Preservation Paradigms and Tropical Rain Forests

Integrated Marine and coastal management: a strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological resources in the Socotra Archipelago, Yemen

Tropical forests sustain the most diverse plants and animals in the world, but are also being lost most rapidly. Rapid assessment and monitoring using remote sensing on biodiversity of tropical forests is needed to predict and evaluate biodiversity loss by human activities. Identification of reliable indicators of forest biodiversity and/or its loss is an urgent issue. In the present paper, we propose the density of road networks in tropical forests can be a good and practical indicator of human impacts on biodiversity in tropical forests through reviewing papers and introducing our preliminary survey in peninsular Malaysia. Many previous studies suggest a strong negative impact of forest roads on biodiversity in tropical rainforests since they changes microclimate, soil properties, drainage patterns, canopy openness and forest accessibility. Moreover, our preliminary survey also showed that even a narrow logging road (6 m wide) significantly lowered abundance of dung beetles (well-known bio-indicator in biodiversity survey in tropical forests) near the road. Since these road networks are readily to be detected with remote sensing approach such as aerial photographs and Lider, regulation and monitoring of the road networks using remote sensing techniques is a key to slow down the rate of biodiversity loss due to forest degradation in tropical forests.

We used traps baited with fruit to examine how the temporal variation of butterflies within primary forest in Sabah, Borneo differed between species. In addition, we compared patterns of temporal variation in primary and selectively logged forest, and we tested the hypothesis that selective logging has different recorded impacts on species diversity of adults during the wet monsoon period and the drier remaining half of the year. Species of Satyrinae and Morphinae had significantly less-restricted flight periods than did species of Nymphalinae and Charaxinae, which were sampled mainly during the drier season, especially in primary forest. Species diversity of adults was significantly higher during the drier season in primary forest, but did not differ between seasons in logged forest. As a consequence, logging had opposite recorded impacts on diversity during wetter and drier seasons: primary forest had significantly higher diversity than logged forest during the drier season but significantly lower diversity than logged forest during the wetter monsoon season. The results of this study have important implications for the assessment of biodiversity in tropical rain forests, particularly in relation to habitat disturbance: short-term assessments that do not take account of seasonal variation in abundance are likely to produce misleading results, even in regions where the seasonal variation in rainfall is not that great.

The role of reduced-impact logging on the preservation of biodiversity in tropical lowland dipterocarp rainforest is examined by looking at differences in dung beetle community structure between two sites logged in 1993: one harvested using reduced-impact methods and one using conventional techniques. Collections were made using two flight intercept traps over 7 d, and samples were compared with previous collections made from primary forest (riverine and interior-forest) and older forest logged using conventional techniques (logged in 1981). Of the two 1993 sites, the higher diversity and species richness (S = 57, n = 969, alpha = 13.23, H′ = 3.24) was recorded in the forest logged using reduced-impact techniques: the conventionally logged site had both lower diversity and species richness (S = 48, n = 1968, alpha = 8.88, H′ = 1.89), and lacked some primary forest specialists present in the reduced-impact forest samples. The dung beetle community in the 1993 conventional logged site is similar to that of the conventional logging site harvested in 1981. Primary forest has a well-defined ecotone, from interior to riverine forest: both 1993 sites contain a mixture of interior-forest and riverine specialists that are usually spatially separated along this ecotone. Although the dung beetle assemblage in the forest harvested by reduced-impact logging is more similar to a primary interior-forest assemblage than the conventionally logged site, both 1993 sites have assemblages that are closer in similarity to assemblages from primary-riverine habitat than they are to ones from primary interior-forest. However, because the forest logged using reduced-impact logging techniques has a more equitable and diverse dung beetle assemblage and a greater number of interior-forest specialists than the conventionally logged site, this study suggests that reduced-impact logging has better preserved the primary forest assemblage than conventional logging techniques.

Marine biological resources in general and biological resources of the deep sea and the deep seabed in particular are threatened by a variety of human activities. Those activities considered marine scientific research and related activities such as scientific sampling and bioprospecting can pose a threat to the conservation of these biological resources if performed in an unrestricted manner. Whether legal rules on marine scientific research should be applicable to highly commercial activities such as bioprospecting is doubtful. The current legal regulations provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention on Biological Diversity are not designed to provide for an adequate regime on the protection of biological resources in areas located outside national sovereignty. As a result, a new treaty on the protection and sustainable use of marine biological resources located outside national jurisdiction is necessary and must focus upon a common heritage approach. An institutional framework for such a regime can either be newly established together with an agreement or be established by an existing institution e.g. the International Seabed Authority.

