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Journal of Environmental Biology

pISSN: 0254-8704 ; eISSN: 2394-0379 ; CODEN: JEBIDP
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    Abstract - Issue May 2021, 42 (3)                                     Back


nstantaneous and historical temperature effects on a-pinene

Potential habitat connectivity for Malayan gaur (Bos gaurus) in a fragmented forest area in Peninsular Malaysia

 

N.A.T. Ariffin1, M.A. Mustapha1*, T.M. Taher1, N.F. Khodri1, N.I. Abdullah2 and S.M. Nor2 

1Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Malaysia

2Department of Ecosystem Management and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Malaysia

*Corresponding Author Email : muzz@ukm.edu.my

 

 

Received: 14.11.2020                                                                   Revised: 17.03.2021                                                         Accepted: 26.03.2021

 

 

 

Abstract

Aim: To predict the distribution of suitable habitats for Malayan gaur (Bos gaurus) at a highly fragmented forest area in Peninsular Malaysia and to identify the potential connectivity between suitable habitat patches.

Methodology: Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) approach was used to predict the distribution of suitable habitats of the Malayan gaur. Gaur presence-only data and six environmental variables were collated for the habitat suitability modeling, and area under curve (AUC) value was used to estimate the performance of the model. The resulting model was then used to derive a potential connectivity map through least-cost analysis using Corridor Designer toolbox in ArcGIS 10.4.

Results: The AUC value of the habitat suitability model was 0.84. Distance from urban areas indicated the highest relative contribution to the model (26.9%), followed by distance from water body (24.2%) land use (18.0%) elevation (14.3%), slope (14.0%) and lithology (2.6%). Predicted suitable habitats for gaur were found mostly in lowland forest areas, especially in the vicinity of rivers within forest reserves. A total of five wildland blocks were derived from the habitat suitability model, and several potential corridor swaths were identified connecting the wildland blocks.      

Interpretation: The absence of gaur occurrence in suitable habitats suggest that fragmented habitats greatly affected gaur distribution and population. Road network and agricultural lands are the major barriers of gaur movement as they are very sensitive towards disturbances and conflict. Thus, this research proposes potential connectivity at a regional scale for Malayan gaur for use in future planning in conservation, management and development.      

Key words: Forest fragmentation, Habitat connectivity, Malayan gaur; Maximum entropy

 

 

 

 

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