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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT No.2
Botanical Work in Maliau Basin Conservation Area
19th March -16th May 2000
Author: Cam Webb, NEPCon
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, 22 Divinity Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 021 38, USA
Phone: (+1-617-496-1255 (work); +1-203-789-8857 (home)
Fax: =1-617-495-9484. E-mail: [email protected]
MALIAU BASIN PROJECT
Technical Report to the Project Management Group
on work completed by
Caw Webb
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University22 Divinity Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
1-617-496-1255 (work)1-203-789-8857 (home)
1-617-495-9484 (fax)
for the period
19 March -16 May 2000
O~~ectives
The work carried out during my first 2~fUpnth visit related to all the objectives listed in theBotany TOR:
1) To sample the tree-size vegetation of the full range of habitats within the M~fiflU nasinpon~~rvation Area (~CA), in or4'fif to s~~tistic~ly define diifer~nt habitat types.
2) To collect specimens of any fertile plants encountered.3) To record the large-scale distribution of ca. 10 key species, while traveling in MBCA.4) To prepare a species list from current and previous research.5) To integrate the vegetation sampling with remote sensing data, in order to model the
spatial distribution of plant biodiversity.6) To be ready for a rapid, intensive collecting effort with additional manpower, in the
event of a mast flowering.7) To provide training for stakeholder staff during all of the above, and to offer
opportunities for student projects.
Results
Overall, the trip was a great success. In one month in the field, our team set up 11vegetation plots, made ca. 320 fertile collections and over 500 sterile voucher collections.I scouted out a route for a nature trail, set up the herbarium at Luasong, surveyed theBasin by air, and trained the team members to carry on the major parts of the botanicalwork in my absence.
Vegetation sampling
Our preliminary sampling of the :MBCA revealed no great surprises but reinforced in myown mind how strong the correlation is here between geology and vegetation. Forinstance, on the southern plateau, the flat areas with short kerangas are clearly on thicksandstone deposits, but where these are cut by rivers, and the moister, nutrient-richermudstone reaches the surface, far taller forest occurs with vegetation reminiscent of lowerelevation. This can be seen in two of our plots: 2A is classic kerangas, while 2C, 50 maway, contains an Anisoptera and several other dipterocarp species not seen in kerangas.This strong influence of geology on vegetation will prove useful in both the mapping ofplants and of rock types.
We set up three plots near Agathis Camp, three near the Camel Trophy Hut, and five nearthe Camp 88 site. Each plot is 20 x 50 m for trees 10 cm DBH and up, and 40 x 50 m fortrees 30 cm and up. A full methodology is being prepared separately. Vouchers werecollected from all clearly distinct species in each plot, totaling nearly 500 specimens. Ingeneral, these vouchers were of fallen leaves, but a number of trees were also climbed byJeprin, especially where they were fertile.
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The purpose of the plots is to sample i) tree species that will probably not be foundfruiting, ii) patterns of tree species diversity, and iii) to provide a 'ground-truthing' for theremote sensing data. The locations of the plots are therefore being chosen to maximizeefficiency in these three areas. So far, we have sampled upper lowland forest outside thebasin, river-side forest in the kerangas area, and upper lowland forest inside the basin.There remain many vegetation types still to cover. Sidkan Ali will lead at least four tripsbefore I return in January. The locations and tentative dates for these trips are:
....
Camel Trophy Hut -Short Kerangas and Agathis-Casaurina forest -JulyBelian Camp -Alluvial bench forest and Lowland Hill forest -AugustLake Limununsut (or other, accessible area outside basin) -Lowland forest -OctoberGinseng (Waidi) Camp -Upland forest and South Rim forest -November
On each of these 'mini-expeditions,' 3 plots will be made at each of two separate sites.Further details will be given to Sidkan regarding these trips. Sidkan will also participate inthe Imbak expedition, scouting out the area visited in order to make informedrecommendations to the appropriate committee in YS about the value of the Imbak VJRand surroundings as a conservation area.
After hiking around, I have made a preliminary, subjective list of different forest sub-types(Appendix C). After sampling each of these with plots, I will be able to determine ifindeed there are floristic differences among these sub-types.
General collecting
Overall, we made 320 fertile collections. There was not a major fruiting season when wewere working, and so most of the species collected were the normal, understorey speciesthat are frequently collected because they always flower and fruit. We did, however, findthat many of the orchids were flowering in the kerangas forest on the southern plateau,and were able to make extensive collections of these. Another interesting find wasTrigonobalanus verticillata (also in the kerangas area), a very distinct oak species thatmay have only been recorded before in Sabah from Gg. Kinabalu.