Species and phylogenetic diversity play vital roles in sustaining the structure, function, and resilience of plant communities, particularly in tropical rainforests. However, the mechanisms according to which environmental filtering and competitive exclusion influence diversity across forest layers remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated the species and phylogenetic diversity patterns in two representative tropical rainforest sites—Bawangling and Jianfengling—within Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China, focusing on communities associated with the endangered species Hopea hainanensis. We employed a one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation analyses to examine the distribution characteristics and interrelationships among diversity indices and used Mantel tests to assess the correlations with environmental variables. Our results revealed that the plant community in Jianfengling exhibited a significantly higher species richness at the family, genus, and species levels (a total of 288 plant species have been recorded, belonging to 82 families and 183 genera) compared to that in Bawangling (a total of 212 plant species, belonging to 75 families and 162 genera). H. hainanensis held the highest importance value in the middle tree layer across both sites (IV(BWL) = 12.44; IV(JFL) = 5.73), while dominant species varied notably among other forest layers, indicating strong habitat specificity. Diversity indices, including the Simpson index, the Shannon–Wiener index, and Pielou’s evenness, were significantly higher in the large shrub layer of Jianfengling, whereas Bawangling showed a relatively higher Shannon–Wiener index in the middle shrub layer. Phylogenetic diversity (PD) and the phylogenetic structure indices (NRI and NTI) displayed distinct vertical stratification patterns between sites. Furthermore, the PD in Bawangling’s large shrub layer was positively correlated with total phosphorus in the soil, while community evenness was influenced by soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. In Jianfengling, species richness was significantly associated with soil bulk density, altitude, and pH. These findings enhance our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping biodiversity in tropical rainforests and highlight the importance of incorporating both species and phylogenetic metrics into the conservation strategies for endangered species such as Hopea hainanensis.

Hunters and gatherers living in tropical forests represent an important part of the total range of variation among contemporary hunting and gathering societies. Studies of tropical forest hunting and gathering peoples have contributed to our perceptions of the foraging way of life. Yet no peoples have ever been directly observed living independently of agriculture in tropical rain forest. This article tests the hypothesis that humans do not exist nor have ever existed independently of agriculture in tropical rain forest. We find no convincing ethnographic evidence and, with the possible exception of Malaysia, no archeological evidence for pure foragers in undisturbed tropical rain forests. Negative evidence cannot be conclusive, but it suggests that we need to carefully reexamine common assumptions concerning the recent history of tropical forest dwellers, the adaptability of preagricultural humans, the geographic and environmental range of hominids, and the form and consequences of selection pressures acting on humans in warm, humid environments. The overriding purpose of this article is to stimulate further ecological and archeological research in the neglected tropical forest areas of the world.

Minimum carbon uptake controls the interannual variability of ecosystem productivity in tropical evergreen forests

The cytogenetics of the southern short-horned tree dragon (Acanthosaura meridiona) are not reported yet. This study describes the karyotype of Acanthosaura meridiona Trivalairat, Sumontha, Kunya & Chaingkul, 2022 from southern Thailand. We using Giemsa staining, Ag-NOR banding, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques using microsatellites d(CA)15, d(TA)15, d(CGG)10, and d(CAA)10 probes to analyze the chromosome. The karyotype of the A. meridiona is 2n = 34 chromosomes (fundamental number of 46), of which 5 pairs were large metacentric chromosomes, 2 pairs small metacentric chromosomes, and 20 microchromosomes (chromosome formula: 2n=34=Lm10+ Sm4+20mi). There are no sex differences in karyotypes between males and females. The NORs loci were on pair 5 of the large metacentric macrochromosomes. The FISH technique showed d(CA)15 and d(CGG)10 repeats on specific regions microchromosomes, while signals of d(TA)15 and d(CAA)10 repeats interspersed on macro- and microchromosomes. This study is significant for enhances our comprehension of the evolutionary mechanism of agamid lizards and promotes the conservation of biodiversity in tropical rainforests.

In order to discuss the values and daily variation characteristics of heat storage fluxes in a tropical seasonal rain forest in Xishuangbanna, the sensible and latent heat storage flux within air column, canopy heat storage flux, energy storage by photosynthesis and ground heat storage above the soil heat flux plate, as well as the ratios of these heat storage fluxes to the net radiation in the cool-dry, hot-dry and rainy season were compared and analyzed based on the observation data of carbon fluxes, meteorological factors and biomass within this tropical seasonal rain forest from January 2003 to December 2004. The findings showed that heat storage terms ranged significantly in the daytime and weakly in the nighttime, and the absolute values of sensible and latent heat storage fluxes were obviously greater than other heat storage terms in all seasons. In addition, the absolute values of total heat storage fluxes reached the peak in the hot-dry season, then were higher in the rainy season, and reached the minimum in the cool-dry season. The ratios of heat storage fluxes to net radiation generally decreased with time in the daytime, moreover, the sensible and latent heat storage dominated a considerable fraction of net radiation, while other heat storage contents occupied a smaller fraction of the net radiation and the peak value was not above 3.5%. In the daytime, the ratios of the total heat storage to net radiation were greater and differences in these ratios were distinct among seasons before 12:00, and then they became lower and differences were small among sea-sons after 12:00. The energy closure was improved when the storage terms were considered in the energy balance, which indicated that heat storage terms should not been neglected. The energy closure of tropical seasonal rain forest was not very well due to effects of many factors. The results would help us to further understand energy transfer and mass exchange between tropical forest and atmosphere. Moreover, they would supply a research basis for studying energy closure at other places.

