Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments
Abstract Human-induced forest fragmentation poses one of the largest threats to global diversity yet its impact on rattans (climbing palms) has remained virtually unexplored. Rattan is arguably the world’s most valuable non-timber forest product though current levels of harvesting and land-use chang...
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doaj-05f8c16d5156477eb76ec174ea24accc2020-12-08T02:42:03ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222017-07-017111210.1038/s41598-017-06590-5Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragmentsMason J. Campbell0Will Edwards1Ainhoa Magrach2Susan G. Laurance3Mohammed Alamgir4Gabriel Porolak5William F. Laurance6Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook UniversityCentre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook UniversityEstacion Biologica de Doñana, (EBD-CSIC)Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook UniversityCentre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook UniversityCentre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook UniversityCentre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook UniversityAbstract Human-induced forest fragmentation poses one of the largest threats to global diversity yet its impact on rattans (climbing palms) has remained virtually unexplored. Rattan is arguably the world’s most valuable non-timber forest product though current levels of harvesting and land-use change place wild populations at risk. To assess rattan response to fragmentation exclusive of harvesting impacts we examined rattan abundance, demography and ecology within the forests of northeastern, Australia. We assessed the community abundance of rattans, and component adult (>3 m) and juvenile (≤3 m) abundance in five intact forests and five fragments (23–58 ha) to determine their response to a range of environmental and ecological parameters. Fragmented forests supported higher abundances of rattans than intact forests. Fragment size and edge degradation significantly increased adult rattan abundance, with more in smaller fragments and near edges. Our findings suggest that rattan increase within fragments is due to canopy disturbance of forest edges resulting in preferential, high-light habitat. However, adult and juvenile rattans may respond inconsistently to fragmentation. In managed forest fragments, a rattan abundance increase may provide economic benefits through sustainable harvesting practices. However, rattan increases in protected area forest fragments could negatively impact conservation outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06590-5 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mason J. Campbell Will Edwards Ainhoa Magrach Susan G. Laurance Mohammed Alamgir Gabriel Porolak William F. Laurance |
spellingShingle |
Mason J. Campbell Will Edwards Ainhoa Magrach Susan G. Laurance Mohammed Alamgir Gabriel Porolak William F. Laurance Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Mason J. Campbell Will Edwards Ainhoa Magrach Susan G. Laurance Mohammed Alamgir Gabriel Porolak William F. Laurance |
author_sort |
Mason J. Campbell |
title |
Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments |
title_short |
Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments |
title_full |
Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments |
title_fullStr |
Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments |
title_full_unstemmed |
Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments |
title_sort |
forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2017-07-01 |
description |
Abstract Human-induced forest fragmentation poses one of the largest threats to global diversity yet its impact on rattans (climbing palms) has remained virtually unexplored. Rattan is arguably the world’s most valuable non-timber forest product though current levels of harvesting and land-use change place wild populations at risk. To assess rattan response to fragmentation exclusive of harvesting impacts we examined rattan abundance, demography and ecology within the forests of northeastern, Australia. We assessed the community abundance of rattans, and component adult (>3 m) and juvenile (≤3 m) abundance in five intact forests and five fragments (23–58 ha) to determine their response to a range of environmental and ecological parameters. Fragmented forests supported higher abundances of rattans than intact forests. Fragment size and edge degradation significantly increased adult rattan abundance, with more in smaller fragments and near edges. Our findings suggest that rattan increase within fragments is due to canopy disturbance of forest edges resulting in preferential, high-light habitat. However, adult and juvenile rattans may respond inconsistently to fragmentation. In managed forest fragments, a rattan abundance increase may provide economic benefits through sustainable harvesting practices. However, rattan increases in protected area forest fragments could negatively impact conservation outcomes. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06590-5 |
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