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Table 4 Summary of information on species composition provided in the reviewed studies*

From: Systematic review of effects on biodiversity from oil palm production

Authors

Year published

Taxonomic group

Similarity between primary forest and plantation

Similarity between secondary forest and plantation

Statistics used

Changes in communities between forest and plantation

Notes on similarity

Causes

Invertebrates

        

Brühl & Eltz [36]

2010

Ground-dwelling ants

-

-

-

Yes

Communities of plantations dominated by a small number of, partly invasive, non-forest taxa. Highly impoverished in regard to forest taxa.

Absence of leaf litter. Hot and dry conditions possibly prevent colony establishment and reduce survival.

Chang et al. [27]

1997

Mosquitoes

100%

-

-

No

Lower abundances but same species composition.

na

Chey [31]

2006

Moths

0.278

 

Preston’s coefficient of faunal resemblance

Yes

Noctuid and arctiid species dominated the assemblages.

Low floristic diversity. Lichens and other host plants. Open habitat (many noctuid and arctiid species favor open habitat).

Chey [31]

2006

Moths

0.228

 

Chey [31]

2006

Moths

0.970

 

Chung et al. [21]

2000

Subterra-nean, understorey and arboreal beetles

-

-

Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis

Yes

Species composition significantly different between sites (primary forest, secondary forest and oil palm). A few species dominated the assemblage at the plantation site.

The amount of litter, tree and sapling densities, and plant species richness.

Davis & Philips [22]

2005

Dung beetles

22.5%

-

Steinhaus similarity coefficient; Persentage disagreement distance measure; Cluster analysis and ordination

Yes

Similarity between both forest types and plantation.

Physiognomic differences.

Fayle et al. [42]

2010

Ants (canopy)

S: 0.191, C: 0.301

-

Sørenson’s classic similarity index; Chao’s incidence-based measure with a correction for unseen species

Yes

Only a small proportion of forest ant species were present in oil palm plantation. Non-native species were much more widespread.

Temperature nearly significant factor ( P = 0.073). Simplification of the canopy structure. Competitive interactions.

Fayle et al. [42]

2010

Ants (ferns)

S: 0.056, C: 0.070

-

Sørenson’s classic similarity index; Chao’s incidence-based measure with a correction for unseen species

Yes

Only a small proportion of forest ant species were present in oil palm plantation. Non-native species were much more widespread.

Competitive interactions.

Fayle et al. [42]

2010

Ants (leaf-litter)

S: 0.213, C: 0.555

-

Sørenson’s classic similarity index; Chao’s incidence-based measure with a correction for unseen species

Yes

Only a small proportion of forest ant species were present in oil palm plantation. Non-native species were much more widespread.

Temperature. Hotter and drier environment. Competitive interactions.

Hashim et al. [41]

2010

Ants

-

-

-

Yes

Four species found in the plantation were absent from mangrove forest and two species found in the mangrove were absent from the plantation.

na

Hassall et al. [35]

2006

Terrestrial isopods

-

-

-

Yes

 

na

Liow et al. [43]

2001

Bees

-

-

Cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis

Yes

Families Halictidae and Anthophoridae were more commonly caught in oil palm plantation.

The occurence of families Halictidae and Anthophoridae were correlated with higher temperatures and light intensity, lower humidity levels and greater flowering intensities.

Lucey & Hill [32]

2012

Ants

-

-

Non-metric multidimensional scaling

Yes

NMDS differentiated between the habitats.

Air and soil temperature.

Lucey & Hill [32]

2012

Butterflies

-

-

Non-metric multidimensional scaling

Yes

Two distinct clusters, one for forest and one for plantation.

Air and soil temperature.

Room

1975

Ground foraging ants

25.0%

-

Percentage similarity expressed as 100 × [(2 × number of occurences common to both)/(sum of occurences present in each)]

Yes

Only a small proportion of forest ant species were present in oil palm plantation. Non-native species were much more widespread.

na

Vaessen et al. [33]

2011

Termites

-

-

-

Yes

The assemblage dominated by Schedorhinotermes.

Decrease in the amount of dead wood.

Vertebrates

        

Aratrakorn et al. [45]

2006

Birds

-

-

-

Yes

Plantations dominated by few species. 60% of the species recorded only in the forest, 3% only in the oil palm plantation. Species recorded only in the forest had significantly smaller ranges. Species that were recorded in both forest and plantations had smaller body size than species recorded only in forest.

na

Bernard et al. [34]

2009

Non-volant small mammals

12.0%

-

Proportional difference calculated following a formula by Thiollay (1992); a hierarchical cluster analysis

Yes

Both forest types (primary and secondary) combined. Oil palm plantations may act as an effective barrier to the dispersal of small mammals.

na

Danielsen & Heegaard

1995

Birds

38.7%

-

Proportional difference calculated following a formula by Thiollay (1992)

Yes

Widespread, generalist, and common species much more abundant in plantations than in the primary forest.

Plantation age, proximity to forest, microhabitat structure, and level of human disturbance.

Danielsen & Heegaard

1995

Primates

0.0%

-

Proportional difference

Yes

 

na

Danielsen & Heegaard

1995

Squirrels and tree-shrews

0.0%

-

Proportional difference

Yes

No squirrels or tree-shrews observed in the plantation.

na

Danielsen & Heegaard

1995

Bats

13.0%

-

Proportional difference

Yes

Insectivorous bats appear to be more susceptible to conversion than frugivores/nectarivors.

na

Edwards et al.

2010

Birds

10.0%

 

Analysis of Similarity

Yes

 

na

Fukuda et al. [48]

2009

Bats

-

-

-

Yes

Certain species absent in the oil palm plantation: Two frugivorous species were not recorded at all, only two insectivorous species recorded.

The absent frugivorous species rarely use agricultural lands for feeding.

Gillespie et al. [39]

2012

Amphibians

0.592 (p = 0.0002)

-

Analysis of Similarity between all forest transects and plantation and non-forest transects combined.

Yes

The assemblages reflect the strong affinities of certain species with particular habitat types. Plantation assemblages dominated by terrestrial, non-endemic, generalist species.

Absence of suitable microhabitats. The simple structure and open canopy of plantations results in greater temperature flux between day and night, increased evaporation rates and lower humidity.

Glor et al.

2001

Lizards

-

-

-

Yes

 

Microhabitat availability in regard to, at least, two species (grass-bush anole and Cochran's dwarf gecko). Oil palm plantation lacks the perch availability and understory microhabitat of natural forest.

Peh et al.

2005, 2006

Birds

-

-

Multiresponse permutation procedure

Yes

Forest species constituted only 26% of the total individuals observed in plantation. Nearby primary forest may act as a source habitat.

Simplification of the vertical vegetational structure.

Juliani

2010

Bats

-

-

-

Yes

Almost all species that were found in the oil palm plantation can be classified as common species in disturbed areas.

na

Sheldon et al. [37]

2010

Birds

-

-

-

Yes

Most species in oil palm plantation were open country and scrub species that are common throughout Borneo.

Simple botanical structure.

  1. *The causes marked bold were statistically significant.