The method we used to dry the specimens has proved to be extremely efficient, dryingmost collections in just two days. The equipment was purchased in KK with assistancefrom Axel Poulsen. We usually have been doing the drying on the front porch of Jadda'shouse in Luasong, which is covered and where someone can also stay close by, to keep aneye on the process. If Jadda is willing, this is a most suitable arrangement. An alternativewould be to build a small shelter near the main office, but sufficiently far so as not topresent any fire hazard.
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Helicopter survey
I was fortunate to get an opportunity to fly over parts of the :MBCA in a helicopter. Therewas a stonn brewing in the north of the Basin, so I was only able to explore the southernhalf, but the trip was extremely useful. I took copious photographs, which, together witha GPS trajectory I made, will enable information gained from the above view in keylocations to be entered into the GIS models. While the trip was quite short, I also found itvery helpful simply to see what the canopy structure was in various places. My mainsubjective impressions are of i) the severe topography that dominates the Basin, ii) themarked change in crown evenness from lowland to upland and kerangas, and iii) the placeswhere unstable soils seem to have led to a very broken, liana-dominated canopy (e.g., onthe slope West of Camp 88).
Herbarium work
After working in the field for the month of June (see Appendix A), we proceeded with theherbarium work. The herbarium at Luasong has been completed and is an excellentfacility, and we were able to use it to sort specimens. Eventually it will be a repository forthe sterile vouchers, but for the moment these are in Sandakan.
The big question of whether we will find any new species will take a while to answer. Wewere assisted by Leopold Madani at Sandakan, and he reported that most of the specieswe collected were fairly common. There were a few specimens, however, that he had notencountered, including one very striking Annonaceae collected in the kerangas.
I intend Sidkan to take one extended trip to Sandakan during the next 6 months, to learnhow to identify specimens, and to get general herbarium working experience. He willhave the (fertile) material that we have already collected, plus additional collections thathis team will make over the next few months. By the end of his stay, he should have acomplete species list of all our (fertile) collections to date.
Species lists
Sidkan and I have compiled all the species lists from reports of previous expeditions andhave made a master list, to which our own collections are being added. Unfortunately, noprior report made it clear whether their lists were from collected specimens, or justobservations by experienced botanists. This makes the quality of the identifications hardto gauge, and our final species 'count' will have to be qualified.. We have attempted tolocate lists of Mali au collections added to Sandakan herbarium, but have not found any,and so, short of checking every specimen in the herbarium (!), we cannot know for certainwhich species have actually been collected.
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Nature trail
Initial scouting was done for a possible location for a nature trail at the Belian Camp site.I realize that the eventual location will be determined largely by the site chosen for thesuspension bridge, but parts of the route that we located might still be able to be used.
The route starts directly across the river from the current Belian Camp site. Flaggingmarking the start (A on map above) is visible from the campsite. Go directly west,following the flagging, cross a mud channel and reach the bank of a stream (B); here thereturn trail joins the out-bound trail at ca. 90 degrees. Proceed forward, cross the streamand climb the far bank. Continue at ca. 300 degrees until a ridge is gained, then turnsharply right. A very large Koompassia is notable on the left. (C), shortly followed by alarge Irvingia on right (D). Climb to a small gap (E), followed by an area of disturbanceby wild pigs that have been 'hoovering' up the fruits of a forest oak (F). Follow the ridgeto the open clearing that is the dancing ground of an argos pheasant (G). Just before avery large gap (H), watch for a trail to the left.. Descend the side of the ridge to a flatarea, and follow to a deeply cut stream. Climb the other bank and cross another flat areato a second stream (the dendritic pattern of streams can be discussed here). Here is alarge pig mud wallow (I). Turn left. and follow the trail back onto the ridge, passing astand of be Ii an trees to the right (J). Descend the ridge, following the stream on the left.,then cross the stream. You are now in the alluvial flats again. Just past a very largeIrvingia on the right (K) is a 'short-cut' trail (C) that skirts the base of the hills, and couldbe used to make a shorter nature trail. Follow ahead, crossing the stream again at a veryinterestingly-shaped meander. A giant Koompassia, complete with strangling fig, lies tothe right, between two temporary streams. Cross the mud channel here. Cross a smallgap and into a swampy area (M), and back up onto a large area of flat alluvium (N), whichtakes you back to the junction (B). The whole trail should take ca. 1 hour at an easy pace.
The benefit of a layout like the one we made is that i) both alluvial bench and steeplowland hills were sampled, ii) there is an option for a shorter version of the trail for thoseunable to climb (low) hills, and iii) a trail could be extended from the top of the loop up to
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the rim of the Maliau Basin, providing a strenuous hike through pristine forest for activevisitors. The trail is now only lightly marked, and it is important that it be followed soonand marked more permanently.
