Sains Malaysiana 47(8)(2018): 1645–1656

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4708-03

Impacts of Inundation on Bird Assemblages in Forests in and around a Hydrodam in Terengganu, Malaysia

(Kesan Banjir terhadap Himpunan Burung di Dalam Hutan dan Kawasan Sekitar Empangan Hidro di Terengganu, Malaysia)

FARAH SHAFAWATI MOHD-TAIB*, SITI NABILAH ISHAK, MOHAMMAD SAIFUL MANSOR & SHUKOR MD-NOR

School of Environmental Science & Natural Resources, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 15 February 2017/Accepted: 27 April 2018

ABSTRACT

Despite the increasing numbers of hydrodam worldwide, only a handful of studies evaluated their impacts on biodiversity. Compared to terrestrial animals, birds were thought to be less affected by inundation process, following impoundment. At the Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Dam in Peninsular Malaysia, our study compared species assemblages and diversity of birds within the dam area (i.e. the dam reservoir and catchment area) after recent logging and inundation in relation to a nearby forest logged 30 years ago. Using point count and mist-netting techniques, we recorded a total of 64 species (Shannon Index (H') = 3.827) in the dam area and 91 species (H'=3.99) in historically-logged forests. Insectivore species richness was significantly higher in the historically-logged forests (Mann-Whitney: Z=4.339, N=205, p<0.005). These results indicated that richness and diversity of bird species assemblages appear to decline following recent inundation phase. Nevertheless, the forests in the dam area still harbour charismatic species such as eagles (Family: Accipitridae) and hornbills (Family: Bucerotidae) which suggests that this habitat is relatively important for birds.

Keywords: Avian; hydroelectric dam; Kenyir; logging; Malaysia

ABSTRAK

Walaupun jumlah empangan hidro di seluruh dunia semakin meningkat, hanya segelintir kajian menilai kesannya terhadap kepelbagaian biologi. Berbanding dengan haiwan terestrial, burung dianggap kurang dipengaruhi oleh proses pembanjiran berikutan pengempangan. Di Empangan Hidroelektrik Hulu Terengganu di Semenanjung Malaysia, kami mengkaji dan membandingkan himpunan spesies dan kepelbagaian burung di dalam kawasan empangan (empangan dan kawasan tadahan) selepas pembalakan dan pembanjiran baru-baru ini berbanding dengan hutan berdekatan yang telah dibalak 30 tahun lalu. Dengan menggunakan teknik kiraan titik dan penjaringan, kami mencatatkan sejumlah 64 spesies (Indeks Shannon, H' = 3.827) di kawasan empangan dan 91 spesies (H' = 3.99) di hutan yang telah lama dibalak. Kekayaan spesies burung insektivor jauh lebih tinggi di hutan yang telah lama dibalak (Mann-Whitney: Z = 4.339, N = 205, p<0.005). Keputusan ini menunjukkan bahawa kekayaan dan kepelbagaian spesies burung menurun selepas fasa pembanjiran. Walau bagaimanapun, hutan di kawasan empangan masih dapat dijumpai spesies karismatik seperti helang (Famili: Accipitridae) dan enggang (Famili: Bucerotidae) yang turut menunjukkan bahawa habitat ini adalah penting untuk burung secara relatif.

Kata kunci: Burung; empangan hidroelektrik; Kenyir; Malaysia; pembalakan

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*Corresponding author; email: farah_sh@ukm.edu.my