Assessing habitat use for forest management and conservation decisions
2007
Kingston, T. | Fletcher, S. C. | Zubaid A.
To successfully conserve animal wildlife, we need to conserve their habitat as well as it contains the two most important elements in sustaining viableliving space and food. By understanding, the habitat requirement of a group of animal, it allows us to better predict the consequences of forest management decisions and also the diversity of a particular group of animal in relation to a forest management decisions and also the diversity of a particular group of animal in relation to a forest type. This paper demonstrates how possible extinction risks of selected forest interior bat species (Rhinolophus trifoliatus, R.sedulus, Hipposideros ridleyi and Kerivoula papillosa) in the Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang of Peninsular Malaysia can be assesse based on the knowledge of their habitat requirements for roosts over 20 months in 2003 to 2004. Results from this study predicts that if a patch of old growth forest is to be cleared, species with small home ranges, very specific roost characteristics with limited availability and distribution such as the H.ridleyi (IUCN Red-listed species), would face the highest risk of extinction. In contrast, animals with larger home ranges, less specific habitat requirements and are largerly distributed in all forest conditions i.e. leaves, such as the foliage roosting Rhinolopus trifoliatus, will be the least at risk. In conclusion, drafting management plans for the conservation of animal wildlife may need to take into consideration the varying needs even within the taxa, with particular interest in endemic and threatened species.
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