A discovery into the impacts surrounding Bornean Rainforest bird species

N43

Author: Tayla Thornton

Supervisor: Darryl Jones

Abstract

A study conducted in Maliau Basin, Malaysian Borneo, draws attention to an island thriving
with biodiversity with over 420 bird species alone, and 60 endemic species. As the worlds
population is increasing every second, minute and hour of the day, the need for land, food
resources and access to new regions has become a high demand. Due to this, Bornean Tropical
rainforests are being logged, degraded, deforested and converted at alarming rates. This study
focusses on the effects these processes have on secondary forest bird species richness and
further comparing it to Primary Forest bird species richness. These results will determine
whether the Secondary Forest holds much value.

Aims
To test whether there was a
difference in species richness (&
endemic species) between Primary
& Secondary Forest

Hypothesis: there should be a

greater species richness of birds in
Primary Forest than Secondary
Forest.

Hypothesis: There will be higher

endemism in Primary Forest than
Secondary Forest

Figure 3 shows clear separation of forest

types, thus both sites have different
composition

T-test results: Df= 28, p value

(0.342922254> 0.05) therefore it is not
significant & thus reject the hypothesis

Sorensons Coefficient (CC)= 0.682, The

Primary and Secondary Forest feature
similar species.

Methods
Two site types were used to
collect data (from Primary &
Secondary Forest), with 15
sample sites for each type, total
of 30 sites.
Primary - Ten people stood in a
circle facing outwards, anything
with in a 10m radius was
recorded as in.
Secondary- any birds seen
within a 20m radius in front &
10m radius each side were
recorded in, anything out side
that area were recorded out

Picture of Helmeted Hornbill, Source:

Borneo Post Online

Results

Figure 3. Ordination plot of Species Composition comparing the difference

between all sampled sites

Endemic Species

Endemic species: the Secondary Forest

contained 7 species, while the Primary
Forest only contained 4 species. Refer to
Figure 4 & Table 1.

36%

64%

As understorey cover increases, so does

species richness (see figure 5).
Secondary Forest presents with a higher
understorey cover with high species
richness amounts.

Primary

Secondary

Figure 4. Endemic species found in Primary and Secondary Forest

Endemic Species Common Name
Bornean Black Magpie
Blue Headed Pitta
Bornean Brown Barbet
Dusky Munia
Golden-Faced Barbet
White Crowned Shama
Yellow Rumped Flowerpecker

Primary
0
4
6
0
7
2
0

Secondary
1
1
7
4
11
6
2

Understorey Cover vs Species Richness

16
14

Number of Individuals

Picture of Kingfisher Bird, source:

Wildlife trails

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0

20

40

Table 1. Endemic Species found in both forest types

Primary

60
Understorey Cover (%)

Secondary

Linear (Primary)

80

100

Linear (Secondary )

Figure 5. A scatterplot comparing Primary Forest and Secondary Forest

understorey cover vs species richness

Discussion
Figure 1: Primary forest bird
Picture 1: Picture of Primary Forest, Source:
Maree Hume

Picture 1: Picture of Secondary Forest, Source:

Maree Hume

recording procedure area.

Figure 2: Secondary forest bird

recording procedure area

Data concludes there is no difference between Primary & Secondary Forest,

resulting in similar bird species richness.
Species composition is different, and after logging of the Secondary Forest
sites, it has not effected species richness nor the amount of endemic species
present.
Environmental factors that may effect species richness: sunlight, temperature,
fires, shifts in vegetation cover, differences in understorey and canopy cover.
Limits: nocturnal species of birds were not recorded, the quality of secondary
forest in Maliau Basin is of higher quality than in other areas of Borneo,
recording of data could have varied due to a species being recorded twice due
to movement, and finally incorrect species identification
Further research: relate data to previous years data, use of technology
(identification of species via a sound detection software), change the
radius/size of the site, add more sample sites

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