Variable responses of individual species to tropical forest degradation

The functional stability of ecosystems depends greatly on interspecific differences in responses to environmental perturbation. However, responses to perturbation are not necessarily invariant among populations of the same species, so intraspecific variation in responses might also contribute. Such inter-population response diversity has recently been shown to occur spatially across species ranges, but we lack estimates of the extent to which individual populations across an entire community might have perturbation responses that vary through time. We assess this using 524 taxa that have been repeatedly surveyed for the effects of tropical forest logging at a focal landscape in Sabah, Malaysia. Just 39 % of taxa – all with non-significant responses to forest degradation – had invariant responses. All other taxa (61 %) showed significantly different responses to the same forest degradation gradient across surveys, with 6 % of taxa responding to forest degradation in opposite directions across multiple surveys. Individual surveys had low power (< 80 %) to determine the correct direction of response to forest degradation for one-fifth of all taxa. Recurrent rounds of logging disturbance increased the prevalence of intra-population response diversity, while uncontrollable environmental variation and/or turnover of intraspecific phenotypes generated variable responses in at least 44 % of taxa. Our results show that the responses of individual species to local environmental perturbations are remarkably flexible, likely providing an unrealised boost to the stability of disturbed habitats such as logged tropical forests

Thresholds for adding degraded tropical forest to the conservation estate

Logged and disturbed forests are often viewed as degraded and depauperate environments compared with primary forest. However, they are dynamic ecosystems1 that provide refugia for large amounts of biodiversity2,3, so we cannot afford to underestimate their conservation value4. Here we present empirically defined thresholds for categorizing the conservation value of logged forests, using one of the most comprehensive assessments of taxon responses to habitat degradation in any tropical forest environment. We analysed the impact of logging intensity on the individual occurrence patterns of 1,681 taxa belonging to 86 taxonomic orders and 126 functional groups in Sabah, Malaysia. Our results demonstrate the existence of two conservation-relevant thresholds. First, lightly logged forests (68%) of their biomass removed, and these are likely to require more expensive measures to recover their biodiversity value. Overall, our data confirm that primary forests are irreplaceable5, but they also reinforce the message that logged forests retain considerable conservation value that should not be overlooked

Thresholds for adding degraded tropical forest to the conservation estate

Logged and disturbed forests are often viewed as degraded and depauperate environments compared with primary forest. However, they are dynamic ecosystems1 that provide refugia for large amounts of biodiversity2,3, so we cannot afford to underestimate their conservation value4. Here we present empirically defined thresholds for categorizing the conservation value of logged forests, using one of the most comprehensive assessments of taxon responses to habitat degradation in any tropical forest environment. We analysed the impact of logging intensity on the individual occurrence patterns of 1,681 taxa belonging to 86 taxonomic orders and 126 functional groups in Sabah, Malaysia. Our results demonstrate the existence of two conservation-relevant thresholds. First, lightly logged forests (68%) of their biomass removed, and these are likely to require more expensive measures to recover their biodiversity value. Overall, our data confirm that primary forests are irreplaceable5, but they also reinforce the message that logged forests retain considerable conservation value that should not be overlooked

Thresholds for adding degraded tropical forest to the conservation estate

Logged and disturbed forests are often viewed as degraded and depauperate environments compared with primary forest. However, they are dynamic ecosystems1 that provide refugia for large amounts of biodiversity2,3, so we cannot afford to underestimate their conservation value4. Here we present empirically defined thresholds for categorizing the conservation value of logged forests, using one of the most comprehensive assessments of taxon responses to habitat degradation in any tropical forest environment. We analysed the impact of logging intensity on the individual occurrence patterns of 1,681 taxa belonging to 86 taxonomic orders and 126 functional groups in Sabah, Malaysia. Our results demonstrate the existence of two conservation-relevant thresholds. First, lightly logged forests (68%) of their biomass removed, and these are likely to require more expensive measures to recover their biodiversity value. Overall, our data confirm that primary forests are irreplaceable5, but they also reinforce the message that logged forests retain considerable conservation value that should not be overlooked

Amphibian survey of riparian buffer zones at SAFE Project, Borneo

Results from amphibian surveys carried out along riparian transect sites at SAFE project, Borneo Project: This dataset was collected as part of the following SAFE research project: MRes Tropical Forest Ecology Field CourseResults from amphibian surveys carried out along riparian transect sites at SAFE project, Borneo Project: This dataset was collected as part of the following SAFE research project: MRes Tropical Forest Ecology Field Course

Ecosystem process rates across SAFE project forest quality gradient

Examining rates at which vertebrate and invertebrate functional groups carry out 3 key ecosystem functions (seed removal, invertebrate predation and scavenging) and whether this changes across the SAFE project forest quality gradient. At second order sites (tree plots) within the SAFE project landscape, bait stations to test these three processes were set up. These consisted of 10 seeds (to test seed removal), live mealworm (to test invertebrate predation) or dead mealworm (to test scavenging). 3 bait stations for each ecosystem process set up in a triangle at the third order point (insect point). These consisted of baits attached to a plastic leaf. Each of these bait stations was assigned vertebrate exclusion treatment (wire cage), invertebrate exclusion (insect glue) or control (no exclusion). Data obtained from LIDAR used as a proxy for forest quality. This should help unravel how ecosystem process rates and the dominant functional group carrying out these processes may change as forests are degraded.Examining rates at which vertebrate and invertebrate functional groups carry out 3 key ecosystem functions (seed removal, invertebrate predation and scavenging) and whether this changes across the SAFE project forest quality gradient. At second order sites (tree plots) within the SAFE project landscape, bait stations to test these three processes were set up. These consisted of 10 seeds (to test seed removal), live mealworm (to test invertebrate predation) or dead mealworm (to test scavenging). 3 bait stations for each ecosystem process set up in a triangle at the third order point (insect point). These consisted of baits attached to a plastic leaf. Each of these bait stations was assigned vertebrate exclusion treatment (wire cage), invertebrate exclusion (insect glue) or control (no exclusion). Data obtained from LIDAR used as a proxy for forest quality. This should help unravel how ecosystem process rates and the dominant functional group carrying out these processes may change as forests are degraded.

Daily cycles in soil carbon flux

Measurements of 24 hour cycles in soil CO2 flux taken from soil collars in the Belian Carbon plot at Maliau. Measurements were taken from 12 subplots over four days at 5-hourly intervals, ensuring good coverage of the complete 24 hour cycle. Air and soil temperatures, soil moisture content and CO2 flux were taken from each plot at each visit. 9 subplots only have a single total soil respiration collar, but 3 subplots also have soil flux partitioning treatments to separate contributions to total respiration from soil organic matter, mycorrhizae and roots. This data was collected by the 2019 cohort of the Tropical Forest Ecology MRes at Imperial College London. Project: This dataset was collected as part of the following SAFE research project: MRes Tropical Forest Ecology Field CourseMeasurements of 24 hour cycles in soil CO2 flux taken from soil collars in the Belian Carbon plot at Maliau. Measurements were taken from 12 subplots over four days at 5-hourly intervals, ensuring good coverage of the complete 24 hour cycle. Air and soil temperatures, soil moisture content and CO2 flux were taken from each plot at each visit. 9 subplots only have a single total soil respiration collar, but 3 subplots also have soil flux partitioning treatments to separate contributions to total respiration from soil organic matter, mycorrhizae and roots. This data was collected by the 2019 cohort of the Tropical Forest Ecology MRes at Imperial College London. Project: This dataset was collected as part of the following SAFE research project: MRes Tropical Forest Ecology Field Cours