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Monsoon Forest (monsoon + forest)

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Life Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Distribution, seasonal use, and predation of incubation mounds of Orange-footed Scrubfowl on Komodo Island, Indonesia

JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
M. Jeri Imansyah
ABSTRACT Megapodes are unique in using only heat from the environment, rather than body heat, to incubate their eggs as well as the precocious independence of their chicks on hatching. Of 22 recognized species of megapodes, 9 are listed as threatened due to factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, and predation on eggs and chicks. Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt) are conspicuous components of the Oriental/Austral avifauna that inhabit the monsoon forests of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands in Indonesia. We examined the abundance, patterns of distribution, physical characteristics, seasonal activity, and predation risk of incubation mounds of Orange-footed Scrubfowl on Komodo Island in eastern Indonesia. We surveyed 13 valleys on Komodo Island from April 2002 to January 2005 and located 113 tended and 107 untended incubation mounds. Densities of scrubfowl mounds in our study were similar to that reported by investigators during the 1970s, suggesting little change in the scrubfowl population since then. Most scrubfowl mounds were on sandy or loamy soils in open monsoon forest with little overhead shade, and placement of mounds in such areas may ensure adequate temperatures for egg incubation. Although some mounds were tended during all months, mound use peaked during the late wet season in March. During the dry season (April,November), only a few mounds were tended. Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa) were the primary predators of scrubfowl eggs, with no indication of egg predation by humans. The valley with the largest number of untended mounds in our study also had the largest number of active Komodo dragon nests. This suggests an effect of Komodo dragons on scrubfowl numbers, but additional study is needed. SINOPSIS Los Megadopodos son únicos al usar calor del ambiente, en vez de calor corporal, para incubar sus huevos, y que sus polluelos nidífugos son independientes después de la eclosión. De las 22 especies de Megapodos reconocidas, nueve están en la lista de especies amenazadas debido a factores como pérdida y fragmentación del hábitat y depredación de huevos y polluelos. Megapodius reinwardt es un componente conspicuo de la avifauna Oriental/Austral que vive en los bosques monzones en las islas de las Sundas Menores en Indonesia. Examinamos la abundancia, patrones de distribución, características físicas, actividades temporales y riesgo de depredación en los montículos incubadores de M. reinwardt en la isla de Komodo en el este de Indonesia. Examinamos 13 valles en la isla de Komodo entre Abril 2002 y Enero 2005 y localizamos 113 montículos incubadores atendidos y 107 que no estaban siendo atendidos. Las densidades de montículos de M. reinwardt en nuestro sitio de estudio fueron similares a los reportados por investigadores en la década de los ,70, lo cual siguiere pocos cambios en la población de M. reinwardt desde entonces. La mayoría de los montículos de M. reinwardt se encontraron en suelos arenosos o margosos en bosques monzones abiertos, con poca cobertura de vegetación, y la localización de los montículos en estas áreas posiblemente aseguran temperaturas adecuadas para la incubación de los huevos. A pesar de que algunos montículos estuvieron atendidos durante todos los meses, el pico de uso de los montículos ocurrió durante el final de la temporada de lluvias en Marzo, y durante la temporada seca (Abril,Noviembre) solo algunos montículos estuvieron atendidos. Los dragones de Komodo (Varanus komodoensis) y los cerdos salvajes (Sus scrofa) fueron los principales depredadores de los huevos de M. reinwardt, y no hubo indicio de depredación por humanos. En nuestro estudio el valle con los mayores números de montículos desatendidos tenía el mayor número de nidos activos de dragones de Komodo. Este resultado sugiere la posibilidad de algún efecto de los dragones de Komodo en los números de Megapodius reinwardt, pero estudios adicionales son requeridos. [source]

The termite (Isoptera) fauna of a monsoonal rainforest near Darwin, northern Australia

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
Tracy Z Dawes-Gromadzki
Abstract, Termite species richness, frequency of occurrence and functional diversity at Holmes Jungle Nature Reserve, a monsoon rainforest patch in northern Australia, was investigated at the end of the wet season in 2003. A sampling protocol that employed direct search, soil pits and baiting techniques was used to sample litter, wood, mound, soil and arboreal nest microhabitats for termites. Five species from five genera and three families (Mastotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae) were recorded. This included the first record of Ephelotermes taylori (Hill) from monsoon forest in Australia. The family Termitidae was dominant and represented 70% of termite occurrences. Termites were most frequently encountered in carton runways on tree trunks, followed by lying dead wood and baits. Four nesting habits were represented: arboreal, epigeal, hypogeal and within wood. The arboreal nest-builder Nasutitermes graveolus (Hill) accounted for 61% of termite encounters. Epigeal mound-building species were rare. Wood-feeders were the only trophic group represented. Relatively high activity of Mastotermes darwiniensis Froggatt was recorded at baits within 2.5 months. The low species richness recorded at Holmes Jungle is consistent with the low diversity reported for Australian rainforests generally, but remains relatively depauperate compared with other monsoon forest and savanna habitats of the Northern Territory. [source]

Distribution, seasonal use, and predation of incubation mounds of Orange-footed Scrubfowl on Komodo Island, Indonesia

JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
M. Jeri Imansyah
ABSTRACT Megapodes are unique in using only heat from the environment, rather than body heat, to incubate their eggs as well as the precocious independence of their chicks on hatching. Of 22 recognized species of megapodes, 9 are listed as threatened due to factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, and predation on eggs and chicks. Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt) are conspicuous components of the Oriental/Austral avifauna that inhabit the monsoon forests of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands in Indonesia. We examined the abundance, patterns of distribution, physical characteristics, seasonal activity, and predation risk of incubation mounds of Orange-footed Scrubfowl on Komodo Island in eastern Indonesia. We surveyed 13 valleys on Komodo Island from April 2002 to January 2005 and located 113 tended and 107 untended incubation mounds. Densities of scrubfowl mounds in our study were similar to that reported by investigators during the 1970s, suggesting little change in the scrubfowl population since then. Most scrubfowl mounds were on sandy or loamy soils in open monsoon forest with little overhead shade, and placement of mounds in such areas may ensure adequate temperatures for egg incubation. Although some mounds were tended during all months, mound use peaked during the late wet season in March. During the dry season (April,November), only a few mounds were tended. Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa) were the primary predators of scrubfowl eggs, with no indication of egg predation by humans. The valley with the largest number of untended mounds in our study also had the largest number of active Komodo dragon nests. This suggests an effect of Komodo dragons on scrubfowl numbers, but additional study is needed. SINOPSIS Los Megadopodos son únicos al usar calor del ambiente, en vez de calor corporal, para incubar sus huevos, y que sus polluelos nidífugos son independientes después de la eclosión. De las 22 especies de Megapodos reconocidas, nueve están en la lista de especies amenazadas debido a factores como pérdida y fragmentación del hábitat y depredación de huevos y polluelos. Megapodius reinwardt es un componente conspicuo de la avifauna Oriental/Austral que vive en los bosques monzones en las islas de las Sundas Menores en Indonesia. Examinamos la abundancia, patrones de distribución, características físicas, actividades temporales y riesgo de depredación en los montículos incubadores de M. reinwardt en la isla de Komodo en el este de Indonesia. Examinamos 13 valles en la isla de Komodo entre Abril 2002 y Enero 2005 y localizamos 113 montículos incubadores atendidos y 107 que no estaban siendo atendidos. Las densidades de montículos de M. reinwardt en nuestro sitio de estudio fueron similares a los reportados por investigadores en la década de los ,70, lo cual siguiere pocos cambios en la población de M. reinwardt desde entonces. La mayoría de los montículos de M. reinwardt se encontraron en suelos arenosos o margosos en bosques monzones abiertos, con poca cobertura de vegetación, y la localización de los montículos en estas áreas posiblemente aseguran temperaturas adecuadas para la incubación de los huevos. A pesar de que algunos montículos estuvieron atendidos durante todos los meses, el pico de uso de los montículos ocurrió durante el final de la temporada de lluvias en Marzo, y durante la temporada seca (Abril,Noviembre) solo algunos montículos estuvieron atendidos. Los dragones de Komodo (Varanus komodoensis) y los cerdos salvajes (Sus scrofa) fueron los principales depredadores de los huevos de M. reinwardt, y no hubo indicio de depredación por humanos. En nuestro estudio el valle con los mayores números de montículos desatendidos tenía el mayor número de nidos activos de dragones de Komodo. Este resultado sugiere la posibilidad de algún efecto de los dragones de Komodo en los números de Megapodius reinwardt, pero estudios adicionales son requeridos. [source]

Phenological patterns in monsoon rainforests in the Northern Territory, Australia

AUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2002
Christine Susanne Bach
Abstract Monsoon rainforests occur as scattered patches within a landscape dominated by eucalypt savannas across the wet,dry tropics of northern Australia. This study formed part of a larger project that investigated the interactions between frugivores and monsoon rainforest patches in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Phenological patterns in a set of 12 wet monsoon forests (WMF) and four dry monsoon forests (DMF) were examined by monitoring individuals of more than 100 species over 30 months. Phenological patterns of both WMF and DMF were closely related to the strongly seasonal climate. Leaf flush occurred before the onset of the wet season in WMF, and coincided with the onset of the wet in DMF. Major flowering peaks coincided with leaf flush in both forest types. Fruiting was concentrated in the wet season in both forest types, but fruiting peaks of WMF and DMF were separated by 3,4 months. Variations in fruiting patterns among forest types, patches, seasons and groupings of plant species (based on life form and ecological positioning) provide a mosaic of food resources for frugivores. This has important implications for the conservation and maintenance of the frugivore,rainforest system in northern Australia. [source]