Training
A large proportion of my effort throughout the period I was in Sabah went into trainingthe MT and staff in all the methods we employed. I tried to step back as soon as possible,and let them 'run the show.' Both the MT and the field staff turned out to be extremelycompetent, and I have full confidence that they will be able to perform the tasks theylearned, during the time that I am away. These tasks are:
i) preparing for a field expedition (shopping for supplies, packing)ii) choosing the locations for sample plotsiii) laying out the sample plotsiv) measuring tree diametersv) collecting voucher material from each treevi) measuring tree heightsvii) collecting soil samplesviii) making high quality, duplicate plant specimens of fertile materialix) drying plant material and soil, using our ovensx) sorting and packing specimens for transport to Sandakan.
Sidkan has gained a lot of experience in Botany during my time in Sabah, and will gaineven more on the Danish training course he is about to participate in. Unfortunately, hewas not able to accompany me to Sandakan, to learn about specimen matching andidentification. Henry did follow me there, and saw the kind of work involved in matchingand sorting, and hopefully he will be able to help Sidkan at Luasong. It will be important,however, for Sidkan to work with an experienced botanist when he next goes toSandakan. While field collection skills can be acquired rapidly, identification skillsnecessarily take time to develop. I foresee Sidkan learning how to match fertile species toherbarium specimens, once an initial identification has been made by myself or a Sandakanbotanist. I will, however, plan to do the main matching and identification of the sterileplot vouchers myself
Further education for Sidkan Ali
One of the project objectives, and obviously a personal concern of Sidkan, is that thebotany MT get some further education during the duration of the Project. However, theonly foreign countries where a doctoral degree would be compatible with the fieldresponsibilities of the MT seem to be the UK and Australia. The US requires too much'start-up' time, and a Danish Ph.D. must be completed in 3 years. To this end, I contactedtwo colleagues in the UK, David Burslem (Aberdeen), and Nick Brown (Oxford), and
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both were encouraging about the possibility of Sidkan joining them. Sidkan is now indirect contact, and hopefully will be able to arrange the program to start soon. It is hopedthat an initial trip to the UK to start the program would not be longer than 2 months, andso the field program for Sidkan, outlined above, would not be seriously affected.
Remote sensing and GIS
A major product from the botany component will eventually be a vegetation map, basedon fieldwork and on remote sensing data. It has been very useful, therefore, to have someremote sensing sources from the beginning. I have been using i) a Landsat image, and ii) amap produced as part of the general Sabah forest inventory (Forestal 1972) that is aninterpretation of aerial photographs.
The former has been useful for delimiting the areas of kerangas, but it has been provingdifficult to interpret some of the other color differences in the field. In particular, animage using enhanced 453 color mapping (produced by E. Prins) shows a cleargreen/brown division that has been hard to understand; some areas of (unlogged) lowlandforest are green, and some are brown, while most areas of(unlogged) upland forest arebrown. Further sampling on the ground will be needed to solve this.
However, the Forestal map has been extremely valuable, and easy to interpret in the field,and will probably form the main basis for the eventual vegetation map. Divisions amongthe main classes used on the map (crown size, crown density, slope) have proved to bevery easy to detect in the field, and to have a clear relation to observed forest structureand definite but more complex relation to species composition. During my last days inSabah, I worked in the GIS lab at Innoprise, and digitized this Forestal map, for theMBCA area. During the period that I am out of Sabah, I will work with this image, andwith the Landsat data, to draft a preliminary, GIS-based vegetation map.
It is worth noting that our GPS units (Garmin 12XL) have been working excellently in theforest, enabling us to georeference all major worksites to an accuracy of at least 30 m. Asexpected, the GPS signal does disappear under dense canopies, but if the satellites can belocked on to in a gap, and the unit rushed to the desired location, a reading can usually bemade anywhere. The recent switching off of the satellite selective availability by the USgovernment will mean that new data should be even more accurate.
Coordination with counterpart organizations
Our interactions with FRC, Sandakan have been excellent. Counterpart botanists (Dewol,Patrick) were sent on time, and were very helpful in the field. Leopold Madani helpedwith the identification of specimens when I visited in May. I also met with Robert Ong inMay, and we revised the budget that they are submitting to the Project. The main changehas been that they will send Jeprin (the excellent tree climber) on all field trips, but will not
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send an experienced field botanist on all trips, because there are not enough experiencedbotanists available, and our team is now no longer dependent on having a botanist in orderto complete the sampling. FRC botanists will, of course, be appreciated when they areable to come on field trips, especially as it makes the work more interesting for Projectstaff to be able to learn about the plants they collect. On subsequent trips I will spendlonger at FRC myself, as much time is needed for the matching and identification of plotvouchers.
