Epiphyte Diversity in Forests and Oil Palm Plantations: Effects of Age and Distance
Keywords:
Abundance, age, distance, diversity, forest-oil palm boundaryAbstract
Epiphytes play a vital role in the rainforest ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity and ecological balance. This study investigates the diversity and abundance of epiphytes in the Jagoi area, Bau, Sarawak, focusing on the impact of forest and oil palm plantation ages, as well as the proximity to the forest-oil palm plantation boundary. We conducted a comprehensive comparative study across 34 sampling plots located within secondary forests and oil palm plantations, with the plots carefully categorised based on their age and distance from the boundary to capture variations in environmental conditions. To ensure consistency and accuracy, the diversity and abundance of epiphytes within these plots were assessed using well-established standard ecological survey methods, which allowed for reliable data collection and analysis. This approach provided valuable insights into how land-use types and spatial factors influence epiphyte communities. Our findings reveal that the age of both forests and oil palm plantations significantly affects the diversity and abundance of epiphytes. In contrast, the distance to the forest-oil palm plantation boundary showed no significant relationship with these parameters. The study highlights the importance of forest and plantation age as key factors influencing epiphyte populations. These insights contribute to understanding the ecological dynamics of forest ecosystems adjacent to agricultural landscapes and highlight the need for sustainable management practices to preserve epiphytic biodiversity.
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