Effects of water quality on waterbird diversity in converted oil palm plantations

Oil palm extension is a major driver for habitat loss in the tropics. Yet, while a number of studies have focussed on the consequences for terrestrial biodiversity, the impacts on waterbirds habitats and their associated fauna are less well described. Little information is available to guide the management of waterbirds and their habitat in oil palm production landscapes, particularly on those converted from natural wetlands such as mangrove and peat swamp forests. This study aims to determine the conservation value of flood-control drainage channels for waterbirds in oil palm plantations. This study also measured the water quality indicators (water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, water depth, conductivity, turbidity) and habitat characteristics (vegetation cover and channel width)to determine the relationships between waterbird species richness, water quality and habitat characteristics. Birds were surveyed along twenty five line transects within the peat swamp-converted and mangroves-converted oil palm smallholdings. Water quality parameter was measured in the middle of each line transects. Data was collected in seven smallholdings between March and December 2013. This study was recorded a total of 1111 waterbirds from eight resident species. Both mangrove forest-converted smallholdings and peat swamp-converted smallholdings had similar waterbirds diversity. Waterbirds species richness increased with increasing DO and decreased with water depth, temperature and conductivity. This association may be because of the suitability of the flood-control channels for aquatic invertebrates and fish, both of which are consumed by waterbirds and depend on sufficient levels of DO in the water to survive. The most parsimonious predictive model (minimum AIC = 476.48) explained 52.39% of the variation in the species richness. The data suggest that even man-made aquatic habitats, such as flood control channels, can be important for some conserving waterbirds in oil palm smallholdings. However, given the relatively small gains in terms of increased waterbird species richness in channels, the most successful strategy for conserving waterbirds still require the protection of intact wetlands that supported by better management of drainage channels in oil palm smallholdings

A preliminary investigation on water quality of water courses in oil palm smallholdings converted from peat swamp and mangrove forests

Oil palm smallholdings had been extensively established at the expense of peat swamp or mangrove forests. This study was conducted at peat swamp forest converted (PF) and mangrove forest-converted (MF) sites in Tanjung Karang, Selangor. Dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, temperature, electric conductivity (EC), turbidity, salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured with corresponding water levels at 25 stations in each study site. Kruskal-Wallis Analysis of Variance was used to compare the means of each water quality parameter for both study sites while the Spearman’s correlation tests were used to detect any collinearity between parameters. The preliminary results indicated that EC, salinity, pH and TDS were significantly higher in MF compared to PF (Kruskal Wallis p < 0.001) due to the high salt concentration in MF and low pH in PF. Although both study sites were converted to oil palm about 50 years ago, the water quality measured suggest that the levels were much influenced by the original land cover

A preliminary investigation on water birds and their relation with flood-control drain water quality in oil palm smallholdings

Human modified landscapes such as oil palm planted areas can sustain water bird communities. This study aimed at quantifying the diversity of water birds at aquatic habitats in oil palm smallholdings in Tanjung Karang, Selangor. Seven water quality characteristics were measured, namely, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved substance (TDS), water temperature, salinity, conductivity and turbidity. Ground vegetation cover, stream width, water level and stream velocity were also measured. Twenty five line transects were established within the peat swamp forest-converted (PF) and mangrove forest–converted (MF) oil palm smallholdings. Between March and April 2013, a total of 315 water birds (seven species - six residents and one migratory species) were recorded. The species diversity of water birds was higher in MF than PF. At PF, species richness increased with water level and TDS, but decreased with salinity. At MF, species richness decreased with water level and turbidity. Flood-control drains and water quality are important for water bird conservation in oil palm planted areas

WILDLIFE EX-SITU CONSERVATION : FORENSICS, BIOBANKING, ZOONOTIC DISEASES AND CAPTIVE BREEDING

Wildlife ex-situ conservation is a complete process of securing populations outside natural habitats. Tools like captive breeding, population genetics, artificial insemination and many others are key elements in this conservation practice. This book compiles all the advancements in ex-situ conservation via the application of forensics, captive breeding, molecular genetics, disease control and husbandry management by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia. A very precise and comprehensive explanation of each component is presented in this book. Those components include An Overview of ExSitu Conservation; Wildlife Forensics for Combating Wildlife Crime; Wildlife Biobanking; Wildlife Disease Surveillance; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release; Wildlife Husbandry Management and Way Forward of PERHILITAN’s ultimate goal in ex-situ conservation. All the information generated in this book will be valuable guidance for wildlife conservationists, policymakers, stakeholders and scholars. The authors of this book comprise a team with extensive experience and a wide range of skills, which make them highly qualified to publish the first-ever book on Ex-Situ Conservation in Peninsular Malaysia