Assessing cross-edge spillover of mammals in forest plantation through rapid camera-trapping

Forest plantations are of high economic importance with respect to supplying timber locally and internationally as well as reduces logging pressure on natural forests. However, the response of wildlife to such plantation establishment is unknown. This study aimed to assess if spillover effect exists at the edge of the natural forests and forest plantations. From a total of 520 trap nights, 155 photographs of wildlife consisting of 8 mammal species from 8 families were obtained from 20 camera-trap locations at the edge of an eucalypt plantation in Gua Musang, Kelantan, northeastern Malaysia. The majority of the photographs were derived from common species such as Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Malay Civet (Viverra tangalunga), with a calculated relative abundance index of 5.38 and 0.77, respectively. The presence of several elusive forest species was also detected, including the Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) and Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) demonstrating possible cross-edge spillover. These preliminary findings suggest more detailed studies should be conducted to assess the potential use and behaviour of mammals in forest plantations as well as the long-term changes in wildlife composition for future conservation planning within these planted forests.

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