Page 24 - Tropical Peat Swamp Forests of Sarawak FA
P. 24
Leaf and fruit production in peat Studies to the production of litter in Maludam
swamp forest NP have shown that leaf and fruit production
varied throughout the season. The production of “Overall, the fruit production
Maludam National Park is home to a large num- fruits and leaves was measured using litter traps
ber of animals that depend on fruits and leaves along four transects. The litter collected during in the Maludam forest was
for food. Proboscis monkeys, for example, feed the litter trap studies in Maludam NP belonged
primarily on young tree leaves, while various to 126 species of trees and lianas. Most of this lit- very low”
hornbill species heavily depend on fruits from ter consisted of fallen leaves (81%). Twigs made
diferent tree species. The food of the rare and up 14% and 3% of the litter mass consisted of
endangered red banded langur, the lagship fruits and seeds. Further litter trap studies are needed to verify
species of the Maludam National Park, is not these preliminary indings. The results must be
Planting of ramin as part of the rehabilitation suiciently known, but it is likely that this spe- Leaf production was the highest in April. The combined with feeding ecology studies on the
work done on the peat swamp forest of Maludam cies too partly depends on fruits. Observations mean annual leaf production per transect key animal species in the forest, to allow the
National Park. in the park have shown that this species also ranged from 5.9 to 6.6 tonnes per hectare. Over- formulation of sound management strategies for
consumes leaves of alan (Shorea spp.) and other all, the fruit production in the Maludam forest the conservation of these species.
trees. was very low and peaked at the end of the wet
This study obtained valuable information on the season (April-May). The mean monthly fruit
park’s lora and vegetation, and has contributed production per transect ranged from 46 to 104
to a better understanding of the ecosystems and “Maludam National Park is grams only.
their values. It has also shown that the park’s
existing resources are becoming scarce. These home to a large number of
must be carefully managed so as not to cause
irreparable damage to the ecosystem, and also animals that depend on fruits
because they represent an extremely valuable
gene pool for a variety of species, many of which and leaves for food”
are becoming very rare.
Seedlings of peat swamp forest species (ramin) in a greenhouse . This experiment was set up to test how water
and light availability was afecting the growth rate. Litter trap suspended between trees.
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24 25
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swamp forest NP have shown that leaf and fruit production
varied throughout the season. The production of “Overall, the fruit production
Maludam National Park is home to a large num- fruits and leaves was measured using litter traps
ber of animals that depend on fruits and leaves along four transects. The litter collected during in the Maludam forest was
for food. Proboscis monkeys, for example, feed the litter trap studies in Maludam NP belonged
primarily on young tree leaves, while various to 126 species of trees and lianas. Most of this lit- very low”
hornbill species heavily depend on fruits from ter consisted of fallen leaves (81%). Twigs made
diferent tree species. The food of the rare and up 14% and 3% of the litter mass consisted of
endangered red banded langur, the lagship fruits and seeds. Further litter trap studies are needed to verify
species of the Maludam National Park, is not these preliminary indings. The results must be
Planting of ramin as part of the rehabilitation suiciently known, but it is likely that this spe- Leaf production was the highest in April. The combined with feeding ecology studies on the
work done on the peat swamp forest of Maludam cies too partly depends on fruits. Observations mean annual leaf production per transect key animal species in the forest, to allow the
National Park. in the park have shown that this species also ranged from 5.9 to 6.6 tonnes per hectare. Over- formulation of sound management strategies for
consumes leaves of alan (Shorea spp.) and other all, the fruit production in the Maludam forest the conservation of these species.
trees. was very low and peaked at the end of the wet
This study obtained valuable information on the season (April-May). The mean monthly fruit
park’s lora and vegetation, and has contributed production per transect ranged from 46 to 104
to a better understanding of the ecosystems and “Maludam National Park is grams only.
their values. It has also shown that the park’s
existing resources are becoming scarce. These home to a large number of
must be carefully managed so as not to cause
irreparable damage to the ecosystem, and also animals that depend on fruits
because they represent an extremely valuable
gene pool for a variety of species, many of which and leaves for food”
are becoming very rare.
Seedlings of peat swamp forest species (ramin) in a greenhouse . This experiment was set up to test how water
and light availability was afecting the growth rate. Litter trap suspended between trees.
25
24 25
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