Tree size and fecundity influence ballistic seed dispersal of two dominant mast-fruiting species in a tropical rain forest

Tropical rain forests of the Far East forest structure animals in the forest the forest environment - climate seasonal cycles in plants and animals seed dispersal to seedling establishment growth of seedlings into trees the ecological basis of rain-forest silviculture growth rates, forest yields and biomass inorganic nutrients and their cycling the forest environment - soils forest formations 1 - the dry-land rain forests forest formations 2 - the wet-land rain forests monsoon forest formations animal life and forest formations conifers in the forest variation within the tropical lowland evergreen rain forests and its causes mountain rain forests man and the tropical rain forest secondary forest and shifting cultivation looking ahead. Appendix: select list of publications containing descriptions of tropical rain forest in the countries of the Far East. Bibliography, index of plant names, general index.

Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are identified by international health authorities as priorities for research and development, as they pose a threat to global health and economy. VHFs are zoonotic diseases whose acute forms in humans present a haemorrhagic syndrome and shock, with mortality rates of up to 90%. This work aims at synthetizing existing knowledge on spatial and spatially aggregable determinants that support the emergence and maintenance of VHFs in African countries covered by tropical moist forest, to better identify and map areas at risk. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, extension for scoping reviews, we searched the PubMed, Embase, CAB Abstracts, and Scopus databases. English and French peer-reviewed documents were retrieved using Boolean logic and keyword search terms. The analysis of 79 articles published between 1993 and 2023 offers a comprehensive overview of the complex interactions among abiotic, biotic, demographic, socio-economic, cultural, and political risk factors in driving the emergence and maintenance of VHFs in African countries covered by tropical moist forests. Human-to-human transmission is mainly driven by socio-economic, political, and demographic factors, whereas zoonotic spillover is determined by almost all groups of factors, especially those of an anthropogenic nature. Many questions remain unanswered regarding the epidemiology of VHFs in tropical forests. By elucidating spatially relevant determinants which have already been studied, this review seeks to advance VHFs hotspot predictions, risk mapping for disease surveillance and control systems improvement.

Tree community structure, carbon stocks and regeneration status of disturbed lowland tropical rain forests of Assam, India

Summary Until very recently there have been no digital data from satellites for studying events that occur at scales of 10–1000 m2 over large areas (100–100 000 ha). Many phenomena of interest to ecologists, such as impacts of selective logging on forest processes, occur over large extents but at local scales. Here we report results from a pilot project to evaluate through visual interpretation the potential of newly available 1‐m panchromatic and 4‐m multi‐spectral data from the IKONOS satellite, for studying forest structure, dynamics and logging impacts in logged and old‐growth tropical moist forest. The study area, the Mil Madeireira Itacoatiara Ltda site of Precious Woods Amazon, near Itacoatiara, Amazonas, Brazil, is managed using reduced‐impact logging practices to minimize environmental impacts, and thus represents a lower bound for logging impacts in tropical rain forests. The IKONOS image was georeferenced using uncorrected global positioning system (GPS) locations for 10 control trees whose crowns were clearly visible in the image. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the geometric transformation was 4 m, while the mean crown diameter of 50 randomly chosen trees in old‐growth forest was 9·4 m. The fact that the RMSE was less than half the average crown diameter implies that it will usually be possible to locate from the ground crowns that are distinct on the image, given sufficiently accurate GPS locations. IKONOS data are well suited for evaluating and monitoring logging impacts. Many impacts of logging were clearly observable in the image, including major and some minor roads, logging patios and larger logging gaps. Smaller extraction roads and logging gaps were not observable. Many individual trees were distinct on the IKONOS image, indicating that it is now feasible to conduct demographic studies of tropical rain forest canopy trees based on repeated satellite observations. Linking these remotely sensed data to ground data will require improved GPS positions, because it is currently difficult to obtain accurate GPS readings in tropical rain forest understoreys. Synthesis and applications. IKONOS 1‐m and 4‐m data were found to be useful for identifying individual trees as well as some logging management features in a tropical moist forest in central Amazonia. These data will have many applications for research and management of intervened and old‐growth tropical forests, including planning and assessment of logging activities, as well as monitoring adherence to certification criteria such as those of the Forest Stewardship Council. Rapid development of these applications will come from building on existing data on forest structure and function, and by fostering collaborations between remote sensing scientists, ecologists and natural resource managers.