are rather limited.MethodsHere, we explored soil DNA at four forest types in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Northern Thailand. Three soil samples, composed of different soil cores mixed together, per sampling location were collected. Soil biodiversity was investigated through eDNA metabarcoding analysis using primers targeting the P6 loop of the plastid DNA trnL (UAA) intron.ResultsThe distribution of taxa for each sample was found to be similar between replicates. A strong congruence between the conventional morphology- and eDNA-based data of plant diversity in the studied areas was observed. All species recorded by conventional survey with DNA data deposited in the GenBank were detected through the eDNA analysis. Moreover, traces of crops, such as lettuce, maize, wheat and soybean, which were not expected and were not visually detected in the forest area, were identified. It is noteworthy that neighboring land and areas in the studied National Park were once used for crop cultivation, and even to date there is still agricultural land within a 5–10 km radius from the forest sites where the soil samples were collected. The presence of cultivated area near the forest may suggest that we are now facing agricultural intensification leading to deforestation. Land reform for agriculture usage necessitates coordinated planning in order to preserve the forest area. In that context, the eDNA-based data would be useful for influencing policies and management towards this goal.

Heavy Metal Accumulation and Copper Localization in Scopelophila cataractae in Thailand

Four specimens of gametophores and protonemata of Scopelophila cataractae (copper moss) were collected from a stream in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Thailand in order to determine heavy metal accumulation and Cu localization. The order of total metal concentrations in the protonemata and leaf cell surfaces of S. cataractae was Fe > Zn > Cu. Significant Cu values (> 400mg kg-1) were found in both gametophores and protonemata. Growth substrates were considered as a key source of heavy metals in the sampling stream. X-ray spectrometry (EDS micro-analyser) detected the localization of ten elements (C, O, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, S, Cu, Zn and In); substantial atomic percentages of Al, Cu and Zn were noted in leaf surfaces and protonemata. These metallic elements were found in highest proportion. To some extent, cell surfaces at the basal leaf costa showed the highest peak value compared to medial and apical leaf portions (≈ 4.3 at.%). This Cu moss can be used as a bioindicator to reflect anthropogenic activities in stream ecosystems.

A Preliminary Study on Morphological Variations from Wet and Dry Microhabitats of Hyophila involuta (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta): A Case Study from Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand

The morphological variations of a cosmopolitan moss, Hyophila involuta (Hook.) A. Jaeger, are reported here using t-test to distinguish 2 distinct forms of ecotypes (humid and arid forms). Three replicates each from 145 collections from 27 places in Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, and Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand were examined. Eleven gametophytic characters were measured such as stem height, branching, stem diameter, leaf size, leaf blade thickness, size of median and basal laminal cells, length of innermost perichaetial leaf, and length of archegonia. Of these, 10 characters, viz. stem height, leaf size, stem diameter, branching, length of basal laminal cells, length of innermost perichaetial leaf, and length of archegonia were significantly different among populations. Other additional features of the two different ecotypes of H. involuta were recorded and discussed including leaf apices, innermost perichaetial leaf apices, marginal teeth, hyaline nodules, and number of cortical and medullary central strand cells.

Floristic composition and forest structure in different fire frequency of mixed deciduous forest, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Northern Thailand

Floristic composition and forest structure in different fire frequency of mixed deciduous forest, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Northern Thailand

Fuel characteristics and fire behavior in mixed deciduous forest areas with different fire frequencies in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Northern Thailand

Fires are commonly used as part of the livelihood of local people in Thailand. However, population growth is causing serious problems with agricultural expansion, forest encroachment, and illegal settlement in protected areas. Human activities are causing fires in deciduous forests increasingly frequently. Understanding the fuel characteristics and fire behavior in mixed deciduous forest areas with different fire frequencies in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park will help in developing a suitable fire management plan for this area. Twenty quadrats, each 1 × 1 m, were used to collect data regarding fuel characteristics, and 50 × 50 m quadrats were used to study fire behavior in low and high fire-frequency areas. The fuel-load data were collected every month for a period of 1 year. The results indicated that in the two fire-frequency areas, the main fuel component in this forest type was litter (leaves). Fire consumed approximately 60–70% of the total fuel loads, and fuel recovery to the original level was predicted to take around 2 years. All the fire behavior features in the LFA and the HFA showed similar characteristics, and the fire type in both areas was defined as surface fire with low intensity, which usually occurs in deciduous forests of Thailand. The heat from the fire only affected the surface soil layer and did not cause any problems in deeper layers.

Milesina thailandica, a second rust fungus on an early diverged leptosporangiate fern genus, Lygodium, found in Thailand

A new rust fungus was found on Lygodium flexuosum at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Puccinia lygodii was the only rust fungus currently known on Lygodium spp. (Lygodioideae, Schizaeaceae, Schizaeales) from southern North America through northern South America. The new fungus produced uredinia linearly between veins, causing yellowish streaks, on the abaxial frond surface. The sori were covered with a layer of thin-walled fungal cells beneath the host epidermis and surrounded by thin-walled paraphyses. The sori did not have a distinct central aperture with ostiolar cells but ruptured irregularly to release urediniospores. Urediniospores were obovoid, obovoid-ellipsoid, or pyriform. The wall was thin, colorless, and completely echinulate. Neither amphispores nor teliospores were observed. The sorus and spore morphology indicated the taxonomic affinity of the fungus to the fern rust genera Hyalopsora and Milesina. A molecular phylogenetic analysis using nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA sequence revealed that the Lygodium rust fungus was grouped in a paraphyletic Milesina clade. From the putative host preference, morphology, and estimated phylogenetic relationships, it was concluded that the fungus was a new species of Milesina.

