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Low conservation value of converted habitat for avifauna in tropical peatland on Sumatra, Indonesia

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Ecological Research

Abstract

Peat swamp forest is an important refuge for biodiversity in Southeast Asia and is now becoming a target of exploitation. The scarcity of information on avifauna and ecology of birds in peat swamp forests prevents understanding of the effects of land use change on avifauna. In this study, we describe the bird assemblages in habitats with different land uses by comparing species richness, community composition, and feeding guild patterns in Bukit Batu, Indonesia. Bird assemblages in natural peat swamp forests (NPF), high-maintenance industrial acacia plantations (planted acacia forest, PAF), low-maintenance rubber plantations (jungle rubber forest, JRF), and village areas (VIL) were studied using a fixed-radius point-count method. Of the 95 species observed, 45, 20, 35, and 48 species were observed in NPF, PAF, JRF, and VIL, respectively. Estimated species richness was the highest in NPF, followed by VIL, JRF, and PAF. NPF had the highest species diversity and β-diversity, more endangered species, and a distinctive species composition characterized by fly-catching insectivores. The relative conservation value of PAF was notably low, particularly compared with JRF. The avifauna in VIL was characterized by more generalists that favor open spaces and therefore is not considered an important habitat for forest-dependent birds that are of conservation concern. Our results indicate that NPF has irreplaceable value for bird diversity conservation, but low-maintenance rubber plantations were home to several forest-dependent species and partially supported bird diversity, particularly compared with high-maintenance acacia plantations.

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Acknowledgments

We greatly thank Mr. Canecio Munoz, Sinar Mas Forestry, for his kind assistance and providing accommodation during our fieldwork. We also thank the Forest Department and BBKSDA Riau for permission to conduct our research in the Bukit Batu Wildlife Reserve. Satrio Wijamukti greatly helped identify bird species during bird censuses. Dr. Yoshiko Kobayashi gave advice on statistical analysis. For their support in the fieldwork, we greatly thank Mr. Alias Abdul Jalil, Mr. Yohannes Koto, Mr. Yuyu Arlan, Mr. Tju Kui Hua, Ms. Nevi Rasmika, Mr. Raffles Silaban, Mr. Zul Indra Fahmi, Mr. Edy Nazuardi, Mr. Hirimson Siahaan, Mr. Amir and other staff from PT.SPM and PT. BBHA; Dr. Haris Gunawan and Ms. Ridho Siahaan from Riau University; Mr. Dicky from Pekanbaru. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that improved our manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, 46 Shimoadachi, Yoshida, Sakyo, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan

    Motoko S. Fujita, Hiromitsu Samejima & Satomi Shiodera

  2. Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, West Java, 16680, Indonesia

    Dendy Sukma Haryadi

  3. Riau University, Jl. Raya Soebrantas Km 12.5, Pekanbaru, 28293, Indonesia

    Dendy Sukma Haryadi & Ahmad Muhammad

  4. Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute for Sciences, Jl. Raya Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, 16911, Indonesia

    Mohammad Irham

  5. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2108-11, Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Kanagawa, 2400115, Japan

    Hiromitsu Samejima

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  1. Motoko S. Fujita
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Correspondence to Motoko S. Fujita.

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This study was supported by the JSPS Global COE Program “In Search of Sustainable Humanosphere in Asia” and the research grant for Mission Research on Sustainable Humanosphere from the Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Fujita, M.S., Samejima, H., Haryadi, D.S. et al. Low conservation value of converted habitat for avifauna in tropical peatland on Sumatra, Indonesia. Ecol Res 31, 275–285 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-016-1334-2

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