Our interactions with the University of Malaysia atSabah have not fully begun yet, but Ihad a detailed discussion with Berhaman about VMS involvement; Axel Poulsen was alsopresent. We decided that VMS would take responsibility for surveys of the herbaceousvegetation, using the same plot locations that we are employing to sample trees. Adetailed proposal is expected from VMS, but work is not expected to start until next year,when the university graduate experienced enough to do the work becomes available.
Discussions with the Arnold Arboretum about official institutional collaboration arecurrently on hold until the MBMC has had a chance to consider the offer presented by theArboretum's director, Bob Cook. I hope this matter can be discussed soon.
Presentation to Sabah Society
At the end of my stay in Sabah, I gave a lecture to the Sabah Society, outlining both themajor purposes of the Project and our botanical work. It was well-attended and seemedto be well-received. In particular, the collection of slides that I drew from the Maliaustock collection drew a lot of praise -these are a great resource for the promotion of theMBCA. I was asked to provide a short outline of the talk for the Sabah Societynewsletter (please edit the following if necessary):
"Dr. Cam Webb of the Arnold Arboretum gave a lecture on the Maliau Basin, with theprimary goal of impressing upon the audience how very special the Basin is to Sabahansand to the World. He started with a discussion of our current understanding of theformation, geology, vegetation, and animal communities in the Basin, highlighting theareas where our knowledge is meager. He then mentioned the threats to the ecologicalintegrity of the area, particularly from mining activities, and thus introduced the goals ofthe current joint project between Yayasan Sabah and DANCED (the Danishenvironmental aid agency), which are i) to gather background information on the Basinand to produce a Management Plan, similar to that existing for Danum Valley, ii) todevelop the infrastructure (physical and institutional) for further research and tourism inthe area, and ill) to publicize the nature and value of the Basin, locally, nationally andinternationally. Finally, Dr. Webb discussed the botanical fieldwork he had been doing forthe previous month in the Basin, describing basic methods for plant collecting andvegetation sampling using tree plots, and showing slides of the difficulties and pleasures ofliving and working in the Basin. Overall, his message was clear: the Maliau Basin is aworld-class natural area, and deserves the best efforts ofSabahans to treasure it."
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Exploration of Western area of MBCA
On 6-4, I visited by car the area to the West ofMBCA, searching for areas of limestonethat Tony Lamb had alerted me to. We observed a large cliff (at 095 degrees from UTM470,716/53,224) of white rocks. The extent of the white rocks was ca. 40 m tall, fardeeper than any of the sandstone formations within the basin. The level top of the cliffwas, however, unlike most limestone outcrops that I have seem. The fact that thisformation has not been noted in any of the geological surveys of the area suggests that itprobably is only sandstone, but in any case it is an unusual formation: from the maps andLandsat images it is clear that the ridge is very steep on both sides, unlike the cliffs thatform the main escarpments of the Basin. I intend to return to the area and climb the ridgefrom behind, to check the vegetation, and to check the rocks. See recommendations.
Wildlife seen
I saw no extraordinary wildlife during the trip, but did see: (12-4) tufted ground squirrel,on steep ridge above Agathis camp; (24-4) ca. 500 flying foxes nesting in a tree on theisland above Camp 88; (28-4) large troop of pig-tailed macaques on ridge north-west of
Ginseng Camp.
Future Work
On my next trip (Jan-Feb 2001), I will push the areas sampled further into the Basin. Wewill attempt to visit what we can on foot, but may need one helicopter trip to sample thehigh montane area. I will also need to spend extensive time at the Sandakan herbarium,sorting and identifying the vouchers from the vegetation plots. By the end of next trip, apreliminary analysis of variation in forest composition should be available, as well as anexpanded species list. I will also attempt to pull all the GIS data together to produce aninitial GIS vegetation map.
Conclusions and Recommendations
After only a few months of work, I have no major, general conclusions, other than that Ithink the site is fantastic, both biologically and as a 'psychological resource' for Sabah,and I am looking forward to further work there. I also think the Project is in good shape,progressing well towards its general goals. I have no major changes to the methodology Iproposed in the TOR, except for scaling down the number of plot that I expect to be made(now ca. 70).
