Phenology of tropical birds in Peninsular Malaysia: Effects of selective logging and food resources

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of selective logging of Southeast Asian rainforests compels the examination of their effects (via changes in food abundance) on the breeding and molting of their resident understory birds. My study revealed no differences in the bird abundance, relative species richness, breeding and molting occurrence, and food abundance between unlogged and 30-year-old selectively logged forests in two rainforest areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Seasonal variation and frequency of occurrence of breeding and molting were comparable for understory birds in both forest types. There was strong seasonality in avian phenology, and their potential food resources in both forests types. Molting showed little correlation with rainfall or food abundance. The breeding season generally coincided with an increased abundance of the main food for each feeding guild and usually began with the monsoon season. Hence, food abundance and rainfall during monsoons are possible cues for breeding in tropical Southeast Asian understory birds.