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Phenology and Availability of Fruit Trees and their Influence on the Abundance of Selected Animals in Logged and Primary Forest of Sungai Lalang Forest Reserve, Selangor
Abstract:
The abundance of fruit tree species as food source for wildlife in logged and primary forest was evaluated. The phenological data collection was carried out from September 1999 to October 2000 in Sungai Lalang Forest Reserve, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. The general objective of this study was to determine the fruit tree species that serve as food source for wildlife in logged and primary forest. The specific objectives were to (1) compare the availability of fruits to animals in three different compartments, (2) compare fruit trees distribution in three compartments within block, and (3) correlate the abundance of animals in relation to food availability. Three different compartments were selected, namely: Compartment 24 (Virgin Jungle Reserve [VJR]), Compartment 33 (10-year-old logged forest), and Compartment 18 (5-year-old logged forest). Within each compartment, three blocks were established in different locations (e.g., ridge top, mid-slope, and valley bottom). All trees bigger than 10 cm dbh were tagged, identified, and monitored every month for leafing, flowering, and fruiting activities. The Duncan’s test indicated that the leafing pattern in Compartment 24 (VJR) was significantly different (p < .05) from Compartment 33 (10-year-old logged forest) and Compartment 18 (5-year-old logged forest) (p < .05). The flowering pattern, however, showed no significant difference among the three different compartments. The percentage of fruiting was significantly lower in Compartment 18 (5-year-old logged forest) than in the primary forest (VJR) (p < .05).
In general, the availability of the food sources such as leaves, flowers, and fruits was almost similar in the primary and the two logged forests. However, only the primary forest (VJR) tended to provide more food to wildlife. This study showed that less trees or fruit trees meant less food; likewise more fruit trees meant more food. This indicated that the survival of the animals in the forest especially the logged forest fully depended on the fruit trees left after the logging activities. Logging activity influenced the distribution and availability of food sources and it was frequently correlated with the behavior pattern of animal species.