()
My most substantial recommendation concerns the area to the West of the MBCA.Having driven through the logged forest, seen the proximity of a logging camp to the parkboundary, and having noted the encroachment of logging roads into the conservation areaon the Landsat image, I am concerned about degradation of the forest all along the Westborder of the MBCA, either due to fire, or to illegal logging and hunting. Add to theseobvious threats the fact that the spur ridge to the West (mentioned above) may belimestone, or at least a very interesting sandstone formation, and I think there is a strongcase to be made for requesting additional forest from the government as a buffer zone.My additional, more minor recommendations are:
Porters. We found that the extended work in the Basin requires the caITying in oflarge amounts of equipment and food, and the packs carried by team memberswere very heavy, verging on cruel! Sharing the load with additional staffwill helpthe success of these trips. However, I caused a large problem by innocently usingthe term 'porters.' The two staff members that accompanied us assumed that theywould be paid at the 'tourist porter' rate ofRM 35 per kilo, and thus are expectingto be paid ca. RM 900 each for a day's work, nearly 50 times what the other CLstaff will have been paid! This situation is obvious unfair and a drastic waste ofProject money. It is therefore strongly recommended that additional staff aresimply assigned to a fieldtrip as part of their daily work, and the term 'porter' isnever used.
Access to Basin. We were able to hike out from Camp 88 to the 'Pick up point' in asingle, day, using a new route north of 'microphone hill', which makes access tothe interior of the Basin faster and easier. However, there is still no route from theproposed main camp area, Belian Camp, into the Basin. While it is too late tochange the location of the station if no trail is found, it may be possible to situatethe buildings closer, rather than farther, to any trail into the Basin. I thereforestrongly recommend that a significant effort is put into finding and laying out sucha trail. I anticipate that the best route will be up the ridge to the West ofBelianCamp, up onto a peak, and then to follow the main basin rim to the west until thetrail to Ginseng Camp is located. If the old logging roads west of Be Ii an campwere still in good condition, there would be an additional possibility of road accessalmost to the south rim, but I have been informed that these roads are no longerfixable.
Routefinders. As part of reaching new areas in the basin for botanical surveys, Irecommend that teams of staff members on other teams, who may not beconstantly engaged with research, be sent into the basin, in advance of the botanyteam, to locate the easiest/safest routes to new areas. A member of the advanceteam could then guide the botany team in, saving days of routefinding with all theheavy supplies required for a long stay.
Moped. It would be very helpful to have a small moped available for moving aroundat Luasong.
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More Images. Finally, I would like to add a request for additional remote sensingimages, if possible. The Landsat will be very helpful, but an image with slightlyhigher resolution may enable better correlations with the ground-truthed botanicalinformation.
To conclude, I feel that the first period of work went very successfully. It is up to Sidkannow to manage the botany work for the next 6 months, but I have every confidence inhim, and am available for extensive consultation via email.
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Appendix A: Daily activity report.
To FRC, met with R Ong
Met w Axel Poulsen and BerhamanMet w Tony Lamb and Anthea Phillips
Gave presentation about Maliau
Shopping for equipment
Taught specimen makingPlot lAPlot lA, IBPlot IBPlot 1 C, collectingExplored cliffs to WestRest day
Plot 2APlot 2BPlot 2CHiked out, travel
MeetingShopping
8-3-00 USA-Tokyo9-3-00 Tokyo-Singapore
19-3-00 Tarakan-KK20-3-00 KK21-3-00 KK22-3-00 Sandakan23-3-00 KK24-3-00 KK25-3-00 KK26-3-00 KK27-3-00 Danum28-3-00 Danum29-3-00 to Tawau30-3-00 Tawau31-3-00 to Agathis Canlp
1-4-00 Agathis Camp2-4-00 Agathis Canlp3-4-00 Agathis Camp4-4-00 Agathis Canlp5-4-00 Agathis Camp6-4-00 Tibow7-4-00 Agathis Camp8-4-00 to Canlel Trophy9-4-00 Canlel Trophy
10-4-00 Camel Trophy11-4-00 Camel Trophy12-4-00 to Agathis and Luasong13-4-00 Luasong, to Tawau14-4-00 to Luasong15-4-00 to Belian Camp16-4-00 Belian Canlp17-4-00 Belian Canlp18-4-00 Luasong19-4-00 to Agathis20-4-00 to Canlel Trophy21-4-00 to Canlp '8822-4-00 Canlp '8823-4-00 Camp '8824-4-00 Camp '8825-4-00 Canlp '8826-4-00 Canlp '8827-4-00 Camp '8828-4-00 to Luasong29-4-00 to Tawau30-4-00 to Luasong
Made nature trailMade nature trailRest dayPacking, travelHiked, collectingHiked, collectingMade camp, recce. areaPlot 3APlot 3BPlot 3CPlot 3DPlot 3EHiked outSpecimen preparationRest day
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1-5-002-5-003-5-004-5-005-5-006-5-007-5-008-5-009-5-00
10-5-0011-5-0012-5-0013-5-0014-5-0015-5-0016-5-00
LuasongLuasong, to MaliauAgathisAgathis, to LuasongLuasongLuasong, to Tawauto Sandakan
SepilokSepilokSepilok, to KKKKKKKKKK
KK-SingaporeSingapore-USA
Specimen database workSpecimen database workWaited for helicopter, explored
Helicopter surveySpecimen workSpecimen workTravelSpecimen workSpecimen workSpecimen workGISGISPrepared seminar, GISGave seminar to Sabah Soc.TravelTravel
Appendix B: Notable tree species observed. This is a rough, personal check list that Ikept, noting the presence of important and/or interesting tree species within the MBCA.
