Difference in small mammals and forest structures between primary and secondary forests subjected to two different post-fire management practices in the Phou Khao Khauy National Protected Area, Lao PDR

Abstract

Abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the difference in small mammal community and habitat structure between two different post-fire management practices. Small mammals were captured ten consecutive nights from nine study plots in each of the three different stands, namely 1) natural forest stand, 2) post-burned rice field stand (4-6 years after abandonment), and 3) post-burned rubber plantation stand (< 5years post-burned and planted) in Phou Khao Khauy National Protected Area, Lao PDR. Small rodents were captured using live traps during two seasons following the rainy season in August 2015 and dry season in December 2015 to January 2016. In addition, to a capture-mark-release data nine factors related to the forest structure of the study plots were also recorded. Five species and 456 individuals of small mammals were captured in rainy seasons and dry season including Niviventer fulvescens, Maxomys surifer, Leopoldamys sabanus, Mus musculus and Rattus rattus. Total number of individuals captured from the natural forest stand area was the highest among the three stands, which was possibly due to the hight cover and food availability in relation to the increased sub-overstory and downed coarse woody debris. The number of individuals captured from the post-burned rubber plantation stand was the lowest among the three forest stands. This result showed that the rubber plantation after fire can have negative effects on habitat conditions for small mammal communities. The home range sizes of small rodents were affected by stands and season with different post-fire management practice. The home range size of individuals was estimated by each individual captured with more than three times, and the home rang of the individuals captured in the natural forest stand was smaller in size than that in the post-burned rice field stands. The home range size of individuals captured in the post- burned rubber plantation stand was the smallest among the three stands because the post-burned rubber plantation was slightly captured individuals during trapped session, especially in the dry season. Thus, the home range size was the smallest in this type of stands. The home range size was larger in the rainy season and smaller in the dry season. It showed that in the dry season, food quantity and quality are suitable than in rainy season. Small mammal communities were related with forest variables were significant in relationships between the numbers of small mammal individuals captured for N. fulvescens which had overstory coverage, sub-overstory, the number of tree stems, ground coverage, the volume of coarse woody debris (CWD) and the number of snag variables. M. musculus and R. rattus had an association with the number of tree stems and mid-story cover

M. surifer had number of tree stems, sub-overstory coverage and number of woody seeding and L. sabanus had positive association with overstory coverage and sub-overstory coverage. This result of the study showed that forest structure has an influence on small mammal communities, and that variations in small mammal species require different forest values for communities.

Keywords: dry season, forest structure, natural forest stand, post-burned rice field stand, post-burned rubber plantation stand, rainy season, small mammals

Student ID: 2014 - 25179