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306 THE BREEDING SEASON OF THREE SYMPATRIC RODENTS IN KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK, THAI- LAND (NO. 808) Shunsuke Suzuki 1 , Shumpei Kitamura 2 , Masahiro Kon 1 , Pilai Poonswad 2 , Takakazu Yumoto 3 , Naohiko Noma 1 , and Prawat Wohandee 4 1 Graduated School of Environmental Science, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone, 522-8533, Japan; 2 Thailand Hornbill Project, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; 3 Research Institute of Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, 602-0878, Japan; 4 National Parks Division, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Phaholyothin Rd., Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Key words : Rodents, Breeding season It has been reported that the breeding season of small mammals coincide with the onset of the rainy season or fruiting season in Southeast Asia. In the Khao Yai National Park having distinct rainy and dry seasons, some studies have revealed that the fruit availability fluctuates seasonally. The present study was made in order to know seasonal reproductive patterns of sympatric rodent species inhabiting in Khao Yai National Park, and to study the relationship between the rodents breeding season and precipitation or fruit availability. The study was carried out in the Khao Yai National Park in Thailand from July 2000 to April 2004. The three dominant rodent species, Maxomys surifer, Niviventer fulvescens and Rattus remotus, were studied. The seasonal captured pattern of juveniles suggested that all the species studied had an annual breeding season. The two large species, M. surifer and R. remotus, bred in the rainy season whereas the smallest specie, N. fulvescens, in the dry season. For the two large species, the number of juveniles was positively correlated with precipitation with zero or one month lag. Although the fruit availability tended to be high in the rainy season whereas low in the dry season, no correlation was observed between the fruit availability and the number of juveniles for any species. In contrast, the number of juveniles of N. fulvescens was significantly correlated with the availability of figs with one or two month lag. The fruits of figs were considered as important food for frugivorous animals in the dry season because they were available even in the dry season as well as in the rainy season. The results of camera trapping suggested that N. fulvescens preferred figs. Thus it is suggested that figs in the dry season may be one of important food item for breeding of N. fulvescens. (Poster Presentation at The 9 th International Mammalogical Congress , Sapporo, Japan 31 July – 5 August 2005. Supported by Research Fund of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS Research Fund for Basic Science) ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS OBSERVED BY USING CAMERA TRAPPING (NO. 809) Shunsuke Suzuki 1 , Shumpei Kitamura 2 , Masahiro Kon 1 , Pilai Poonswad 2 , Phitaya Chuailua 2 Kamol Plongmai 2 Takakazu Yumoto 3 , Naohiko Noma 1 , Tamaki Maruhashi 4 and Prawat Wohandee 5 1 Graduated School of Environmental Science, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone, 522-8533, Japan. ; 2 Thailand Hornbill Project, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; 3 Research Institute of Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, 602-0878, Japan.; 4 Department of Human and Culture, Musashi University, Tokyo 176-8534, Japan.; 5 National Parks Division, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Phaholyothin Rd., Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Key words: Terrestrial mammals, camera trapping Faculty of Science Based on the data taken by Camera trapping baited with fruits, we described the daily activity patterns of terrestrial mammals in the tropical seasonal forest in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Camera trapping has been widely utilized in ecological researches on animals. For the data by camera trapping, there was a problem for the definition of one visit of an animal; pictures that have been taken consecutively may not necessarily represent independent visits.0To overcome this problem, some studies were considered consecutive pictures of the same species taken within a certain period of time as a single event. In the present study, we utilized logsurvivorship curve for defining an independent visit. Twelve species for which 30 or more visits had been recorded were classified into four categories based on their activity patterns. Two mammals (Callosciurus finlaysonii and Macaca nemestrina) were active unimodally with a peak around noon, and these species shares an arboreal habitat. Two mammals (Menetes berdmorei and Tupaia belangeri) were active bimodally with peaks around dawn and dusk, and these species are known mainly active on the ground. Five rodent species (Hystrix brachyura, Leopoldamys sabanus, Maxomys surifer, Niviventer fulvescens, and Rattus remotus) were not active during the daytime at all. Three Artiodactyla (Cervus unicolor, Muntiacus muntjak and Tragulus javanicus) were active during both the dayand nighttimes. In addition, we analyzed the overlap between small mammal species in fruit species that the animals visited. Consequently, it was revealed that species resembling each other in fruit species visiting pattern tended to be segregated temporally whereas species having similar activity patterns tended to visit different fruit species. (Oral Presentation at The 9 th International Mammalogical Congress , Sapporo, Japan 31 July – 5 August 2005. Supported by Research Fund of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS Research Fund for Basic Science) COMPARISON OF SPECIES DIVERSITY AND POPULATION DENSITY FOR HORNBILLS IN THREE DIFFERENT CONSERVATION AREAS IN THAILAND WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVE- MENT (NO. 810) Pilai Poonswad 1 , Siriporn Thong-Aree 2 , Anak Pattanavibool 3 , Vijak Chimchome 4 , Saksit Simchareon 2 , Budsabong Kanchanasaka 2 , Philip Round 1 Youngyut Trisurat 4 , Mathurose Ponglikitmongkol 1 , Nareerat Viseshakul 5 , Parntep Ratanakorn 6 , Prawat Wohandee 2 , Sitthichai Mudsri 2 and Nipon Sa-nguanyad 2 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400; 2 National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department , National Park and Wildlife Research Division, Natural Resource Conservation office Bangkok 10900, Thailand; 3 Wildlife Conservation Society Thailand Program, P.O Box 170, Laksi, Bangkok 10210; 4 Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University Bangkok 10900; 5 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330; 6 Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Nakornpathom 73170. 