Genus Species Fami'y Location (P-plot-tree no.)
ANACAANNONANNONAPOCYAPOCYARAUCBOMBABOMBABtJRSECELASCELASCHRYSCHRYSCLETHCORNACUNONDll..LEDIPIEDIPIEDIPIEDIPIEDIPfEDIPfE
CampnospennaMezzetiaXylopiaDyeraKopsiaAgathisDurioDurioSantiriaBhesaLophopetalumAtunaParinariClethraMastixiaWeinmanniaDilleniaAnisopteraDipterocarpusDipterocarpusDipterocarpusDryobalanopsHopea
auriculatamleptopodaferrugineacostatasp.bomeensisgrifjithiisp.grifjithiipaniculatajavanicunexcelsaoblongifoliasp.sp.blumeiborneensiscostatacaudiferusgraciliskunstlerilanceolatadryobalanoides
P-2B-28PlA-14P-lB-46Agathis camp downriver 100 mP-2B-62P-lA-62 P-2A-lP-lA-56P-2C-29Agathis camp, P-2B-53P-2A-76P-lB-18P-lA-37P-3C-42P-2B-20P-2CP-2B-38P-lC-43P-2C-25Agathis camp P-3B-46Agathis campAgathis campP-3C-46P-lC-23
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DIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEDIPfEERYTHEUPHOEUPHOEUPHOEUPHOEUPHOEUPHOEUPHOFAGACFAGACFLACOFLACOFLACOWGLALAURALAURALEGUMLEGUMLEGUMMAGNOMELASMELASMELIAMORACMYRISMYRTAOLACAOXALIPODOCPOOOCPODOCPODOC
HopeaHopeaShoreShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaShoreaVaticaVaticaErythroxylumBaccaureaChaetocarpusCleistanthusMoultonianthusNeoscortechiniaPimelodendronTrigonopleuraLithocarpusTrigonobalanusHomaliumHydnocarpusHydnocarpusEnglhardiaEusi deroxylonNeolitseaAlbizziaDialiumKoompassiaTalaumaMemecylonPtemandraChisochetonAntiarisHorsfieldiaTristaniopsisOchanostachysSarcothecaDacrydiumDacrydiumPhyllocladusPodocarpus
ferrugineanervosacoriaceaagamiiangustifoliaargentifoliaatrinervosafaguetianaflavifloragratissimalaevismacropteramultifloraochraceaoleosaovalisparvifoliaparvistipulatapaucifloraplatycladosalbiramisdulitensiscuneatummacrocarpacastanocarpusruficinleembrugianusforbesiigriffithiimalayanalucid averticillatasp.sumatran awoodiiserratozwageriivillosasplendensindummalaccensissp.oleifoliumcoerulescenspentandrustoxicariagrand issp.amentaceadiversifoliasp.sp.hypophyllusimbricatus
Agathis campP-3C-47P-2A-2P-IA-61P-IB (sapling on ridge)P-IA-50Agathis campPIAPIA-IPIARidge above Agathis campPIAP-IB-62Agathis camp (ridge to south)P-IB-IOP-IC-48PIA-IOP-IB-23P-3C-43Agathis campP-IA-34P-IA-24P-2B-4P-IC-21P-IA-49P-IC-IAgathis camp; P-IC-25P-IA-39P-IB-20P-IC-3P-IA-52P-2C-19P-3C-39P-2B-56P-2C-28P-2A-36P.3C-15P-2C-3P-IB-27P-IA-22P-IC-51P-2C-51P-IC-42P-IA-18P-IC-24P-IA-64P-IA-48P-3B-58P-IB-34P-IA-46P-2B-IP-2A-40P-2A-34Agathis campP-2B-16
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Neonauclea
Tetractomia
Madhuca
Palaquium
Palaquium
Polyosma
IrvingiaHeritiera
Scaphium
SymplocosTetramerista
EuryaGrewia
Pentace
Pentace
Gironniera
RUBIARUTACSAPOTSAPOTSAPOTSAXIFSIMARSTERCSTERCSYMPLTETRATHEACTILIATILIATILIAULMAC
P-3B-29P-2A- 7 P-2B-5P-IB-43P-IB-64P-IB-55P-2B-24 P.2C-18P-IB-66P-IB-39P-3B-59P-IC-20P-IA-60P-IC-30P-IA-53P-3B-44P-3B-48P-IB-l
sp.tetrandrakingianabeccarianumrostratumintegrifoliamalayanaelatalongipetalumcrespisglabraacuminatacinnamomifoliaadenophorasp.subaequalis
Appendix C: Forest types.
