The critical role of natural forest as refugium for generalist species in oil palm-dominated landscapes.

ABSTRACT: In Borneo, oil palm plantations have replaced much of natural resources, where generalist species tend to be the principal beneficiaries, due to the abundant food provided by oil palm plantations. Here, we analyse the distribution of the Asian water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) population within an oil palm-dominated landscape in the Kinabatangan floodplain, Malaysian Borneo. By using mark-recapture methods we estimated its population size, survival, and growth in forest and plantation habitats. We compared body measurements (i.e. body weight and body length) of individuals living in forest and oil palm habitats as proxy for the population's health status, and used general least squares estimation models to evaluate its response to highly fragmented landscapes in the absence of intens

SUBMITTER: Guerrero-Sanchez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8494349 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature