Utilization of waterholes by globally threatened species in deciduous dipterocarp forest of the Eastern Plains Landscape of Cambodia

Abstract

Deciduous dipterocarp forests throughout Asia provide crucial habitat for several globally threatened species. During the dry season water availability in these forests is primarily limited to perennial rivers and waterholes. Such water sources form an essential part of these dry forests and are used by multiple species, including large mammals and birds, but little is known regarding how waterhole characteristics affect wildlife use. We investigated waterhole utilization by six globally threatened dry forest specialists: banteng Bos javanicus, Eld's deer Rucervus eldii, giant ibis Thaumatibis gigantea, green peafowl Pavo muticus, lesser adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus and Asian woolly-necked stork Ciconia episcopus. We camera-trapped 54 waterholes in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, eastern Cambodia, during the dry season of December 2015–June 2016. We measured nine waterhole and landscape characteristics, including indicators of human disturbance. Waterhole depth (measured every 2 weeks) and the area of water at the start of the dry season were the main environmental factors influencing waterhole use. Additionally, waterholes further from villages were more frequently used than those nearer. Our study reaffirmed the importance of waterholes in supporting globally threatened species, especially large grazers, which are critical for maintaining these dry forest ecosystems. The results also suggested that artificially enlarging and deepening selected waterholes, particularly those further from human disturbance, could enhance available habitat for a range of species, including grazers. However, this would need to be conducted in coordination with patrolling activities to ensure waterholes are not targets for illegal hunting, which is a problem throughout South-east Asian protected areas.

Home range, habitat selection, density, and diet of golden jackals in the Eastern Plains Landscape, Cambodia

“…The DDF dominated our study site, and its grassy understory annually burns during the dry season after the trees lose their leaves; thereafter, the landscape remains barren of leaves and grasses for several months until the rainy season starts ( McShea and Davies 2011 ). In addition, small rivers within the study site stop flowing or dry up completely, and > 90% of the waterholes dry up ( Pin et al 2020 ). The effect of decreased water availability on home ranges of jackals is unknown, although coyote home ranges in desert environments were not influenced by free-standing water ( Kluever and Gese 2016 ), so the same may be true of jackals.…”

Artificial Water Troughs Use by the Mountain Ungulate Ovis gmelini ophion (Cyprus Mouflon) at Pafos Forest

“…Camera traps were used to monitor the use of ten artificial water troughs by wildlife, as this method has been used extensively in similar studies across the world [ 7 , 13 , 45 , 46 ]. The monitored water troughs were located at the forest core ( n = 3), where mouflon density is usually low, and the higher density periphery zone ( n = 7) ( Figure 1 ).…”

Small cats in big trouble? Diet, activity, and habitat use of jungle cats and leopard cats in threatened dry deciduous forests, Cambodia

“…However, dry deciduous dipterocarp forests (DDF), characterized by an open canopy and a grassy understory, support high mammalian biomass and are globally irreplaceable for numerous species, including several classified as threatened (Tordoff et al, 2005;Wohlfart et al, 2014). The DDF, which currently covers about 15%-20% of Southeast Asia, are now the most threatened of all forest types of the region (Pin et al, 2020;Wohlfart et al, 2014). In contrast to evergreen forests, there has been little research on felid species in DDF.…”

“…For example, spatial and temporal avoidance might be stronger in more open habitats, where reduced herbaceous cover might otherwise increase encounter rates between felid species. Furthermore, exploitive or interference competition between small felids might be particularly strong in DDF, which exhibits a harsh dry season during which the grassy understory annually burns, most water sources dry up, and small vertebrate prey decrease (Kamler et al, 2021;McShea & Davies, 2011;Pin et al, 2020;Walker & Rabinowitz, 1992), thereby causing a potential seasonal spike in food competition. The jungle cat (4-6 kg; Francis, 2019) reportedly preys mostly on species < 1 kg (Sunquist & Sunquist, 2002), such as murids and other small rodents, as well as on hares (Lepus spp.…”