Shifts in the demographics and behavior of bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) across a land-use gradient

TY - JOUR

T1 - Shifts in the demographics and behavior of bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) across a land-use gradient

AU - Davison, Charles W.

AU - Chapman, Philip M.

AU - Wearn, Oliver R.

AU - Bernard, Henry

AU - Ewers, Robert M.

PY - 2019/11/1

Y1 - 2019/11/1

N2 - Beyond broad-scale investigations of species diversity and abundance, there is little information on how land conversion in the tropics is affecting the behavior and demographics of surviving species. To fill these knowledge gaps, we explored the effects of land-use change on the ecologically important and threatened bearded pig (Sus barbatus) over seven years in Borneo. Random placement of camera traps across a land-use gradient of primary forest, logged forest, and oil palm plantations (32,542 trap nights) resulted in 2,303 independent capture events. Land-use was associated with changes in the age structure and activity patterns of photographed individuals, alongside large changes in abundance shown previously. The proportion of adults recorded declined from 92% in primary forests to 76% in logged forests, and 67% in plantations, likely indicating increased fecundity in secondary forests. Activity level (capture rate) did not vary, but activity patterns changed markedly, from diurnal in primary forests, crepuscular in logged forests, to nocturnal in plantations. These changes corresponded with avoidance of diurnal human activity and may also protect bearded pigs from increased thermal stress in warmer degraded forests. The percentage of adult captures that were groups rather than individuals increased five-fold from primary forests (4%) to logged forests (20%), possibly due to increased mating or in response to perceived threats from indirect human disturbance. We recommend further investigation of the demographic and behavioral effects of land-use change on keystone species as altered population structure, activity patterns, and social behavior may have knock-on effects for entire ecosystems.

AB - Beyond broad-scale investigations of species diversity and abundance, there is little information on how land conversion in the tropics is affecting the behavior and demographics of surviving species. To fill these knowledge gaps, we explored the effects of land-use change on the ecologically important and threatened bearded pig (Sus barbatus) over seven years in Borneo. Random placement of camera traps across a land-use gradient of primary forest, logged forest, and oil palm plantations (32,542 trap nights) resulted in 2,303 independent capture events. Land-use was associated with changes in the age structure and activity patterns of photographed individuals, alongside large changes in abundance shown previously. The proportion of adults recorded declined from 92% in primary forests to 76% in logged forests, and 67% in plantations, likely indicating increased fecundity in secondary forests. Activity level (capture rate) did not vary, but activity patterns changed markedly, from diurnal in primary forests, crepuscular in logged forests, to nocturnal in plantations. These changes corresponded with avoidance of diurnal human activity and may also protect bearded pigs from increased thermal stress in warmer degraded forests. The percentage of adult captures that were groups rather than individuals increased five-fold from primary forests (4%) to logged forests (20%), possibly due to increased mating or in response to perceived threats from indirect human disturbance. We recommend further investigation of the demographic and behavioral effects of land-use change on keystone species as altered population structure, activity patterns, and social behavior may have knock-on effects for entire ecosystems.

KW - activity pattern

KW - borneo

KW - mammal

KW - oil palm

KW - population structure

KW - primary tropical forest

KW - selective logging

KW - social behavior

U2 - 10.1111/btp.12724

DO - 10.1111/btp.12724

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0006-3606

VL - 51

SP - 938

EP - 948

JO - Biotropica

JF - Biotropica

IS - 6

ER -