The impact of elephant browsing on five plant species at Wild Elephant Valley, Xishuangbannan,Yunnan of China

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  • College of Life Sciences,Hainan Normal University

Online published: 2016-08-19

Abstract

Transect surveys were used to study the browsing impact of Asian elephants' on Ardisia solanacea, Dalbergia mimocoides, Mallotus philippinensis, Kydia calycina and Cratoxylum cochinchinese at Wild Elephant Valley in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. In total, 3,197 trees were studied and tree damage in relation to species, basal stem size, impact type, and impact level were recorded and analyzed. Our results showed there was no correlation between the intensity of foraging on a plant and its abundance (Pearson correlation, r=0.608, P=0.277). While foraging, Asian elephants showed preferences for Ardisia solanacea, Dalbergia mimosoides, Mallotus philippinensis and Kydia calycina, with the highest preference being for Dalbergia mimosoides (Preference ratio=1.4855). Avoidance of certain species was also shown, with Cratoxylum cochinchinese showing the highest avoidance by elephants (Preference ratio=0.5855). Ardisia solanacea suffered the most intense impact from foraging in the form of trunk breaking (52.21%) and leaf foraging (45.38%). Mallotus philippinensis experienced heavy leaf foraging (53.04%) and trunk breaking (41.44%), while Kydia calycina was mainly utilized by leaf foraging (53.55%) and was the only plant in our study barked (18.03%) by elephants. Cratoxylum cochinchinese was mainly utilized by leaf foraging (56.35%) and was most frequently pushed over (16.02%) by elephants. Interestingly, although it was the most frequently utilized species by foraging elephants, Dalbergia mimosoides experienced the lowest level of impact. Stem size was also a factor in the foraging preference of Asian elephants as trees with a stem size between 3-8 cm were most frequently utilized. More work is needed to better understand how the Asian elephant's selective browsing could impact plant species and overall community structure within its habitat. We suggest conservation measures should be taken to avoid high concentrations of Asian elephants in a specific area for a lengthy period of time.

Cite this article

LIN Liu, GUO Xianming, LUO Aidong, ZHANG Li . The impact of elephant browsing on five plant species at Wild Elephant Valley, Xishuangbannan,Yunnan of China[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2016 , 36(2) : 129 -137 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201602001

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