General Type Location Description
1 Lowland Belian camp
2.
Lowland Belian camp
3 Upper lowland Agathis-camp
4. Upper lowland Agathis-camp
5.6. Upper lowlandUpper lowland
Camp 88Camp 88,behind campCamp 88,across river
Flood plain for at 250 m. Large trees, tangled.Koompassia present.Low clay ridge forest at 250 m. V. big trees -
Koompassia, Irvingia.Tall forest on clay ridge and slope. S. parvifo/iacommon. Lots of Fagaceae. P-IA, P-IB. ca. 500m. Medium humus layer.Valley forest on lower hillocks between high clayridges. More humus, denser u/s. P-IC. ca. 500 m.Flood plain forest, at 500 m.Highly disturbed forest on unstable, shallow slopes.
7.
Upper lowland
8. Upper lowland Agathis campto PUPCamp 88 toGinseng
9. Upland
10. Upland Flat area N ofGinseng c.West ofMaliau11 Upland
Medium humus layer, stable soils, tall forest (S.parvifolia). Same as #1? Belian present, but noKoompassia.Gorgeous forest. Low hills (sandy soil). Mediumhumus layer.Medium stature, on dry, sandstone ridge. Verysimilar in species composition to Gunung Palungforest.Tall forest on low humus, clay-rich soils. Shallowtopography.Steep forest on white sandstone. Lots of humus,small trees. 100m.
15
12. Steep slope and ridge on clay and yellow sandstone.Agathis at lower elev. Brown on Landsat. Fewerlarge trees. Medium humus. 600-800 m.
13. Upland Agathis-camp Mountain forest on south rim of basin. Deep humusto CTH on level. Canopy to 20 m. 800-1000+ m. Tree
ferns.14. Kerangas Kerangas fir. Kerangas. On level areas. Canopy to 10 m.
CTH Mossy tree bases.15. Kerangas Kerangas fir. Valley-kerangas. Between 6 and 5. Swampy.
CTH Deep humus, with white sand. Taller than
kerangas.16. Kerangas Kerangas fir. Large-crowned plateau forest. Agathis and Shorea
CTH coriacea. Near larger rivers. P-2A Green on TM.1000 m.
17. Kerangas W of CTH Very distinct forest of nearly pure AKathis.
Upland
Agathis-campto CTH
In
/'19/5/00
To Whom It May Concern:
I was granted pennission from Yayasan Sabab and Danced to accompany Dr. Cambell Webb and his
Botany Team on the recent botantical expeditions into Maliau Basin in April-May, 2000. In exchange for my work
as a volunteer member of the Botany Team, I familiarized myself with Maliau's lower montane and kerangas forests
and considered the possibilities of using Maliau Basin as a fieldsite to conduct my upcoming dissertation research
(entering Yale University PhD program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology August 2000).
I was involved in three separate trips into Maliau. Dr. Webb and I spent several days in mid-April based
out ofBilian Camp exploring routes for a nature loop trail. We found an excellent route covering riparian, lowland,
slope and ridge forests, as well as passing through several important ecological habitats within these forest types
My second trip into Maliau was as a member of the large expedition revisiting Camp 88. We spent nine
days in the basin in late April, collecting nearly 200 fertile specimens and setting up four permanent forest plots in
the different forest types around Camp 88.
My third and final trip into MaliauBasin was to conduct a small ~ey of Nepenthes pitcher plants in the
kerangas forest plateau at the request of Dr. Webb. Three mem~,ers of the Botany Team and myself were stationed
at the Camel Trophy Hut 1-5 May 2000 both for this. purpose ari<lto ~ with a ~9 load droppeq .9:t'f QY
helicopter on 4 May. Attached is a short report of the results from this trip, which I will hope will be useful to
Yahasan Sabah and Danced.