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Mahidol University Annual Research Abstracts, Vol. 33 307 The forests of Thailand support 13 species of hornbills. Hornbills are attractive and interesting by their size, appearance and nesting habits. The female hornbill imprisons herself in a natural cavity in a large tree, leaving a small opening for her mate to feed her and later the chick(s). Through awareness of various ongoing threats to hornbill populations, including habitat destruction, poaching and felling of potential nest trees, we received funding from the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) for a study of the species diversity, population sizes and genetic variation across the fragmented forest landscape in various parts of Thailand. We used point counts to determine species diversity and population density, and we present here the results from our 2004 studies in three conservation areas. We recorded four species in the monsoon tropical forest of Khao Yai National Park (1,965 km 2 ), including Great (Buceros bicornis), Wreathed (Rhyticeros undulatus), Brown (Anorrhinus austeni) and Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris). Population density of all species was estimated at 3 individuals/10 km 2 . In the montane, dry evergreen, mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forests of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (2,697 km 2 ), we recorded six species, Great, Wreathed, Oriental Pied, Tickell’s Brown (Anorrhinus tickelli), Rufous-necked (Aceros nipalensis) and Plain-pouched Hornbills (R. subruficollis). Population density of all species was estimated at 1 individual/10 km 2 . Whereas, in the tropical rainforest of Budo Sungai-Padi National Park (189 km 2 ), where we recorded six hornbill species, Great, Wreathed, Rhinoceros (B. rhinoceros), Helmeted (Rhinoplax vigil), Bushy-crested (Anorrhinus galeritus) and Whitecrowned Hornbills (Berenicornis comatus), population density of all species was estimated at 13 individuals/10 km 2 . The differences in densities of hornbills between these three conservation areas may be due to differences in the area, type, and perhaps the quality of these forests. However, the high density at Budo Sungai-Padi National Park may have been influenced by the intensive conservation program during the past 10 years. Before 1994, Budo Sungai-Padi National Park surrounded by Muslim communities experienced heavy poaching of hornbill chicks for the pet trade. Within the last 10 years, we have succeeded in converting local poachers to become field research assistants and eco-tour guides. The former poachers assist with counts of hornbills and help to protect hornbills by watching nests throughout the long breeding cycle of up to six months during which they gather scientific information on nesting behaviour, food and feeding. To subsidize the lost income of these local assistants, we developed a “hornbill family adoption” program in 1998. By 2004, the 103 sponsors were 53% Thais and 47% foreigners and they had supported to watch over 150 nests of six hornbill species. This program has shown clear and progressive development of relationships between urban, rural and wilderness values, using hornbills as a tool and at the same time ensuring their sustainable conservation. Over the 10 years, we estimate that more than 300 hornbill chicks have fledged successfully at Budo Sungai-Padi National Park. (Oral Presentation at The 8 th World Wilderness Congress, Alaska, USA, 30 September - 6 October 2005. Supported by National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) and Hornbill Research Foundation) HOW PROPER MANAGEMENT CAN ASSIST HORNBILL CONSERVATION: THE THAILAND EXPERIENCE (NO. 811) Pilai Poonswad Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Rd., Bangkok 10400. Thailand possesses diverse forest habitat types ranging from peat swamp forest and mangrove to montane forest. Therefore, she supports 13 species of forest hornbills, and they are facing various threats. There are two considerably serious threats which affect the well-being of hornbill populations. These two are genuine human activities, including hunting hornbills for the pet trade and for food, and forest destruction. Although hornbill hunting is a temporary activity, it may nonetheless extirpate hornbill sub-populations from one location within a short period. While forest destruction for cultivation, development or land possession causes long-term and lasting effects on hornbill populations. Hunting is not impossible to manage as compared with forest destruction. To change hunting attitudes a number of approaches will be presented. Besides humancreated threats, hornbills are inevitably facing natural threats. Due to their inability to excavate their own nest cavities, nesting hornbills follow a nest-reuse regimen. Thus, another important factor, which directly affects nest cavities, arises from natural processes, including tree bark regeneration and wood decomposition. Bark regeneration causes closure of nest entrances, while wood decomposition causes nest floor sinking. Clues for the need for nest cavity monitoring include long-unused nests, occurrence of nesting attempts without sealing attempts and the abandonment of regularly used nests. These unsuitable conditions will result in a shortage of nest cavities, and consequently competition occurs. Simple modification of cavities to increase the chances of hornbills to breed has been successfully proven. (Keynote speaker at The 4 th International Hornbill Conference, Mabula Game Lodge , South Africa, 6-10 November 2005; Supported by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) and Hornbill Research Foundation, Thailand.) RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FRUITS AND HORNBILL ASSEMBLAGES IN LOWLAND DIPTEROCARP FORESTS IN SOUTHERN THAILAND (NO. 812) Shumpei Kitamura 1 , Pilai Poonswad 1 , Siriporn Thong-Aree 2 , Sitichai Madsri 2 , Takakazu Yumoto 3 1 Thailand Hornbill Project, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand; 2 National Parks Division, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Phaholyothin Rd., Bangkok 10900, Thailand; 3 Research Institute of Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 602-0878, Japan. Interactions among fleshy fruits and hornbill assemblages are presented from a 1-y study in lowland dipterocarp forests of Budo Sungai Padi National Park and Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in Southern Thailand. This community-level approach allowed us to determine food selection by hornbills and to evaluate their role in PDF created with FinePrint pdfFactory Pro trial version http://www.pdffactory.com
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