Abstract
The remains of the rainforests of Sundaland are threatened by logging,burning and conversion to agriculture. In this study theeffects of different levels of disturbance and recovery on termites wereexamined. This was carried out on a regional scale and incorporated sixdifferent disturbance effects. Termites were found to be strongly effected bydisturbance, particularly by complete removal of the forest canopy. Recoveryfrom severe disturbance is discussed and we find that completely cleared andfarmed land, when left fallow near to a source area of primary forest for over50 years, can completely recover its termite assemblage andassociated ecosystem services. Over larger areas termites do not recover fromdisturbance events for millennia. The conservation implications of our findingsare discussed, with reference to both the conservation of species and ofecosystem services. We propose that most Sundan termite species can be conservedin a relatively small area. However, termite composition and ecosystem processesthroughout the region may be altered forever, if current widespread rainforestdestruction is not halted.
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Gathorne-Hardy, F., Jones, D. & Syaukani A regional perspective on the effects of human disturbance on the termites of Sundaland. Biodiversity and Conservation 11, 1991–2006 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020890627168
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020890627168
- Borneo
- Ecosystem services
- Forest fires
- Indonesia
- Logging
- Rainforest
- Recovery
- Sumatra