In addition to the fieldwork in Maliau, I also accompanied Dr. Webb during his trip to the 8abah Forestry
Department Herbarium in Sepilok. There we donated the expedition's fertile specimens to their collection, and
organized and evaluated our voucher leaf specimens from the forest plots.
I deeply appreciate the opportunity to participate in and contribute to such a project. I have greatly
benefited from my time spent in Maliau, and I am convinced that it would serve as an unparalleled location for
ecological research and conservation in Sabah. I am grateful for the foresight that both Yahasan Saban and Danced
have demonstrated through their efforts to protect and preserve this special place.
Sincerely,
Erika Edwards
Erika Edwards19/5/00
The Abundance and Distribution of Mali au Basin's Ne_oenthes S~ies
A small survey ofMaliau's kerangas forest plateau on 3-4 May 2000 revealed at least five species
and one hybrid of Nepenthes pitcher plants inhabiting this area. Nepenthes stenophy/la. N vetchii,
N.stenophylla x vetchii (hereafter referred to as Nmaliau), Ngracilis, Ntentacu/ata, and Nleptochila
(identification uncertain) were all observed growing within the kerangas forest, while only very rare
OCCUITences ofN.ieptochi/a were noted in the surrounding montane-ridge forest areas.
Within the kerangas, there seems to be some significant ecological habitat sorting occuning
among the species. While N.stenophy//a is far more abundant than any of the other species and seems to
occupy most habitats within the kerangas, the other species appear quite localized. Notably, N. vetchii and
N.ma/iall appear only in the most stunted, inner zone forest, whereas N.leptochila, N.gracilis, and
N.tentacu/ata were observed only in the taller, outer zone ~fkerangas. Additionally, these two distinct
communities seem to be separated from one another by a smaIl zone where only N.stenophyl/a is found.
An attempt was made to roughly quantify these casual observations. Along part of the Camp
Bangmangan Trail and most of the Jalan Babi Trail (a combiD~ distance of approximately 1400 meters),
two short transects were placed perpendicular to and on opposite sides of the trail every 100 meters. for a
total of 28 transects. Along each of these, four observers walked a slow and constant pace for one minute,
recording all living Nepenthes plants observed. Identification was generally taken to species level, but this
was not always possible when pitchers were not readily visible. At each pair of transects a rough estimate
offorest canopy height was also recorded.
Although it was quite rare (except in very low density transects) for any two observers to see the
same number of Nepenthes along a given transect, the general trend in differences between transects is
remarkably constant among all observers. Similarly, the observers themselves are quite consistent, with
one individual generally seeing more pitchers than another. (see graph one). Because of this, it seemed
reasonable to lump the four records for each transect and compare transect means rather than individual
data points.
Graph one shows the large, apparently haphazard variation of Nepenthes density across the
kerangas plateau. However, the density data become more meaningful when viewed in light of forest
stature. By grouping together all transects with similar estimated forest height and comparing their means,
some compelling patterns begin to emerge (see graph two). Neither N vetchii nor Nma/iau occur in forest
taller than 10 meters. N.graci/is presence, while always quite rare, does not seem to have any relationship
to forest height. Both total Nepenthes abundance and N.stenophyl/a abundance show strong exponential
increases with decreases in forest height, and this clear correlation between the two is likely due to
N.stenophyJ/a's overwhelming dominance of Mali au Basin's pitcher plant community.
The data collected for this report are obviously quite limited in scope and all results should be
contemplated only with the nature of the dataset kept in mind. For instance, the miniscule amount of area
actually surveyed in the transects did not allow for observations of the rarer Nepenthes species, which
would be necessary to accurately detemline species associations. Nevertheless, at least one interesting
pattern has emerged from this coarse survey, namely that as the kerangas forest loses stature, Nepenthes
increases in abundance. No attempt was made to understand what is controlling forest stature in the
kerangas, and those same variables could likely also account for the Nepenthes density patterns observed
here. However, the severely stunted forest that houses the greatest number of Nepenthes also has the
highest understory light environment found in the kerangas (and likely all of Mali au Basin, aside from
riparian zones). While Nepenthes nitrogen acquisition has been well studied due to their unusual
adaptation for living in nutrient-poor environments, very little is known about the leaf function and
photosynthetic efficiency of these plants. Because a,NejJent~ "leaf' is developmentally a modified leaf
base, it could be quite likely that this organ does not work as efficiently as a true leaf would, thus leaving
Nepenthes with a relatively high light compensation point and limited to growing in only high light
environments. The data in this report suggest that an ecophysiological study of Nepenthes and its light
environment could yield new insight into this group's ecological distribution.
C> f\.) ~
total nepenthes observed/min
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