Impending regeneration failure of the IUCN vulnerable Borneo ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri)
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The regeneration of many climax species in tropical forest critically depends on adequate seed dispersal and seedling establishment. Here, we report the decreased abundance and increased spatial aggregation of younger trees of the Borneo ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri) in a protected forest in Sabah Malaysia. We observed a high level of seedling herbivory with strong density dependence, likely exacerbated by local aggregation and contributing to the progressively shrinking size distribution. We also note the largely undocumented selective herbivory by sambar deer on E. zwageri seedlings. This study highlights the combined impact of altered megafauna community on a tree population through interlinked ecological processes and the need for targeted conservation intervention for this iconic tropical tree species.
Date Issued
2019-01-01
Date Acceptance
2018-12-12
Citation
Tropical Conservation Science, 2019, 12, pp.1-6
ISSN
1940-0829
Publisher
Mongabay.com
Start Page
1
End Page
6
Journal / Book Title
Tropical Conservation Science
Volume
12
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
Sponsor
Rainforest Research Sdn Bhd
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Grant Number
LBEE_P34395
NE/P00363X/1
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-01-09