Survival strategies of a frugivore, the sun bear, in a forest-oil palm landscape

As large areas of forest are lost throughout the tropics, prime habitat of many species decline and become fragmented. The island of Borneo is a prime example, with accelerated clearing of forests primarily for oil palm expansion. Borneo is recognized as an important stronghold for the conservation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Biodiversity and conservation Vol. 27; no. 14; pp. 3657 - 3677
Main Authors:	Guharajan, Roshan, Arnold, Todd W., Bolongon, Gilmoore, Dibden, Grace H., Abram, Nicola K., Teoh, Shu Woan, Magguna, Mohd Azzumar, Goossens, Benoit, Wong, Siew Te, Nathan, Senthilvel K. S. S., Garshelis, David L.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-12-2018 Springer Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Adaptation Agricultural land Bears Biodiversity Biomedical and Life Sciences Boats Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts Conservation Biology/Ecology Ecology Exploitation Feeds Floodplains Forests Fragmentation Fragments Habitat fragmentation Habitat selection Habitat utilization Habitats Helarctos malayanus Landscape Life Sciences Oil Oil palm trees Original Paper Plantations Population decline Protection and preservation Rivers Surveys Survival Tropical environments Vegetable oils Borneo Habitat use Lower Kinabatangan Borneo Sabah Oil palm Fragmentation
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Summary:	As large areas of forest are lost throughout the tropics, prime habitat of many species decline and become fragmented. The island of Borneo is a prime example, with accelerated clearing of forests primarily for oil palm expansion. Borneo is recognized as an important stronghold for the conservation of the sun bear ( Helarctos malayanus ), but it is unclear how habitat reduction and fragmentation is affecting this frugivore. We used camera traps and sign surveys to understand patterns of sun bear habitat use in a matrix of fragmented forests and extensive oil palm development, which has existed as such for > 15 years: the Lower Kinabatangan floodplain in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Within these small forest fragments, squeezed between a major river and oil palm plantations, bears exhibited selection for areas farther from human activity (plantations, river boat traffic, and buildings), and were rarely active during the day, demonstrating both spatial and temporal avoidance of potential human-related threats. They selected large trees to feed and rest, and also exploited adjacent plantations to feed on oil palm fruits. We conclude that even relatively small forest fragments (~ 2000 ha) within large agricultural landscapes can be important for sun bears. Our research highlights the remarkable adaptations this species has employed to persist in a drastically modified landscape.
ISSN:	0960-3115 1572-9710
DOI:	10.1007/s10531-018-1619-6