Biodiversity of leaf-litter ants in fragmented tropical rainforests of Borneo: the value of publically and privately managed forest fragments

摘要: In view of the rapid rate expansion agriculture in tropical regions, attention has focused on potential for privately-managed rainforest patches within agricultural land to contribute biodiversity conservation. However, these sites generally differ their history forest disturbance and management compared with other fragments, more information is required value sites, particularly oil-palm dominated landscapes SE Asia. Here we address this issue, using leaf-litter ants fragments surrounded by mature oil palm plantations Sabah, Borneo as a model system. We compare species richness composition ant assemblages (‘high conservation value’ fragments; HCVs) those publically-managed (virgin jungle reserves; VJRs) control extensive tracts primary forest. way, test hypothesis that result differences hence habitat quality. support hypothesis, found HCVs had much poorer quality than VJRs, including lower sizes densities trees, less canopy cover, fewer dipterocarp trees shallower leaf litter. Consequently, supported only half which turn 70 % vegetation structure explaining 77 variation among richness. were also smaller VJRs but there was weak relationship between fragment size quality, not related size. 78 156 whereas 22 %, slightly higher proportion previously recorded (19 %). These data previous findings VJR can make an important contribution landscapes. suggest be effective reservoirs biodiversity, restore instance through enrichment planting native tree species.