Diversity of Saprobic Fungi on Magnolia garrettii: Do Collecting Sites and Seasons Affect the Fungal Community?

The diversity of saprobic fungi found on woody litter of Magnolia garrettii collected from Phu Hin Rongkla National Park in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand during the wet and dry seasons, from July 2008 to April 2009, was studied, and the fungal diversity and community was compared with a previous study in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiang Mai Province. Based on morphological characteristics, 141 taxa were obtained and classified as 40 Ascomycetes, 5 Basidiomycetes, 42 lichens, one unidentified taxon and 53 anamorphic fungi. The number of taxa recovered indicated that Dry season samples supported a more diverse fungal community than samples collected in the wet season, for both collecting sites, although the common genera of fungi obtained during each season were similar. Distinct fungal communities of saprobic fungi collected from each site suggest that site characteristics affect the community composition. Samples from Phu Hin Rongkla National Park provided higher numbers of fungi (especially lichens) than were collected in the previous Doi Suthep-Pui National Park study with few species overlapping in the two sites.

Utilization of fruit by frugivores in lower montane forest at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai province

Utilization of fruit by frugivores in lower montane forest at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai province

Land use and above-ground biomass changes in a mountain ecosystem, northern Thailand

The conversion of forests into agricultural lands is a major cause of deforestation, particularly in the mountain ecosystems of northern Thailand. It results in a rapid loss of biological diversity of both flora and fauna. In addition, the above-ground biomass (AGB), which can be a major source of carbon storage, is also decreased. This study aimed to predict the AGB in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai province, based on land-use/land cover (LULC) changes from 2000 to 2030. Landsat-5 TM (2000) and Landsat-8 TM (2015) satellite images were analyzed to predict LULC changes to 2030. Temporary plots (30 m × 30 m) were established in each LULC type for AGB analysis; trees with diameters at breast height ≥ 4.5 cm were identified and measured. AGB of all LULC types were analyzed based on specific allometric equations of each type. The results show that area of forest and non-forested areas fluctuated during the study period. Through the first 15 years (2000–2015), 5% (2.9 km2) of forest changed to either agriculture or urban lands, especially mixed deciduous forest and lower montane forest. There was a similar trend in the 2030 prediction, showing the effect of forest fragmentation and the resultant high number of patches. Total AGB tended to decrease over the 30-year period from 12.5 to 10.6 t ha−1 in the first and second periods, respectively. Deforestation was the main factor influencing the loss of AGB (30.6 t ha−1) related to LULC changes. Furthermore, habitat loss would be expected to result in decreased biological diversity. Consequently, a management plan should be developed to avoid unsustainable land use changes, which may adversely affect human well-being.

Altitudinal Effect on Diversity and Distribution of Araceae in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Province in Thailand

Altitudinal Effect on Diversity and Distribution of Araceae in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Province in Thailand

Succession and Natural Occurrence of Saprobic Fungi on Leaves ofMagnolia liliiferain a Tropical Forest

Leaves of Magnolia liliifera were selected to evaluate fungal diversity, and succession of fungi during leaf decomposition, and the effect of baiting on fungal diversity. The leaf samples were from Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Twenty-three taxa were identified on senescent leaves of M. liliifera during the decay process. Distinct fungal communities were observed with the dominant species on the leaves being different at each succession stage. The most abundant fungal species were Hyponectria sp. 1 (on 60% of leaves), Volutella sp. 1 (60%), Gliocladium sp. 3 (37.1%), Corynespora cassiicola (34.3%), Bionectria ochroleuca (25.7%), Cylindrocladium floridanum (22.8%), Phaeosphaeria sp. (17.1%), Dactylaria longidentata (11.4%) and Lasiosphaeria sp. (11.4%). Leaf bait trials did not show any noticeable effect on fungal diversity when either the upper or lower leaf surface was adjacent to the forest floor. Highest fungal diversity on leaves of M. liliifera occurred between day 4 and 40, with most species being present on day 40. On day 56, leaves were found to be skeletonized, and the fungal communities had decreased in number.

Baculentulus kulsarinae sp. nov. from Thailand (Protura: Acerentomata, Acerentomidae).

Proturan fauna of Thailand has so far been poorly known, only two contributions being hitherto published. Imadaté (1965) recorded 26 species from around the country and Nakamura and Likhitrakarn (2009) reported eight species including three new species from Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Province.

Two new species of the genus Sorolopha Lower (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)from northern Thailand.

Two new species of Sorolopha Lower (i.e., S. suthepensis, n. sp., and S. undula, n. sp.) are described and illustrated from male specimens collected in agricultural areas and natural forest in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Scleroderma suthepense, a new ectomycorrhizal fungus from Thailand

A new species of earthball, described herein as Scleroderma suthepense, was found under Prunus cerasoides in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Thailand. Morphological characteristics indicate it belongs to section Scleroderma. Molecular analysis showed differences from previously described Scleroderma species. A description, illustration, and comparisons with related taxa are provided.

Nine New Records of Mosses from Doi Suthep-Pui National Park and a New Variety ofFissidensfrom Thailand

Nine species of mosses collected from Doi Suthep-Pui National Park are reported new to Thailand. Of these, Rhachithecium is a new generic record for the moss flora of Thailand. Notes on the ecology, morphology, taxonomy, and distribution of new records are included. Fissidens flaccidus Mitt. var. percurrens Wongkuna is described as a new variety from Thailand.