Milne, S, Martin, JGA, Reynolds, G, Vairappan, CS, Slade, EM, Brodie, JF, Wich, SA, Williamson, N and Burslem, DFRP (2021) Drivers of Bornean orangutan distribution across a multiple-use tropical landscape. Remote Sensing, 13 (3). ISSN 2072-4292

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Abstract

Logging and conversion of tropical forests in Southeast Asia have resulted in the expansion of landscapes containing a mosaic of habitats that may vary in their ability to sustain local biodiversity. However, the complexity of these landscapes makes it difficult to assess abundance and distribution of some species using ground-based surveys alone. Here we deployed a combination of ground-transects and aerial surveys to determine drivers of the Critically Endangered Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) distribution across a large multiple-use landscape in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Ground-transects and aerial surveys using drones were conducted for orangutan nests and strangler fig trees (an important food resource) in 48 survey areas across 76 km2, within a study landscape of 261 km2 Orangutan nest count data were fitted to models accounting for variation in land use, above-ground carbon density (ACD; a surrogate for forest quality), strangler fig density, and elevation (between 117 and 675 m). Orangutan nest counts were significantly higher in all land uses possessing natural forest cover, regardless of degradation status, than in monoculture plantations. Within these natural forests, nest counts increased with higher ACD and strangler fig density, but not with elevation. In logged forest (ACD 14 – 150 Mg ha-1), strangler fig density had a significant, positive relationship with orangutan nest counts, but this relationship disappeared in forest with higher carbon content (ACD 150- 209 Mg ha-1). Based on an area-to-area comparison, orangutan nest counts from ground transects were higher than from counts derived from aerial surveys, but this did not constitute a statistically significant difference. Although the difference in nest counts was not significantly different, this analysis indicates that both methods under-sample the total number of nests present within a given area. Aerial surveys are therefore a useful method for assessing orangutan habitat use over large areas, however the under-estimation of nest counts by both methods suggests that a small number of ground surveys should be retained in future surveys using this technique, particularly in areas with dense understory vegetation. This study shows that even highly degraded forests may be suitable orangutan habitat as long as strangler fig trees remain intact after areas of forest are logged. Enrichment planting of strangler figs may therefore be a valuable tool for orangutan conservation in these landscapes.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0203 Classical Physics, 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience, 0909 Geomatic Engineering
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology S Agriculture > SD Forestry S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Divisions:	Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	MDPI
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2021 10:16
Last Modified:	11 Mar 2022 17:15
DOI or ID number:	10.3390/rs13030458
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14331

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